Individuality means undivided. It is the unique expression of the undivided whole that each body and mind expresses, and it flourishes when we are relieved of the straightjacket of ignorance – that is, when we stop ignoring our essential nature of pure Awareness.

Read

Writing Date
Choose to disentangle yourself (En/Du) essays 452
14th July 2015
Science and Nonduality Conference talk: Starting with Consciousness (En/Sp) essays 451
28th May 2015
Science and Nonduality talk: The New Science of Consciousness essays 450
20th November 2014
230) How to judge the behaviour of spiritual teachers? questions 449
27th November 2014
The Way of Beauty: An introduction to the nature of perception (En/Sp) essays 448
14th May 2013
The Ultimate Revolution essays 447
20th February 2013
229) Does the mind have the power to perceive itself? questions 446
6th March 2013
228) Attending to consciousness as empty space questions 445
  • Should I attend to the Chakras?
 6th March 2013
227) Is there such a thing as a thoughtless state? questions 444
  • Is there such a thing as a thoughtless state?
 6th March 2013
If awareness is the witness of experience, doesn’t this imply duality? essays 443
6th March 2013
226) Does the statement 'I am not my body' imply duality? questions 442
  • Why is it that speakers of non-duality use arguments which employ duality to make their point?
 6th March 2013
Exploring the experience ‘I am’ essays 441
7th August 2012
An Introduction to Non-Duality: The core of the great spiritual and religious traditions (En/Du/Sp) essays 440
12th September 2008
225) How can I uproot the sense of separation hidden in feelings such as sadness? questions 414
30th January 2012
224) If I can’t experience others’ thoughts and feelings, doesn’t this mean we all have separate consciousnesses? questions 413
  • I, as this Consciousness, must be different to another person because I do not experience their thoughts, feelings, perceptions or sensations.
 28th November 2011
223) How can I stop identifying as the body? questions 412
  • I am aware that there is a contradiction when I say I identify myself with this body but I can't help the contradiction although it is obvious that the body is an object.
 15th November 2011
222) Is it more important to contemplate experience or investigate the sense of separation? questions 411
  • I’m not sure if it’s more important to be watchful of the movement of thoughts, feelings, perceptions throughout the day, or to keep inquiring into whether or not it’s possible to find a separate self.
 21st September 2011
221) What did Shri Atmananda mean by ‘The object of knowing is always in knowledge’? questions 410
  • The object of knowledge is always in knowledge and knowledge is not affected by the thing known. So there is knowledge and knowledge alone, without reference to the thing known. This is the ultimate Truth or Atma, your real nature.
 23rd June 2011
220) Does consciousness require a functional human brain to be aware of itself? questions 409
  • What is the real relationship between brain, spirit and consciousness, or could one say that the human being with a functional brain is the prerequisite of consciousness being aware of itself?
 20th June 2011
219) A tsunami of false identification makes me hurt my closest friends questions 408
3rd June 2011
218) How can I reconcile the absolute and relative points of view? questions 407
  • Would you say that there is definitely no Rupert or Jérôme?
 1st April 2011
217) Should I just let life play out as my destiny? questions 406
  • Do you just let life play out as your destiny?
 21st March 2011
216) I understand my true nature, but I don’t feel in total peace questions 405
  • I can´t say I feel “in presence” or in “total peace” or even in a state of “knowing” or “touched by grace”. Can you share some light in why is that?
 18th March 2011
215) How is the word 'awareness' used in your teaching? questions 404
  • I assume that you do not mean them (ever-present Consciousness or Awareness) as some sort of thing, an object or concept that can be grasped. If this is so, why use such terms as it seems to imply content when my understanding is there is only absolute emptiness, unspeakable, indefinable, indescribable and void of all content?
23rd February 2011
214) Is It Necessary To Have Only One Teacher? questions 403
  • I find myself inclined to listen to various expressions and it's been hard for me to focus on one teacher. Is this something I should overcome or can I see things unfold naturally?
 21st February 2011
213) How do we know that awareness is ever-present? questions 402
  • Can Awareness without an object, as in deep sleep, be experienced and, if not, how is it known that it is present at all?
 8th February 2011
212) What is the link between intelligence and consciousness? questions 401
  • If one was a genius but did not know or even explore who or what he was, is he intelligent?
 26th January 2011
211) Is the word 'consciousness' the most accurate way of pointing to our experiencing? questions 400
  • I just wish I could find a verb to better reflect that process, rather than rely on a word (Consciousness) which sounds like just one more object.
 25th January 2011
210) What forms our unique 'I' identity? questions 399
  • Surely the combination of the body/mind's genetic make-up plus the "world" as experienced sensations equals a unique "I" identity. Or is this way off?
 24th January 2011
209) Knowing that there is no doer, what is there to do? questions 398
  • I realize that I am not the body/mind/ego nor that I am the doer so where to from here?
 17th January 2011
208) What is the experience of birth or death? questions 397
  • The substance out of which all apparent objects are made is this eternal Presence which knows no birth or death.
