00:46
so the focus of the teaching or the
00:50
methodology that the approach you could
00:53
say is an approach that looks at this
00:56
topic of enlightenment
00:58
from practical daily living perspective
01:02
which we can call a bottom-up approach
01:06
there are the top-down approaches in non
01:10
dual teachings which emphasize and look
01:14
at not so much daily living and the
01:17
practical deliverance of this
01:21
transformation but rather point at that
01:25
aspect of the human being or the aspect
01:27
of life experience that is unrecognized
01:30
and these two aspects are two aspects of
01:39
the one thing if liberation if
01:44
enlightenment comes with an inseparable
01:47
benefit if liberation or enlightenment
01:52
delivers a practical outcome and let’s
01:57
face it if it doesn’t deliver a
01:59
practical outcome what’s the point if it
02:04
does deliver a practical outcome that is
02:07
inseparable from the transformation then
02:12
it makes sense that we can investigate
02:14
we can inquire into this topic from both
02:20
angles they’re both valid given that
02:24
they are essentially two perspectives or
02:28
two sides of a singularity so the
02:33
teaching is suggesting that there is a
02:35
practical outcome from the realization
02:41
of self or from if we want to be more
02:45
broad the changes that happen through
02:51
this process and the practical outcome
02:54
that is delivered is said to be
02:56
happiness for the human being in daily
02:59
living
02:59
and that happiness is not a happiness
03:02
through achieving outcomes but happiness
03:06
through peace of mind and peace of mind
03:09
is this defined as the absence or the
03:12
end of suffering so the important point
03:16
that I’m making here is that it is
03:18
happiness for the human being in daily
03:22
living and part of that happiness which
03:26
is peace of mind
03:27
part of that peace of mind setting in
03:31
means that there has to be a clarity
03:36
about daily living because after all the
03:42
benefit is happiness for the human being
03:44
in daily living so what is daily living
03:47
daily living is essentially into human
03:50
relationship that’s one part of daily
03:54
living into human relationship another
03:58
part of daily living is decision making
04:05
the story of life unfolds through the
04:10
mechanism of everyone making many times
04:13
in the day decisions choices now I’m not
04:21
suggesting by the terminology that a
04:23
decision or a choice belongs to a
04:27
separate independent entity because as
04:29
we will discuss the instrument through
04:34
which consciousness is functioning the
04:36
combination of impersonal consciousness
04:39
in the body mind organism that we can
04:41
call the human being is not separate and
04:45
independent and yet we can’t deny that
04:48
decisions get made that’s how life
04:51
unfolds we can’t deny that life prevents
04:54
presents options and at a particular
04:59
moment one of several or many options is
05:04
picked so decision-making is
05:10
part of daily living and another factor
05:17
that’s very relevant and part of daily
05:20
living relevant to this topic is
05:23
biological reactions biological
05:27
reactions that happen throughout the day
05:31
and psychological reactions
05:45
so let’s look at biological reactions
05:53
biological reactions are those things
05:58
that happen as part of the flow of life
06:03
as part of the circumstance so the
06:06
example that we used last time was a
06:09
group of friends in a taxi each of them
06:15
each one a human being and the human
06:19
being in each moment as a result of two
06:22
factors if we can find a third factor
06:24
than the concepts in the teaching start
06:28
to lose traction but the description
06:34
here and if you investigated for
06:36
yourself is that the human being in each
06:38
moment is a result of what came before
06:42
what came before that particular moment
06:45
the human being has been shaped by life
06:47
and in particular the human being as a
06:51
result of the genes that we didn’t
06:55
choose and the up-to-date-conditioning
06:59
meaning the cumulative the accumulation
07:03
of all of the new conditioning that life
07:05
delivers moment after moment after
07:07
moment throughout our life so in each
07:10
moment the the human being is a unique
07:12
biological instrument with consciousness
07:16
or through which consciousness functions
07:18
and so from this perspective we can see
07:23
that whatever the human being does is
07:28
life happening life functioning through
07:35
the human being having designed the
07:37
human being a particular way in order
07:39
for the human being to have to function
07:41
the way that we do in each moment
07:43
according to our grand design so we go
07:49
to the four people in a taxi we’re in
07:54
India so we’ll use an Indian example
07:57
and at the traffic lights that’s a group
08:00
of beggars come up to the car and each
08:06
of the four people in the car will have
08:10
a different reaction to the situation
08:12
one might feel fear the other might feel
08:16
anger another compassion and the fourth
08:20
interest
08:24
we’re very programmed to be attached to
08:29
outcomes meaning attached to pleasure
08:32
essentially craving pleasure and of have
08:36
being averse to pain now these
08:38
biological reactions exactly that
08:42
they’re a biological reaction expression
08:46
and movement in the moment by the human
08:50
being who is functioning according to
08:52
their genes and up-to-date-conditioning
08:54
and the thinking mind who which has
09:00
become obsessed with pleasure pleasure
09:03
pleasure obsessed with insisting that
09:08
the human beings a particular way
09:09
according to expectations because the
09:13
belief is that if I am a particular way
09:16
that will deliver happiness that will
09:19
deliver completeness because of that the
09:21
thinking mind here’s a description of
09:24
four biological reactions fear anger
09:28
compassion and interest and it’s as well