 17th January 2011
207) Should I let grace take its course or establish myself firmly in the seeing? questions 396
  • The question I have is whether I should strive to regain experiences. I have heard people talking about letting grace take its course but also heard that one should establish firmly in the seeing. What would be your suggestion for me?
 11th January 2011
206) Are awareness and nothingness the same thing? questions 395
  • Are Awareness and Emptiness the same thing and would that also be Presence?
 10th January 2011
205) Does having a practice take me away from my true nature? questions 394
  • Seeking and practicing seem contrived. Any words of advice?
 16th November 2010
204) If I’m not really limited, why can’t I know all of reality? questions 393
  • If I'm not really limited and located in one place, then why should I have such a difficulty in knowing anything in the macrocosm or in the microcosm?
15th November 2010
203) Is it true that objective experience can only take place through the mind? questions 392
  • When the concept of separation dissolves, what allows the underlying Consciousness to be experienced instead of the appearances? And is this happening in mind?
 11th November 2010
202) Consciousness remains the same in deep sleep, anaesthesia and death questions 391
  • How can you actually be so sure that Consciousness knows itself during deep sleep, or under anaesthesia or when death occurs and hence no future reconfiguration of the mind?
 10th November 2010
201) Do practices like yoga and working out strengthen our identification with the body? questions 390
  • Would you say that there is a inherent danger in embodiment practices like yoga, qigong etc. (or even worse: working out at the gym) in the way that they strengthen our identification with our body instead of loosening or even transcending it?
 9th November 2010
200) Do meditation practices facilitate a future self-remembering? questions 389
  • Do you think spending time and putting efforts in the initial stage helped you later?
 8th November 2010
199) Does feeling the energy of great saints help the seeker on the path? (En/Ja) questions 388
  • Do you think spiritual energy (in spiritual places) helps in the path?
 6th November 2010
198) What will my daily life look like once I am enlightened? questions 387
  • I think one of the greatest obstacles I seem to face is that I have ideas of what it might look like to not hang onto a personal sense of 'me.'
 2nd November 2010
197) Isn't seeking love and happiness still seeking? questions 386
  • You sometimes describe the end of seeking as the experience of love or happiness but calling it that just sets up another seeking pattern, another idea, about what this is.
 4th October 2010
196) Should I wait for grace to alight, or is there something I can do to end the illusion? questions 385
  • I see that things just happen and that Awareness is, without anything I do and that if I identify with this Conscious Presence and then see what it is, then I am also nothing and yet everything is without any centre.
 1st October 2010
195) How can I be simultaneously apart from and one with an object of experience? questions 384
30th September 2010
194) Are we all different facets of awareness? questions 383
  • While there is no doubt that I am Awareness, am I not a facet of Awareness different from the facet of Awareness that you are?
 29th September 2010
193) Is the sacred, holy part of the spiritual journey necessary? questions 382
  • Have been wondering: is the sacred, holy part necessary, once one knows what is? I mean all that talk and worshipping of "God", rituals etc. etc. In my view it is pure none-sense, isn't it? Or must that all be considered as part of the "dream" ? Hope you understand what I mean.
 28th September 2010
192) Is it possible to investigate the self without an agenda? (En/Ja) questions 381
  • I do this investigation in order to get rid of something...There is always an agenda, even if it is a very very subtle one.
 27th September 2010
191) How can I avoid identifying as a separate self during physical effort? questions 380
  • Do you have anything to say on the matter of physical/bodily effort? I'm noticing that when I'm doing physical work such as running, lifting heavy things or when I'm tired, I seem to identify more often as a separate self than usual.
 24th September 2010
190) What is the non-dual perspective on reincarnation? questions 379
  • If I know myself as pure Consciousness, formless pure light. Does that mean that when I quit that apparent entity, that personality, that ego, that apparent me will dissolve completely?
 23rd September 2010
189) What is meant by 'Everything is happening in this moment'? questions 378
  • Would you please comment on the following statement. "Everything that ever has happened, is happening or ever will happen has already happened, and it's happening right now in this present moment."
 22nd September 2010
188) The Entity And Its Search questions 377
  • You always mention, that when we do this investigation we shouldn't have a subtle agenda, not to do it in order to get rid of something etc.
 21st September 2010
187) Has my inner child gone away or is it hidden? questions 376
  • What I long for is that period of childhood where all you were interested in was playing and having fun. No fear of death or life. Has the child gone away, or is just underneath lots of ideas?
 17th September 2010
186) Are we conscious when we lose consciousness? questions 375
  • Both 'something,' 'nothing' and, therefore, 'everything' are illusions. Only Presence is.
 15th September 2010
185) How to stop an endless desire to know the truth? questions 374
  • I am afraid of trading the spiritual practices and beliefs that I was never completely sure of, for the slippery tenuousness of an intellectual understanding of duality.
 13th September 2010
184) If I am awareness, why do I struggle to feel that presence in everyday life? questions 373
7th September 2010
183) If the physical body is unreal, should we be concerned about its health? questions 372
  • Do you have any words to offer on the health of the physical body, which is bound to die, anyway?
 6th September 2010
182) The phrase 'I am me' confuses me. questions 371
  • Because 'I am' is real the mind wants to go there. However, because it is not objective, the mind cannot.
 3rd September 2010
181) Waiting For Grace To Alight questions 370
  • Is there a particular question or practice that ultimately worked to end this illusion for you or is it like the other non-dualists say and one just waits for grace to alight while walking or shopping!
 2nd September 2010
180) What is your motivation to create artwork? questions 369
  • What is your motivation to create your art work? What is your motivation to create your art work?
 1st September 2010
179) Is it possible to have an experience of love which is not in the mind? questions 368
  • Why do spiritual masters use the term Love to denote the Absolute?
 30th August 2010
178) What can I do to move into the omniscient state, the true nature of all? questions 367
27th August 2010
177) Is anything there when I’m not there? questions 366
  • Are my friends not there when I'm not there? Is anything there when I'm not there?
 26th August 2010
176) Does awareness come from the brain? questions 365
  • I'd appreciate your view on the materialist assertion, now made popular by Dawkins et al., that awareness is an epiphenomenon of brain processes.
 25th August 2010
175) Is there a point in planning any part of life? (En/Ja) questions 364
24th August 2010
174) Is it possible to confirm that a non-dual experience is not a delusion? questions 363
  • Krishnamurti is not saying you "may" be the world, he said you "are" the world. Where is his certainty coming from?
 23rd August 2010
173) Can difficult emotions be dispelled by welcoming them? questions 362
  • Do you have a comment about finally resting in lasting Happiness?
 18th August 2010
172) Why is there the appearance of a relationship with my body-mind? questions 361
7th August 2010
171) What meaning do you give to the word 'knowing'? questions 360
6th August 2010
170) What knowledge helps us understand ultimate reality? questions 359
5th August 2010
169) What is the best way to face the suffering of others? (En/Ja) questions 358
  • What is the best response when faced with another's intense suffering?
 10th July 2010
168) How do I let go of feeling separate? questions 357
9th July 2010
167) Deep sleep, death and reincarnation (En/Sp) questions 356
  • It appears that there is a brand new conciousness that comes with each new creature, based on the fact that I don't remember anything before I was born.
 24th June 2010
166) Can you provide me with techniques to feel or witness being ‘I am’? questions 355
  • How do I or can you provide me with techniques or direct experiences to feel or witness the Beingness 'I am?'
 4th June 2010
165) Can we remain 'as consciousness' for long periods of time? questions 354
  • Can we remain 24 hours as Consciousness directly or is it necessary for the mind to perform some spiritual devotion?
 1st March 2010
164) Is 'direct experience' the only criterion for investigation? questions 353
  • What is the definition of 'direct-experience?' How can I be certain that direct-experience is the only criteria for investigation?
 28th February 2010
163) What do you mean by 'The situation will respond to the situation'? questions 352
27th February 2010
162) The root of addiction (En/Ja) questions 351
  • How do we, as spiritual seekers, avoid the tragic pitfall of addiction?
 26th February 2010
161) Can recurring physical pain be accepted? questions 350
  • Is it possible to take pain for granted the same way other bodily sensations and thoughts can be taken for granted when they appear?
 25th February 2010
160) When you refer to the totality, is it private or shared? questions 349
24th February 2010
159) Does consciousness require a body-mind apparatus in order to know and perceive? questions 348
  • Is it not the case that Consciousness requires a body/mind apparatus in order to become a knower/perceiver?
 23rd February 2010
158) How can I balance my interest in spirituality with my personal relationship? questions 347
  • I do not, under any circumstance, wish to risk hurting my wife or our relationship by my interest in spiritual fulfillment.
 21st February 2010
157) Why does consciousness manifest and allow abuse and violence? questions 346
20th February 2010
156) How can my mind finds its source? (En/Ja) questions 345
19th February 2010
155) Will my reactivity die down over time? questions 344
18th February 2010
154) Is our experience proof that consciousness experiences itself only through one mind? questions 343
  • We assume that Awareness experiences itself through only one mind. Is this only how our mind interprets/filters our experience?
 17th February 2010
153) Should I hold on to empty awareness? questions 342
16th February 2010
152) What is it that is born and dies with the body? questions 341
15th February 2010
151) Is there a distinction between absolute awareness and a consciousness that comes with the body? questions 340
14th February 2010
150) If I am consciousness, why do I always see the world from the same perspective? questions 339
13th February 2010
149) Does memory reinforce my identification as a body? questions 338
  • The sense we have that Consciousness is located as or in the body is a result of Consciousness and the cluster of sensations we call the body.
 12th February 2010
148) How is it possible to experience both time and timelessness? questions 337
11th February 2010
147) What is meant by 'The world is within you'? questions 336
  • What is meant by 'the world is within you?'
 10th February 2010
146) How do I just let go and be? questions 335
  • How do I just let go and be?
 9th February 2010
145) Is the world an illusion or does it have a reality? questions 334
8th February 2010
144) Who is doing the self-enquiry? questions 333
7th February 2010
143) I can't stop myself from searching for my true nature. questions 332
  • I’m aware that the search itself is the thing blocking understanding.