09:31
the first two don’t sound at all
09:34
beneficial so they are bad biological
09:38
reactions so there’s a judgment and it
09:41
says are the one that had the reaction
09:44
the biological reaction of compassion
09:46
that’s what is how we should all be and
09:51
the point here is that there are four
09:53
people finding themselves in more or
09:56
less the same circumstance each person
09:59
has their own genes and
10:01
up-to-date-conditioning that will
10:04
automatically express a particular way
10:06
the person doesn’t have a choice the
10:09
person doesn’t control what reaction
10:15
happens what biological reaction happens
10:17
and so if this starts to be seen more
10:23
clearly there is scope for the human
10:26
being to start seeing the reactions in
10:30
the moment of which there are
10:31
uncountable numbers of throughout the
10:36
day some very small and unknown less
10:40
noticeable and others quite extreme and
10:43
if the human being can understand this
10:46
point that it’s not about judging the
10:49
biological reaction as valid or invalid
10:51
but rather it’s about seeing the
10:54
movement as a biological reaction in the
10:57
moment understanding that that was a
11:01
result of one’s makeup no control over
11:06
the makeup no control over the
11:09
circumstance that we find ourselves in
11:11
and hence no control over the reaction
11:15
so even if someone says well you know I
11:19
do have control of my biological
11:21
reaction I used to find myself getting
11:25
angry and now I find myself counting to
11:32
ten or taking three deep breaths and
11:34
after doing that and before getting
11:38
angry the biological reaction of anger
11:43
no longer happens and if we look into
11:47
this more closely we’ll see that that
11:50
person as a result of their past
11:54
experience may be seeing that anger was
11:57
arising regularly um came up with this
12:02
solution and what actually came up with
12:05
the solution was the working mind let’s
12:07
say which is a result of the genes and
12:12
the experience and
12:13
up-to-date-conditioning up to that point
12:15
in time so we might think that I am the
12:20
one that came up with the solution
12:22
but rather life shaped us to come up
12:25
with this solution if we introduce the
12:29
notion which is more likely is that we
12:31
went to an anger-management class or we
12:33
read anger management booklet and in
12:38
that booklet there was the suggestion
12:41
the new conditioning that next time you
12:44
feel anger arising see if you can take
12:47
three deep breaths see if you can count
12:50
to 10 and then see if after that space
12:55
maybe the biological reaction of anger
12:59
is not what continues to arise and so if
13:03
we look at that we see life delivered
13:06
new conditioning in the form of the book
13:09
that gave us this suggestion and that
13:12
new conditioning became part of our
13:14
up-to-date conditioning and so what we
13:16
think is my control over the anger is
13:22
actually just a new biological reaction
13:25
in the moment which is the biological
13:29
reaction of having a thought takes three
13:32
deep breaths and then three deep breaths
13:35
happen and then admittedly after the
13:39
three deep breaths the biological
13:43
reaction that can sometimes happen when
13:46
the thought to take three deep breaths
13:49
isn’t there may not arise so there are
13:56
there is the potential for one’s
13:58
biological biological reactions to
14:02
change but it will change once again
14:05
based on the genes and
14:07
up-to-date-conditioning that we’re not
14:09
in control of so going back to the taxi
14:17
for people find themselves in more or
14:20
less the same situation and one feels
14:24
anger one feels fear the other
14:26
compassion and the other interest there
14:28
are four different biological reactions
14:31
arising in four different biological
14:34
instruments
14:35
if we can start to see to witness as it
14:41
happens in real time or even after the
14:45
event that that was a biological
14:48
reaction and to accept it as that then
14:57
the very usual psychological reactions
15:02
which happen after a biological reaction
15:07
the psychological reaction that judges
15:11
the biological reaction is appropriate
15:13
or inappropriate and then judges oneself
15:17
as a success or failure can start to
15:22
fall away
15:36
this applies to the way that we react in
15:43
a restaurant towards the waiter in a
15:47
relationship towards our partner or our
15:49
friends how we react to a total stranger
15:53
on the street how we react when we watch
15:58
something on television life is always a
16:03
sequence of biological reactions the
16:07
biological reaction is part of the flow
16:10
of life and therefore either pleasure or
16:12
pain the freedom that we have in life is
16:23
not a freedom from pain not a freedom of
16:27
pleasure pleasure pleasure but rather a
16:30
psychological freedom the end of
16:33
suffering and that freedom is always on
16:36
the level of our attitude to the flow of
16:39
life that means a freedom on the level
16:43
of our attitude to the biological
16:45
reactions that happen and the attitude
16:52
that is an attitude of freedom is an
16:55
attitude that allows the flow of life to
16:58
be as it is allows the functioning of
17:01
the human being in daily living to be as
17:04
it is understanding that that is a
17:06
result of one’s genes and
17:07
up-to-date-conditioning factors two
17:10
factors that we’re not in control of and
17:12
which dictate the way that we function
17:15
in each moment and the attitude that is
17:21
one of the absence of freedom is an
17:27
attitude of seeing the biological
17:31
reaction as my doing believing oneself
17:35
to be a separate independent entity in
17:38
complete control of everything that we
17:40
think everything we feel everything we
17:42
say and our behaviors our actions
17:47
and then seeing ourself that way and
17:51
also believing that our happiness is to
17:53
be found in outcomes that really what
17:56
needs to happen is we need to be a
17:58
perfect human being in order to deliver
18:00
pleasure pleasure pleasure the other has
18:02
to be a perfect human being and with
18:06
this combination of first Lander ship an
18:08
attachment to outcome then the attitude
18:11
to the flow of life has to be one of
18:15
resisting or trying to hold on to life
18:19
as it is in a particular moment so peace
18:27
of mind is when that attitude falls away
18:32
and then life is allowed to flow the
18:39
human being is allowed to flow
18:50
so from a certain perspective we can
18:53
describe life as a predetermined story
18:56
unfolding exactly as its destined to
18:58
unfold and the biological reaction in
19:01
each moment and the psychological
19:04
reaction so the psychological reaction
19:09
we often call the thinking mind the
19:14
biological reaction is or at least part
19:21
of one aspect of the biological
19:23
reactions is what we can we usually call
19:25
the working mind and so if we see that
19:31
life is a predetermined story unfolding
19:35
exactly as its destined to unfold
19:37
seeing that each human being is
19:39
functioning the only way they can in
19:42
each moment because life was only one
19:46
way before in theory life could have
19:49
been anything
19:51
infinite Pot and potentiality if
19:53
anything in life was different then the
19:56
whole unfolding would be different when
20:00
we look back on life we see that even
20:02
though there was in theory infinite
20:04
potentiality only one potentiality
20:09
actualizes and because only one
20:13
potentiality actualizes what has come
20:17
before is fixed the one way that it
20:21
actualized which means at this very
20:23
moment we are not separate from the
20:26
fixed that came before which really
20:28
means we are part of the fixed our
20:33
movement is dictated is determined by
20:37
that which came for the feelings we have
20:42
in this moment is part of that unfolding
20:50
so if life can be seen to be a story
20:54
unfolding and all of the biological
20:56
reactions that happen all of the
20:57
psychological reactions that happen
21:00
our all part of that story all of the
21:02
circumstances that we find ourself in if
21:05
we find ourself in a traffic jam
21:07
that’s circumstance and it’s part of the
21:10
experience part of the creation it is
21:14
the creation in that moment in the
21:19
thinking mind which is judging the
21:22
experience as appropriate or
21:25
inappropriate that life should or
21:27
shouldn’t be this way the thinking mind
21:30
can start to dissolve because that
21:39
thinking mind that is judging life as
21:43
something that could be different can’t
21:46
remain indefinitely when life is seen as
21:50
a happening that is this way was
21:55
previously a particular way and
21:57
therefore can’t
21:59
once it has manifested a particular way
22:02
can’t be different and couldn’t have
22:04
been different so the logic or rationale
22:09
of the thinking mind is in in opposition
22:16
with the understanding that sees life as
22:19
a happening unfolding not according to
22:22
my will or your will but according to
22:24
the will of life or the will of God
22:33
and that story that creation the
22:38
creation of life the predetermined or
22:42
the determined the inevitable story of
22:47
life unfolds through the mechanics of
22:52
decisions being made moment after moment
22:56
after moment the decision is part of the
23:06
story we can look at it as a leads to B
23:11
leads to C leads to D and we can also
23:14
look at it as D leads to C leads to B
23:18
leads to a if it if it is a story that
23:21
is in existence the movement doesn’t
23:25
only have to be a to B to C to D but we
23:29
can look at it as D to C to B to a it’s
23:32
all already here and so the mechanism by
23:40
which life unfolds is the mechanism of
23:43
decision making the decision happens
23:50
through the human being part of the
23:54
story of life but it’s a decision that
23:56
was always destined to happen the only
24:02
decision that can be made given the
24:04
circumstance the way it is and the human
24:07
being being the way that they are so we
24:13
can see that in theory the human being
24:16
is not in control of the decision that’s
24:18
get gets made the decision is a result
24:21
of the circumstance not in our control
24:23
and our genes and
24:25
up-to-date-conditioning not in our
24:26
control in the moment there is the
24:31
feeling of free will which we can’t
24:33
discount a feeling that I am completely
24:39
free to choose any one of the five
24:41
options
24:44
and one option at a certain point of
24:50
point in time as destined is picked and
24:53
then we see that the outcome of picking
24:56
a particular option is not in our
24:58
control so we choose the orange juice at
25:01
a restaurant after having looked at the
25:04
menu all part of the circumstance the
25:07
choice that we make is based on our
25:09
genes and up-to-date-conditioning and
25:12
the circumstance we find ourself in a
25:14
choice that we were always destined to
25:16
make based on those factors we make the
25:20
choice and we order the orange juice and
25:21
then five minutes later the waiter
25:23
returns and says for example I’m sorry
25:28
we’ve run out of oranges so you can’t
25:30
have any orange juice so once we’ve made
25:33
the decision the outcome not in your
25:34
control or the waiter comes back and
25:39
gives you your own juice so the fact
25:43
that we get what we want sometimes
25:45
doesn’t mean that we’re in control
25:46
because sometimes we get what we want
25:48
and sometimes we don’t get what we want
25:50
sometimes we get much more than what we
25:53
want
26:00
so in theory we’re not in control in
26:02
practice we’re not in control because
26:06
we’re not in control of the outcome and
26:08
in the moment there is the fortunate
26:13
feeling of free will which doesn’t leave
26:20
us once this is the dynamics of life are