 6th February 2010
142) I can’t quit smoking because there is no ‘me’! questions 331
  • I'm struggling with the conflict between me as the 'doer' vs. the non-doer.
 5th February 2010
141) Do objects dissolve when I dissolve into consciousness? questions 330
  • Consciousness only sees only itself. Right?
4th February 2010
140) If I am not thinking while awake, is my experience one of pure consciousness? questions 329
3rd February 2010
139) Can consciousness ever be without an object? questions 328
  • As long as Consciousness-as-a-human-being appears in Consciousness, how is Consciousness ever without an object?
 2nd February 2010
138) Nothing exists, yet I am: What is the solution to this paradox? questions 327
  • Is it possible to penetrate this mystery?
 1st February 2010
137) How can my feelings match my understanding? questions 326
  • How can my feeling match the understanding that I have?
 31st January 2010
136) How can I break the pattern of fear of confronting others? questions 325
  • Could you tell me something about courage and timidity?
 30th January 2010
135) Can the non-dual teaching cause overwelming fear? questions 324
  • Could the reading of your book have triggered this deep fear?
 29th January 2010
134) Why doesn't conciousness have a mechanism to remember deep sleep? questions 323
  • Why doesn't Conciousness have a mechanism to remember its experience during deep sleep?
 28th January 2010
133) How did you feel at the moment of your awakening? questions 322
  • Is there a moment called awakening?
 27th January 2010
132) Why does enlightenment happen to some people but not others? questions 321
  • Why do some kinds of thought happen to 'my' body-mind but not others?
 26th January 2010
131) Does experience come and go? questions 320
  • You said our experience is made out of the Knowingness. But the other hand, we can see the experience comes and goes. Is there anything contradictory here?
 25th January 2010
130) How do you use the term 'non-duality'? questions 319
  • If I take a deeper look and ask if there are really two things there or just one substance, I find that there is only 'Knowingness' there and no other thing. The 'Knowingness' knows itself. Is my understanding correct?
 24th January 2010
129) Is the table in front of me made of awareness? questions 318
  • 'How' does one get the feeling that a table in front of the body is made out of the knowing?
 23rd January 2010
128) Is it okay for my thoughts to drop away? questions 317
22nd January 2010
127) What is the connection between clearing limiting beliefs and awakening? (En/Ja) questions 316
21st January 2010
126) Is the complete dissolution of the separate self just another thought? questions 315
20th January 2010
125) Do things outside of my consciousness exist? questions 314
  • Consciousness here is not experiencing what Consciousness where you are is experiencing.
 19th January 2010
124) What are the most common fallacies about non-duality? questions 313
  • Would you please point out the most common fallacies/beliefs that seekers have.
 18th January 2010
123) How do we know that the world is an illusion? questions 312
17th January 2010
122) Is being the observer the aim? questions 311
  • So to me it was like ego switched places with being. Is that what I have been aiming for?
 16th January 2010
121) How to let go of the mischievous separate self? questions 310
15th January 2010
120) If I can choose to move my body, it must be who I am questions 309
  • Realizing myself as Consciousness is blocked by my belief that I am this body.
 14th January 2010
119) When do objects become solid? questions 308
13th January 2010
118) Morality and the illusion of a path questions 307
  • If everything is one, what is wrong with causing harm or enjoying life's pleasures?
 12th January 2010
117) Do we see the same world? questions 306
  • We project the world we perceive but what about the other minds that enter our projected world?
 10th January 2010
116) Is consciousness a product of the brain? questions 305
  • Could you please explain why Consciousness is not the product of the brain and why Consciousness is not local.
 7th January 2010
115) Can any practice help me stand as awareness? questions 304
  • I am still feeling confused about "taking my stand as Awareness" and welcoming and letting whatever arises be as it is.
5th January 2010
114) Why does consciousness arise as illusion? questions 303
4th January 2010
113) How can I access the realm in which one loves everyone and everything? questions 302
  • I just want to love everyone and everything, a silent love without any words.....
 3rd January 2010
112) What is the difference between blankness and emptiness? questions 301
2nd January 2010
111) Is the knowing that I am awareness really that simple? questions 300
  • Is that It?! What a feeling, so flat, so ordinary and so simple.
 1st January 2010
110) Does doing imply a doer? (En/Ja) questions 299
  • I still experience the pain and depression and suffer tremendously no matter what 'I do.'
 31st December 2009
109) How can I overcome the fear that I will not exist anymore? questions 298
30th December 2009
108) Do those who awaken have a different experience of passing away? questions 297
  • Do the apparently individual groupings of cognizing Awareness (which we think of as 'I') reappear or do you think each is only temporary and totally insignificant?
 29th December 2009
107) The Knowing/Being Element In All Experience questions 296
  • What connection, if any, does the clearing of unconscious, limiting beliefs have with awakening and self-realization?
 28th December 2009
106) Why do I have this yearning for love? questions 295
  • Why do I have this powerful yearning, this ache, to merge deeply and completely with a woman?