26:24
seen more clearly that is the gift that
26:29
we as humans are given a feeling of
26:35
having free will and so from this
26:39
perspective we can start to see our my
26:43
my free will what feels like my choice
26:47
which I actually see is a choice that
26:50
was always destined to happen means that
26:54
my free will and God’s will are not to
27:06
that God God’s will comes about through
27:10
in each moment a person following
27:15
whatever they think or feel like doing
27:21
that’s a description and not an
27:26
assertion that because someone does what
27:28
they think or feel to do that they have
27:32
independent existence
27:35
it doesn’t imply that they have control
27:38
it’s just a description that life
27:41
unfolds through this mechanism a
27:44
mechanism of making a decision and
27:47
having the feeling of freewill
27:49
feeling like it is my decision and yet
27:53
being able to investigate and see well
27:55
actually what I call my decision is a
27:59
decision and an action happening through
28:01
me so we can call it Rogers decision as
28:05
opposed to the dog’s decision or Rogers
28:08
decision as opposed to Peters decision
28:11
but when I say
28:13
it was Rogers decision I also understand
28:16
that that was the decision of life using
28:20
Roger as an instrument through which a
28:23
particular decision gets made the
28:26
outcome of which not in my control an
28:29
outcome that might deliver pain to
28:30
myself might deliver pain to another or
28:35
could deliver pleasure to myself or
28:38
pleasure to another
28:48
so then on this basis someone could ask
28:51
well if life is completely predetermined
28:57
how should I live my life and the answer
29:06
also a description and not really a
29:08
prescription even though the question
29:10
was aren’t asking for a prescription the
29:15
answer that sounds like a prescription
29:17
but actually is a description so you
29:19
have to think about this
29:20
um maybe after the fact the answer is
29:25
this in each moment do exactly what you
29:28
think or feel to do and then once you
29:37
have done whatever you think or feel to
29:39
do sit back and relax knowing that the
29:42
outcome isn’t in your control sometimes
29:44
you get what you want sometimes you
29:46
don’t get what you want sometimes you
29:47
get much more than what you want sit
29:51
back relax and see what happens
29:54
with the attitude of understanding that
29:57
the decision was part of the
29:59
predetermined story of life the only
30:02
decision I could have made in fact God’s
30:04
will or life’s will and with this
30:14
attitude then we sit back with no
30:16
regrets in the past meaning no regrets
30:21
for the decisions that were made in the
30:25
past regardless of the positive outcomes
30:27
or the negative outcomes because the
30:29
regret is something that sees those
30:33
decisions as something that I as a
30:36
separate independent entity made and
30:40
imagines that this human instrument
30:44
could have made a different decision
30:49
that imagination is based on not seeing
30:53
the human being as a biological and
30:56
psychological instrument
30:59
that imagination is based on knowing
31:01
oneself as entity that is completely
31:08
responsible an entity that has some
31:13
volition in making a decision and so if
31:24
that’s dissolved then the regret in the
31:27
past doesn’t happen the complaining in
31:32
the present doesn’t happen because we
31:36
understand that the moment eases the way
31:38
it is sometimes pleasure sometimes pain
31:41
and complaining about it
31:43
isn’t going to change it by all means in
31:46
the present moment do exact anything you
31:48
can to improve the situation but
31:51
complaining about it is not changing it
32:01
more action and less complaining is fine
32:04
and with this understanding then the
32:08
expectation in the future doesn’t happen
32:11
because it’s understood that well the
32:13
future is going to turn out one way and
32:15
that way is not in my control a part of
32:18
the unfolding of life so decision making
32:24
can become much more effortless process
32:33
some people will make decisions based on
32:38
a calculated approach to the situation
32:42
they will do that if that’s part of
32:45
their genes and up-to-date-conditioning
32:46
they have to approach a decision from a
32:50
calculated point of view if that’s their
32:52
makeup someone else might find that they
32:57
simply can’t look at a decision from a
33:00
calculated point of view their logic or
33:04
their skills of analysis not something
33:09
that work particularly well
33:13
and so Ramesh’s suggestion was if that’s
33:16
the case and you find it hard to make
33:17
decisions and toss a coin because if you
33:21
find yourself tossing a coin it means it
33:25
was part of the story of life destiny
33:28
for the decision to get made through
33:31
that mechanism the mechanism of making
33:34
decision using a coin acquaint us to
33:40
come to the choice that is in a way as
33:49
valid a way of making a decision as a
33:53
calculated approach the outcome not in
33:57
your control one way or the other and
34:02
you are functioning according to your
34:05
makeup so someone who has the capacity
34:08
and interest in making a calculated
34:10
decision won’t find tossing a coin an
34:15
acceptable method of making a choice
34:19
however someone who says I simply can’t
34:21
make a decision through analysis it I
34:24
just get lost the suggestion is well if
34:30
it makes sense to you to allow coin to
34:35
make the decision then that’s valid
34:38
because if it happens it’s part of the
34:40
story of life
34:52
what if there is so much fear sometimes
34:56
with taking any decision because there
34:59
are always gonna be consequences to be
35:02
lived and one has seen in life that one
35:07
has taken decisions and there have been
35:09
consequences and nobody else has come
35:12
forward and have had to deal and digest
35:16
those consequences so you reach one I
35:19
reach a point sometimes when I say it’s
35:21
best not to take a decision which in
35:24
itself is a decision so that’s a very
35:28
important point that we need to consider
35:30
or be aware of in decision making but
35:33
not making a decision is a valid
35:36
decision and if that happens then that –
35:40
we can look at as life unfolding and in
35:43
that moment it was destined for a
35:45
decision not to be made and we can look
35:48
at it as I didn’t make a decision which
35:50
meant that the decision was to make no
35:52
decision the other thing we have to
35:57
acknowledge is what you’ve pointed out
35:58
that decisions have outcomes the outcome
36:05
is what I’m pointing out is not in your
36:07
control like no matter how calculated a
36:12
decision you make there are still going
36:15
to be factors that can change the
36:19
outcome or can impact influence the
36:22
outcome such that is it is not what you
36:26
expected this is not to say that a
36:29
calculated decision or someone who makes
36:32
calculated decisions might not find the
36:37
outcomes of their decisions more in line
36:40
with what they would like because the
36:44
act of functioning a particular way has
36:48
its correlation to what comes next but
36:52
what’s important is to understand if we
36:55
don’t have that capacity it’s just not
36:58
part of our makeup so it’s not possible
36:59
to function that way so even if we hear
37:01
that making calculated decisions
37:04
may mean that we get better outcomes
37:06
more frequently keeping in mind that it
37:10
doesn’t mean we will always get positive
37:12
outcomes and we can also see there are
37:15
times when we make non calculated
37:18
decisions and we get great outcomes
37:21
there is always going to be an outcome
37:24
the outcome means either pleasure or
37:28
pain part of the circumstance of life
37:31
part of the flow of life if our
37:36
self-identity is highly attached to
37:40
outcomes meaning if there is the strong
37:44
belief that my happiness my completion
37:47
my fullness is to be found in outcomes
37:52
is to be found when life looks a
37:53
particular way then each time we are
37:57
faced with a decision it can feel like a
38:00
quasi life-or-death decision like I have
38:07
to make the right decision because if I
38:09
make the wrong decision which means pain
38:11
that’s an attack on Who I am which is
38:16
one of the ingrained beliefs part of our
38:20
attitude that can make decision-making
38:23
very difficult and if that’s the case
38:27
once again we go back to the overriding
38:30
attitude that if it’s in place we’ll
38:35
deliver peace which means I understand
38:38
that my genes enough to date
38:40
conditioning include the attachment to
38:43
outcome and therefore it makes sense
38:46
that a decision making a decision is
38:49
going to be difficult because I will be
38:55
insistent attitudinally on getting a
38:58
certain outcome wanting my decision to
39:01
be the right decision and so then there
39:03
can be a peace with the fact that it’s
39:08
hard for us to make decisions it’s like
39:13
what to do life has infused this
39:16
attachment to outcomes and so in this
39:20
moment it’s not possible for me to make
39:24
a decision and relax it means I’m going
39:30
to feel fear around making a decision
39:32
because I fear the outcome as something
39:36
that can add or subtract from me or I
39:39
relate to the I doubt come as something
39:42
that can add to me or subtract from me
39:44
and therefore I am fearful of the
39:48
uncertainty factor so not necessarily
39:55
something to fix but much more something
40:00
to understand to understand why it is
40:04
hard to make a decision and find a
40:08
relaxation through that understanding
40:10
find a relaxation with the fact that
40:13
it’s difficult for me to make decisions
40:17
the weaker that the attachment to
40:21
outcomes is the more we are I guess in
40:27
flow with life meaning the more we can
40:31
feel when life doesn’t want us to make a
40:35
decision that waiting becomes perfectly
40:38
valid even understanding that waiting
40:42
might mean that you miss an opportunity
40:44
because the opportunity might no longer
40:47
be there because you waited so long and
40:49
you understand yes that’s an outcome an
40:53
outcome of the decision to make no
40:57
decision which feels appropriate to me
41:00
especially feels appropriate because
41:04
feeling to make a particular decision
41:06
isn’t there so a lot of the suffering
41:09
around decision making is where we
41:11
impose an insistence that I need to make
41:15
a decision within a certain timeframe
41:17
and if the feeling towards one of the
41:22
options isn’t
41:25
then we judge ourself as not making the
41:32
decision properly we said why can’t I
41:34
choose and the answer is you can’t
41:37
choose because a feeling towards a
41:39
particular option a preference towards
41:43
one of the several options isn’t
41:46
presenting and so if we see it’s not
41:49
presenting and we understand that means
41:52
that I’m not meant to make a decision in
41:54
this moment the story of life hasn’t
41:57
included the impetus for a decision has
42:00
an included impulse that says yes this
42:04
is the one I’m going to take and so I
42:07
can’t take a decision and if we can find
42:12
ourselves relaxing into the fact that a
42:16
decision isn’t being made then the
42:19
waiting waiting for feeling to arise
42:24
that directs us towards one of the
42:28
options then that waiting period can
42:32
happen without our peace of mind being
42:35
disturbed
42:43
so remember I’m describing different
42:46
ways that decisions get made and
42:49
different attitudes to the process of
42:53
decision making a process that can
42:55
sometimes be an extended process over
42:59
days or weeks or months and even though
43:03
I describe one as better than the other
43:08
this isn’t an instruction or a
43:11
suggestion for you to suddenly start
43:15
functioning according to the one that is
43:17