 28th December 2009
105) Is being the observer the aim? questions 294
  • Does true awakening leave no doubts? How can anything change that would not ever be able to be put down to yet another experience or a function of mind?
 27th December 2009
104) How can I identify as consciousness all the time? questions 293
26th December 2009
103) If there is no separate entity, is liberation possible in this life or any other? questions 292
  • As no individual entity whatsoever exists to be reborn, then death would mean the same final release for all pseudo-individuals whether 'liberated in this life' ["enlightened"] or not?
 25th December 2009
102) How do we know that love is impersonal? questions 291
  • Do you think that "love" has any reality outside of the conceptual arena?
 24th December 2009
101) How much unconsciousness is needed to function in our everyday lives? questions 290
23rd December 2009
100) How can humanity collectively know itself as one knowing presence? questions 289
22nd December 2009
99) In cases of our thoughts coming true, are we foretelling the future? questions 288
21st December 2009
98) Do cause and effect have relative reality in everyday life? questions 287
  • Is this perhaps another way of saying, that when living in of from our pure natural state, there is no point of of view being taken?
 20th December 2009
97) Can I stop the separate self from arising? questions 286
  • Is there anything I can do that would actually stop this apparent self from arising or be aware of it more, see it for what it is while it is occuring and not be swept along with it?
 19th December 2009
96) How can I go beyond the battlefield of opinions about the non-dual teaching? (En/Ja) questions 285
  • As much as I enjoy the exchange with others on the path, all too often it turns from honest self-inquiry into a battlefield of opinions. Would you comment?
 18th December 2009
95) What is the relationship between understanding and actualising the non-dual teaching? questions 284
17th December 2009
94) Would you agree that language is at the heart of the belief in separation? questions 283
16th December 2009
93) What is the non-dual view of changing one's perspective on a person or situation? questions 282
  • Recently I have experienced frustration when trying to communicate this single thought, that it is only our perception which changes. Clearly there is some error in my thinking and I would appreciate how I may clarify this.
 15th December 2009
92) Does presence have a plan for this manifestation? questions 281
  • Is Presence just a big data bank, or does it have a purpose/plan for all this manifestation?
 14th December 2009
91) How does memory work? questions 280
13th December 2009
90) Am I only an observer with no free will? questions 279
  • I must be misunderstanding something: I realize that I have set-up a new separate entity -- the witness -- "behind" my experience. I acknowledge this, but that's where I seem to be stuck.
 12th December 2009
89) Is it reasonable to say that the body is a part of me? questions 278
11th December 2009
88) Why does the mind keep seeking despite the simplicity of the message? questions 277
10th December 2009
87) Is calling the world an illusion only semantics? questions 276
9th December 2009
86) Is attending to functional matters different to abiding in stillness? questions 275
8th December 2009
85) Do we choose which thoughts to act upon? questions 274
  • My question is about controlling thoughts. I recognize that thoughts simply appear in our minds, we don't create them. But I do feel that I have choices about following them or not, with what I do with them once there here.
7th December 2009
84) Would you agree that consciousness cannot be conceptualised? questions 273
  • This "Consciousness" is only verbalizabled as "Consciousness" only as long as a being is situated who can observe it and name it. To Itself, so to speak, there isn't any naming, because no other being to give it a name. Would you agree with me on this point?
 6th December 2009
83) What is meant by immediate perception? questions 272
  • Could you explain what is meant by 'direct or immediate perception?'
 4th December 2009
82) What to do when ignorance returns? questions 271
  • What advice do you give for those "who "backslide," as all do, and have you found your experience to also be subject to "backsliding"?
 3rd December 2009
80) Is it mind or consciousness that connects apparent strings of thoughts together? questions 270
  • You say that it is Consciousness that connects thoughts so why did you write that "it is only a thought which connects an apparent string of thoughts together."?
 2nd December 2009
81) What do you mean by 'special thought'? questions 269
  • It is like all the other thoughts are there just to escort this "main 'I' thought". It is like if we can be aware of this "special thought", all the rest collapse!
 2nd December 2009
79) If no practice is necessary, how do I remove the blocks to effortless being? questions 268
  • How do you see the uprooting or exposing of these personal blind spots that seem to block the release into the natural openness of Being? Do you advocate a kind of teacher/student pointing out one-on-one that could lead to this type of release?
 1st December 2009
78) Does the world exist while I am in deep sleep? questions 267
  • I can see how the world independent of perception is never experienced, but it's effects are, so isn't that evidence of its existence?
 30th November 2009
77) Are thoughts not connected to each other? questions 266
  • How can anyone say that thoughts have no connection to each other?
 29th November 2009
76) If the body-mind is made of consciousness, how does illness appear? questions 265
  • Since there is no entity independent of Consciousness where can illness reside?
 28th November 2009
75) Where does mind reside in deep sleep? questions 264
  • Where do memories, beliefs, fears, and desires remain when I am in deep sleep?
 27th November 2009
74) What is meant by transparent and luminous? questions 263
  • I would like to ask you to expand upon the words, transparent and luminous, that you use a lot, both here and in your book, which I feel reflect a greater depth of understanding and Presence.
26th November 2009
73) Why is there the appearance of an evolution of consciousness? questions 262
  • Why is there this evolution? Why doesn't consciousness just 'sit back' and enjoy itself?
 25th November 2009
72) How can I feel that a table is made of knowing? questions 261
  • My question is on the ground of practical level that we can immediately FEEL we are everything. I remember that Krishnamurti says 'You are the world and the world is you'.
 24th November 2009
71) Is there existence without consciousness? questions 260
  • I don't want to dismiss the possibility of something simply because I don't experience it. I'm not conscious in deep sleep. So...does existence stop when I'm not conscious?
 23rd November 2009
70) What does ‘the world arises in me’ really mean? questions 259
  • Nisargadatta said: "For you, you appear in the world. For me, the world appears in me." This is one of those statements that, if one "gets" it, it is the end of story. There is nothing further to get.
 22nd November 2009
69) What is the best approach to releasing thoughts and feelings that are crying out ‘I am separate’? questions 258
  • What is the approach you suggest for releasing the quite complex network of sensations in the body that are crying out that "I am separate"?
 21st November 2009
68) Is space just as much an illusion as time? questions 257
  • Is "space" just as much of an illusion as "time"? They seem to be different, in that space seems to be a matter of actual perception, whereas time is not actually perceived, only thought.
 20th November 2009
67) How can I find the 'I'? questions 256
  • When I look for 'I', the main thing is that I don't find it....
 19th November 2009
66) Is the timeless interval between two things all there is? questions 255
  • Perhaps you'd agree, then, that the "timeless interval between" you pointed to, is thus all that actually is?
 18th November 2009
65) Who is it who wants to knowingly become consciousness? questions 254
  • Consciousness is already everything it could ever be. It is one seamless homogenous substance that can never be depleted, added to, changed or moved.....it gains or looses nothing from the entire human adventure.
 17th November 2009
64) Why does it take so long? questions 253
  • How come just knowing this is not enough and it takes so long?
 15th November 2009
63) How can we define ourselves? questions 252
  • Our self is not known by anything other than its own self.
 14th November 2009
62) Do mental patterns have to become conscious before we can let them go? questions 251
  • This recognition of our own Being is not the result of a process in the mind. It is its own cause, so to speak. It is not caused by anything outside of itself.
 13th November 2009
61) Is it useful to explore the patterns of my mind? questions 250
  • Is there any usefulness of familiarizing myself with the patterns and reactions of my mind?
 12th November 2009
60) Which self is being enquired into here? questions 249
  • Which self is being enquired into here? It seems to me that there are layers of self, the fake self and real self and as the enquiry goes deeper into the one, it dissolves, allowing the other one, reality, to come into the light.
 11th November 2009
59) Is understanding an event in the mind? questions 248
  • The release of the sense of a centre is not so much of an event as a release of any hope or expectation or need for such an event taking place.
 10th November 2009
58) Why does awareness pretend to be a separate self? questions 247
  • Pretending to be a small separate self and then forgetting it is playing a game seems an odd thing for pure Awareness to do. Why should it do this with all the suffering entailed?
 9th November 2009
57) Who benefits from exploring non-duality? questions 246
  • Would it not be the case that the more one believes or feels there is something positive to be gained from the teachings, the more one has to take a position as an entity capable of receiving and benefiting from teachings?
 8th November 2009
56) What to do when suffering is fierce? questions 245
  • So much of self-enquiry seems to turn on space and quiet reflection. But what about when the emotion's kicking in bigtime? Is it business as usual? "Who's suffering?" "Who's asking the question?"
 7th November 2009
55) Can we choose when to make the personal mind subside into its source? questions 244
  • My experience is that I have absolutely no say over such events. No matter what I read, or hear, or do or not do, such a happening or non happening happens spontaneously.
 6th November 2009
54) Does suffering recede in the absence of a separate self? questions 243
  • I am intrigued by this topic about the connection between suffering and the belief in a "me", and whether in the absence of belief in "me", suffering perhaps recedes.
 5th November 2009
53) Is irritation an expression of grace? questions 242
  • Isn't irritation an expression of Grace? How could it not be?
 4th November 2009
52) Do emotions such as irritation, sorrow and regret disappear with understanding? questions 241
  • If understanding leads to the absence of these emotional ups and downs, including sorrow over the loss of a loved one, regret when one inadvertently breaks a promise, irritation when another does something disagreeable, it seems -- to this limited mind -- unnatural.
 3rd November 2009
51) Can consciousness change past and future events? questions 240
  • Does this mean that all the shapes that Conciousness takes continue 'for ever', with the consequence that all past events are present ('happening') right now?
 2nd November 2009
50) What is the difference between deep sleep and death? questions 239
  • What is the difference between deep sleep and death?
 1st November 2009
49) Who takes their stand as awareness? questions 238
  • If we don't chose our thoughts, then we don't chose our actions, so who effects change or takes a stand as Awareness?