described as more optimal this is a
43:22
description of the different forms the
43:28
different biological and psychological
43:29
reactions that arise in us and so if we
43:34
can just start seeing these biological
43:37
reactions and decision making is a
43:40
biological reaction if we can see these
43:43
biological reactions and then the
43:45
subsequent psychological reactions
43:48
towards the biological reaction that’s
43:52
really what is most important is a shift
43:56
that starts creating some space some
44:00
distance between the functioning both on
44:04
a biological and a psychological level
44:06
and the witnessing of that and that to
44:14
me can be described from one perspective
44:17
from the causal perspective as a shift
44:21
in the neurology of the brain a shift in
44:24
the structure of the neural network and
44:28
how does that structure change it
44:32
changes by life introducing new
44:38
suggestions for example or new inputs if
44:41
the new inputs are asking the person to
44:47
see things from a different angle to see
44:51
something from a different angle then it
44:53
saw them from before
44:56
in a sense it’s asking what the analogy
45:00
could be like asking the person to
45:02
change positions but really the
45:06
suggestion is asking the brain to change
45:10
its position too it’s asking the
45:14
processing of the brain to be different
45:18
and so if the spiritual teachings start
45:24
introducing descriptions that are
45:27
different to the descriptions we’ve had
45:30
of life previously those descriptions
45:34
are part of a change and a change that’s
45:40
being described here as a change of the
45:42
neural network so what are some of the
45:44
descriptions that are different from
45:49
what we’ve had before some of the
45:52
descriptions are witness biological
45:57
reactions arising in the moment a
45:59
biological reaction arising in a body
46:02
mind organism witness a thought arising
46:08
in a body mind organism so a thought is
46:12
a form of biological reaction especially
46:16
if it well some thoughts are part of the
46:19
psychological reaction but some thoughts
46:22
like oh I wonder what I’m going to have
46:24
what should I have for dinner that
46:26
thought can be a biological reaction so
46:30
witness the biological reaction of
46:32
thought arising in a body mind organism
46:36
witness an emotion arising in a body
46:41
mind organism so when we call it a body
46:44
mind organism essentially we’re
46:47
reinforcing that the body mind is a
46:52
instrument you know we’re calling an
46:56
organism an instrument based on genes
47:01
and up-to-date-conditioning which
47:02
implies essentially it’s a mechanical
47:05
instrument biological mechanics
47:09
and if we’re talking about witnessing or
47:12
seeing a thought arising as an output of
47:16
this mechanical instrument this
47:20
biological mechanical instrument what is
47:25
being introduced is a set of
47:27
descriptions that is not what we’re used
47:30
to hearing in life we’re not used to
47:33
relating to thoughts that arise in a
47:36
body mind organism as being the output
47:40
of a machine we’re used to seeing them
47:44
as mine
47:45
as me doing that so this description is
47:54
essentially turning something that we
47:57
are relating to as if it is of the
47:59
subject and describing it more and more
48:06
as an object so the body mind organism
48:12
is being described as a object a
48:15
three-dimensional object in the
48:17
manifestation and the thought is
48:20
described as object or an output of the
48:25
three-dimensional object the body mind
48:28
organism this subtly is changing the way
48:36
that the brain relates to aspects of
48:39
life changes the way that the brain sees
48:44
what’s happening and the practical
48:50
change that can happen is suddenly the
48:55
output the experience that’s created by
48:59
the brain is an experience that includes
49:03
what we can call witnessing an
49:07
experience that includes a space to its
49:11
own creations that wasn’t there before
49:15
previously the brain created an
49:18
experience that included heavy
49:20
involvement
49:23
of the brain essentially in the thinking
49:28
and as the experience is described
49:32
differently as the brain receives this
49:34
new information changes happen and at
49:37
some point the brain produces an
49:39
experience that is qualitatively
49:44
different to the experience that was
49:47
producing before it produces an
49:50
experience where the awareness of the
49:53
human being is witnessing the objects
49:57
that arise in the consciousness from a
50:00
different perspective so what is often
50:07
described as awareness of source
50:16
recognizing objects arising in the
50:21
moment from an unidentified perspective
50:28
a perspective of non identification can
50:34
be explained can be described from the
50:38
perspective of talking about a change a
50:42
structural change in the brain and
50:45
therefore a changed output of the brain
50:51
meaning a different experience arising
50:53
in mind so I’m using the word brain as
50:57
the machine that projects the experience
51:03
onto consciousness or mind and if the
51:09
brain produces the experience
51:11
differently then what is projected onto
51:14
mind is essentially going to be
51:17
qualitatively different so we have what
51:21
can be called the identified experience
51:24
of life that feels a particular way
51:26
feels like the me is a contracted object
51:33
and that can shift to a different
51:38
experience that feels qualitatively
51:40
different where there is no longer the
51:44
sense of me being defined as a very
51:50
restricted and limited object
52:02
so all of that really is an explanation
52:06
of why the teaching and any teachings if
52:10
we look at any awakening teachings they
52:14
are essentially emphasizing this notion
52:18
of being dispassionate towards what
52:23
happens in the flow of life
52:25
dispassionate towards pleasure and pain
52:28
meaning non involvement they are
52:31
describing things as maybe unreal to
52:36
create a dispassion with them there may
52:39
be describing things as unreal versus
52:41
that which is real to create
52:44
juxtaposition which is part of these
52:49
changes that I’m speaking about so when
52:51
we look at what is being encouraged
52:55
often it’s a a movement that takes what
53:06
is happening and sees what is happening
53:09
from a different perspective from a less
53:13
personal perspective
53:23
thank you
53:30
so you can even witness the
53:34
decision-making decision-making process
53:37
happen you can witness the analysis of
53:42
the various options so if you’re at the
53:46
computer looking at various flight
53:48
tickets and checking different dates all
53:56
of that is a biological reaction
53:58
happening in the moment and you can
54:03
witness the body performing the
54:07
biological task see the hands typing in
54:12
the different dates and what have you
54:16
pressing the button seeing the computer
54:19
calculate and present the options then
54:22
even witness the working mind comparing
54:28
the prices looking at the flight times
54:32
looking at the number of stops and at
54:35
some point you might see the working
54:37
minds is art this is the flight I’m
54:40
going to take and then you can witness
54:41
the booking and the paying of the flight
54:45
with the credit card all of that is a
54:47
happening movement of the biological and
54:54
most likely if the beliefs of doer ship
54:58
and attachment to outcome in place the
55:00
psychological reactions will be
55:02
happening simultaneously to the
55:05
biological reactions so one example is
55:08
that you find a good price and good
55:14
ticket and use okay this is the one I’m
55:17
going to choose it’s $300 and you reload
55:21
the page and the price comes up at $400
55:25
which now makes it only marginally
55:27
better than some of the others and that
55:31
is pain in the moment financial pain in
55:33
the moment life is delivered financial
55:36
pain the $300 ticket is now $400 you
55:41
assess the situation it’s still the best
55:43
option but there’s no doubt that there
55:46
is financial pain having to pay $400
55:49
versus the $300 ticket that presented
55:53
five minutes earlier there can be a
55:57
biological reaction to that financial
55:59
pain like you could swear in the moment
56:04
that is a expression of biological pain
56:08
and simultaneous to that if the belief
56:14
and Uche of an attachment to outcome in
56:16
is there then the psychological story
56:18
will kick in and extend horizontally in
56:23
time why didn’t I book it five minutes
56:26
ago when it presented you know I should
56:29
have seen that that was a great deal but
56:31
instead I took my time why did life
56:37
deliver this financial pain all of these
56:41
attitudes towards what has happened that
56:44
is of resistance to what has happened
56:47
not only resistance but then looking at
56:50
oneself and the other as the doer and
56:52
attributing blame or guilt to the
56:55
situation if all of that is absent we’re
56:59
left with financial pain in the moment
57:01
but an acceptance there could be a
57:04
biological reaction to the financial
57:05
pain thing dammit that’s not suffering
57:10
if it stops there
57:13
that’s the biological reaction and then
57:20
you get on with putting in your card
57:23
details without the extension of the
57:27
psychological guilt and blame and
57:29
attachment to outcomes carrying on
57:37
once again not suggesting that that’s
57:40
how we have to function
57:41
we can’t function that way unless life
57:46
puts in place all of the variables so
57:50
that we do function that way so really
57:53
don’t set that up as an expectation or I
57:55
need to make decisions and when life
57:58
delivers financial pain or emotional
58:01
pain or physical pain that I shouldn’t
58:06
blame I shouldn’t feel pride I shouldn’t
58:09
have attachment to outcomes if we do
58:11
that we’re setting up an expectation
58:14
that may be out of line with the way
58:16
we’re designed to function so the point
58:20
here is witness the biological reactions
58:22
happening witness the decision-making
58:26
the planning of the ticket witness the
58:29
psychological the thinking mind arising
58:32
if it does all of that can be seen as a
58:35
happening in a body mind organism part
58:40
of life unfolding
59:15
from this point of view life becomes
59:19
really simple so not easy there’s a
59:25
difference between easy and simple
59:27
because life will continue to be
59:30
pleasure sometimes and pain at others
59:33
you might find that you come to your BMB
59:42
apartment that you booked as part of
59:45
your booking of the flight thing
59:47
whatever and you’re on the 6th floor you
59:52
go to use the elevator and it’s out of
59:54
service and you have to carry your bags
59:57
up six flights of stairs so we can’t say
60:00
that life in that situation is easy but
60:06
from an attitudinal point of view life
60:09
can become very simple means you have to
60:13
you find yourself in a circumstance and
60:17
you will perform your function according
60:22
to your makeup and according to the
60:25
circumstance you find yourself in so
60:29
attitudinally the resistance that made
60:32
life the opposite of simple made life
60:36
much more complicated can fall away so
60:41
life then doesn’t isn’t necessarily easy
60:44
someone’s circumstance might mean they
60:46
have to work very hard in life in order
60:48
to support their family and
60:50
what-have-you but it can be very simple
60:53
I in each moment I am forced to do
60:57
whatever I think or fail to do given my
61:02
circumstance
61:14
so this is peace of mind in daily living
61:19
for the human being we’re after
61:26
liberation we’re still forced to live
61:30
our life until the body dies in this
61:34
world as the human being dealing with
61:39
the situation that presents itself
61:42
making decisions moment after moment
61:45
after moment throughout the day none of