 13th October 2009
48) Are we limited by the human senses in our discovery of truth? questions 237
  • In exploring our direct experience, I often wonder how much we can trust it.
 12th October 2009
47) Is a teacher required? (En/Ja) questions 236
  • When you say help from a teacher, do you mean going and being with a teacher?
8th October 2009
46) A non-dual perspective on kundalini awakening questions 235
  • I had an "awakening" about two years ago, fueled by kundalini...I have yet to see any non-dual teacher discuss kundalini.
 7th October 2009
45) Should we be seeking or doing nothing? questions 234
  • I have come to the conclusion that it's a matter of grace, and there is nothing outside of that that can affect a thing in regards to awakening.
6th October 2009
44) How to cope with egoic backlashes? questions 233
  • I am noticing now that there seems to be an egoic backlash happening since that "seeing" happened. Is that possible?
 1st October 2009
43) How can I fall more deeply in love with truth? questions 232
  • Somehow this intellectual understanding (or whatever I should call it) has to become real at the level of the body and the world or what's the use, right?
 30th September 2009
42) Can we know ourself as awareness at all times? questions 231
  • Is this what you mean when you suggest we stand as awareness....That a person repeatedly attends to the sense of ‘I am’ or being?
 29th September 2009
41) How does your explanation of consciousness differ from Nisargadatta's? questions 230
  • I have a problem in the understanding and the difference between Nisargadattas' and Rupert's explanation of consciousness.
 28th September 2009
40) Is the aim to not feel confined to the body? questions 229
  • Last night I was looking for the "I". What was seen for the first time is that the "I" is not local, not connected to my body....There was no huge feeling of love, no huge feeling of peace, but there did seem to be more freedom not being confined to the body...
 27th September 2009
39) The Transparent, Luminous Substance of Presence - 2 questions 228
  • If this process and awareness is complete, one would not have to open the door to go through it...
 26th September 2009
38) If awareness is complete, why is there a door to walk through? questions 227
  • Now speak, if you will, about the experience of a door........As the experience of the door and the experiencer are one whole,...why the solidity that causes the need to open the door to walk to it's other side?
 26th September 2009
37) When there is a need for food, how can we say that consciousness has freedom? questions 226
  • Why that Rupert-Consciousness shining through the node of sensations which can be called Rupert-Body does not enjoy the Freedom to enter ramesam-body and know Ramesam-mind?
 25th September 2009
36) Are high levels of concentration a pre-requisite for enlightenment? questions 225
  • I would like to know whether you consider achieving high levels of concentration necessary for enlightenment.
24th September 2009
35) Do questions continue after awakening? questions 224
  • Thank you, Rupert, for freeing me from the feeling that I failed class.......
 23rd September 2009
34) Why are there many ways to fall into the knowing of consciousness? questions 223
  • How do you respond to the idea that there are many ways of 'falling' into the knowingness of Consciousness?
 22nd September 2009
33) Why does consciousness forget itself? questions 222
  • Does Consciousness Forget Itself?
 21st September 2009
32) Is the solidity and continuity of the world an illusion? questions 221
  • Is my following understanding correct? Like a movie film run through a projector gives the illusion of solidity and movement on a movie screen, but actually is a series of "stills," so is the world actually a fast moving series of "stills" appearing solid and continuous but can be seen through as a transparency.
 20th September 2009
31) Can awareness be both conscious and unconscious? questions 220
  • It seems to me that you 'explain' things mostly from the standpoint of the Absolute without giving due attention to the relative.
 19th September 2009
30) Does 'practice' imply two worldviews, one of ignorance and the other of consciousness? questions 219
  • How are the ideas of Karma, Kalpas and Evolution reconciled with Non-duality?
 18th September 2009
29) What can we be certain of? questions 218
  • I can tell you that I have no certainty about anything...
 17th September 2009
27) Why is the visual sense the most convincing to the mind? questions 217
  • I'm really fascinated by the discovery, that (in my direct experience) everything is made out of "sensing", as you put it - that there aren't any objects, only experience.
15th September 2009
28) As a man is, so he sees questions 216
  • Is what a man is....a matter of continual natural refinement?
 16th September 2009
26) Does a separate entity suffer or awaken? questions 215
  • I am seeking some clarification on the view and understanding of this so called awakening process, sudden or gradual that is being described here.
 14th September 2009
25) Does consciousness know itself when there is no experience? questions 214
  • I still don't see in direct experience how Consciousness can know itself in deep dreamless sleep.
 13th September 2009
24) Who awakens? (En/Ja) questions 213
  • If all of life is a mental construct, a waking dream, what would it be like to awaken? Who awakens? Awaken to what?
 12th September 2009
23) Does consciousness know itself in deep sleep? questions 212
  • Would you say that in deep sleep Consciousness knows itself?
 11th September 2009
22) How can I know that other people have their own perceptions? questions 211
  • Being the perceived, how can other people be having their own private, personal perceptions? Isn't there just the one Perceiver: Consciousness?
 10th September 2009
21) Do appearances veil or reveal consciousness? questions 210
  • On page 57 of your book you refer to the traditional Vedic teachings as sometimes emphasizing the veiling power of appearances that obscure the background of consciousness, and that in the Tantric approach the very same appearances are understood to reveal and express the background itself. Is there any light you can shed on this?
9th September 2009
20) Should I do anything about my tendency to avoid social contact? questions 209
  • I wanted to ask about an experience of many who are newly awakened where there is a falling away of a need for social contact.
 8th September 2009
19) Is it necessary to practice Kashmir Tantric yoga on a daily basis? questions 208
  • Please clarify... the necessity to embody the understanding...that is to say to daily practice tantric Kasmir yoga."
7th September 2009
18) In your teaching, is awareness the same as consciousness? questions 207
  • Would you say that there is something that knows the coming and going of Consciousness, or would you say no, that there is nothing outside Consciousness?
 6th September 2009
17) Is an intellectual understanding a prelude to a complete body exploration? questions 206
  • I had the strange impression reading your book that you were saying that in a sense all this mental understanding you developped was the first step before a complete body exploration...
 5th September 2009
16) Do body practices reinforce the sense of me? questions 205
  • Are body pratices a continuation of the search and thus a risk of the reenforcement of the sense of me?
4th September 2009
15) Is consciousness elusive? questions 204
  • It makes such perfect sense and is so obvious. How can it be so elusive at the same time?
3rd September 2009
14) Does consciousness really choose anything? questions 203
  • In your book you say that Consciousness chooses to forget itself through seeking, etc...but does Consciousness really choose anything?
2nd September 2009
13) Is it true that the sense of separation cannot exist without an object of comparison? questions 202
  • The feeling of a 'me' cannot exist without any'thing' that is 'not me' for comparison - yes?
 1st September 2009
12) Why use dualistic notions to share the non-dual understanding? questions 201
  • You comment that Awareness or Consciousness is simply observing the various arisings...as though there are two things: one called Awareness or Consciousness and the other called arisings. Why would you posit such a dualistic notion in an effort to share the wisdom of non-dual experience?
 31st August 2009
11) Why is there Ignorance? questions 200
  • What I fail to understand is WHY we have the 'I-thought' or the concept of self?
 30th August 2009
9) Is the continuity of awareness during deep sleep an assumption? questions 199
  • Does Awareness continue during deep sleep?
 29th August 2009
10) How would you define the essence of your teaching in a simple statement? questions 198
  • How would you define in a quick simple statement, the core essence of your teachings and the way to get there?
 29th August 2009
8) Why do negative feelings manifest physically? (En/Ja) questions 197
  • One thing I wanted to ask about is your answer to a question about the part feelings play.
 28th August 2009
6) Does Advaita fail to answer fundamental questions? questions 196
  • I understood the logic you have used to explain the Onness of "Consciousness" in which everything arises....
 27th August 2009
5) Is there seriality? questions 195
  • On p.99 of The Transparency Of Things, you say "Our experience is one of a stream of appearances in Consciousness......
 27th August 2009
7) What is the experience of deep sleep? questions 194
  • I especially like your “starting point” of only trusting ones actual experience and refraining from trusting the manifold underlying concepts that often go along with it.....
 28th August 2009
4) What happens when we become aware of something new? questions 193
  • When my attention is pointed to the paper on which the words are written then I become aware of it, where I was not before....
 31st July 2009
3) How can I check that awareness is not manufactured by the brain? questions 192
  • How can I test to see if Awareness isn’t just some white noise or something manufactured by the brain?
 30th July 2009
2) How can I see clearly that the substance of all objects of experience is consciousness? questions 191
  • I still have trouble seeing that Consciousness or Awareness and those objects which appear to it (to me) are one and the same! What am I missing?
 29th July 2009
1) Why am I unhappy despite realising the truth? (En/Ja) questions 190
  • Is there anything that can be done towards the realisation of the true nature of experience?
 28th July 2009
Peace and happiness are present under all conditions and at all times essays 188
31st March 2009
The imaginary birth of the self and the world (En/Du/Sp) essays 187
27th February 2009
Nobody falls asleep and nobody wakes up (En/Du) essays 186
2nd December 2008
The mind, the body, and the world are expressions of consciousness essays 185
5th July 2009
Awareness shines in every experience essays 184
5th July 2009
The nature of experience (En/Du) essays 183
5th September 2008
What is our actual experience of an object? (En/Du) essays 182
8th April 2009
Love is the substance of all experience (En/Du) essays 181
12th May 2009
How can I transcend self-sabotage, fear, doubt or pessimistic thinking? essays 180
29th April 2009
Consciousness is not ever-lasting, but ever-present essays 179
24th June 2009
Is it possible to be aware of deep sleep? essays 178
28th August 2009
Deep Sleep, Death and Reincarnation essays 177
24th June 2010
From the known, to the knower, to knowing (En/Sp) essays 176
10th January 2012
Interview with Paula Marvelly: Contemplating the Nature of Experience (En/Ja) interviews 173
5th February 2010
Interview with Daphne Astor: Consciousness and the Role of the Artist interviews 170
5th February 2002