61:49
that changes life continues to be
61:52
sometimes pleasure and sometimes pain
61:54
outcomes still not in your control and
62:01
yet we can find that the resistance the
62:09
attitudinal and resistance to the flow
62:13
of life meaning the circumstance how it
62:15
unfolds the attitudinal and resistance
62:17
can fall away so that’s peace of mind
62:20
regardless of the circumstance you find
62:22
yourself in as opposed to finding
62:28
yourself in the circumstance and having
62:32
an attitudinal and resistance adding
62:35
extra layer of suffering which is really
62:38
an uncomfortableness with oneself and
62:40
the other on top of the either fortunate
62:43
or unfortunate circumstance in life and
62:45
you might say well what would the
62:47
suffering be on top of the fortunate
62:49
circumstance in life I’d only suffer if
62:52
it’s an unfortunate circumstance in life
62:54
well that would be good if it was the
62:57
case it turns out that because we’re
62:58
attached to outcomes
63:01
because there is a belief that my
63:03
happiness my completeness is to be found
63:05
out there in the future
63:07
then when enjoying we don’t even get to
63:12
fully enjoy the pleasures that are
63:15
presented because the thinking mind is
63:18
already kicking in saying well what will
63:21
happen if this ends looking into the
63:26
future that
63:27
on a five-day holiday on day four you’re
63:31
already thinking about how the day after
63:35
tomorrow you’ve got to get back to work
63:38
so that thinking gets in the way of
63:43
fully enjoying the pleasures in the
63:45
moment adding this layer of the thinking
63:48
mind this layer of uncomfortableness
63:50
with life on top of the situation even
63:53
when it’s pleasurable in the moment
64:50
Rocha in this understanding that human
64:55
being is just three dimensional object
64:59
or instrument for the filling and for
65:08
instance if understanding happens the
65:11
habits if let’s say one who has bad
65:15
habits and say eating too much or
65:17
drinking or smoking or just anything
65:21
that it does a change by itself or it
65:26
remains the same or the human body mind
65:31
instrument still just it’s a feeling
65:35
it’s a feeling being who agrees you
65:40
don’t agree who likes oh don’t like what
65:43
is presenting presented as habits so how
65:50
does it change or it doesn’t change
65:52
maybe can you explain a little bit more
65:55
in the time this there’s a paradox to
65:58
the answer on the one hand it’s best in
66:02
a way to look at the behaviors and the
66:06
functioning as a happening essentially
66:15
you couldn’t just look at it as a but as
66:18
the biological reaction where you
66:21
acknowledge yes you know my biological
66:24
reactions not we could say they’re part
66:30
of my shortcomings let’s say I have a
66:32
short temper if that’s the case and you
66:36
can see yes it’s not great for the
66:38
people around me it’s not great for me
66:41
because I don’t intend to get angry and
66:44
deliver pain to the others but I do
66:45
write so that it’s best in a way to look
66:52
at that as the biological reaction and
66:55
understand that what’s being spoken
66:57
about here happiness for the human being
66:59
is not talking about improving the
67:02
biological reactions but rather about
67:05
our attitude to those biological
67:07
reactions so on the one hand that’s how
67:15
we should look at it because it’s very
67:17
clear that the freedom is an attitudinal
67:20
freedom on the other hand if we have the
67:27
capacity to see subtle differences in a
67:31
healthy way right then we could start to
67:38
look and see okay some behaviors are
67:44
directly linked to the attitude of
67:48
doership and attachment to outcome some
67:56
habits some addictions let’s say some
68:00
forms of blame which can be some some
68:09
for example intentions we have and then
68:13
actions following those intentions can
68:15
come from the UM let’s say the
68:20
resentments the hatred towards another
68:25
and if that’s the case then you would
68:30
find some behaviors changing if the
68:34
doership an attachment to outcomes were
68:37
influencing certain behaviors then those
68:41
behaviors will change if the ingrained
68:46
attitude of do ship and attachment
68:48
dissolves however having explained that
68:53
it’s very easy for the thinking mind to
68:59
start wishing that a lot of the
69:03
behaviors or not only wishing but
69:07
interpreting a lot of those behaviors as
69:09
being
69:11
part of the thinking mind an expression
69:15
of the thinking mind and then wanting
69:18
them or expecting them to change so even
69:21
with this nuance it’s very healthy to
69:26
just look at all of one’s behaviors as
69:30
quasi biological even if some of them
69:34
are psychological because the fact is
69:36
that we create a conceptual distinction
69:39
for good reason between the biological
69:41
and the psychological but in relation to
69:43
this particular point
69:44
they are both happenings according to
69:47
our genes enough to date conditioning
69:49
they’re both things that we can’t
69:50
control and so the healthy attitude of
69:55
the healthiest attitude is to see both
69:58
the biological and the psychological
70:00
when they happen as a happening that is
70:04
part of the circumstance and therefore
70:07
either pleasure or pain and to focus
70:11
much more on our attitude to what’s
70:14
happening rather than the manifestation
70:18
rather than the outcomes even if the
70:22
outcome can be linked that deep down to
70:25
an attitude so
70:39
yeah this is very important question for
70:44
me topic because my son has a problem
70:48
with drinking and some kind of drugs
70:53
and the question is like he is
70:56
responsible for it or not from this
70:59
point of view he is not the tool
71:01
it’s totally genes and conditioning if
71:06
this is part of the fact that I don’t
71:09
take drugs I don’t it’s it it may come
71:12
from surrounding it it doesn’t matter
71:16
from where yeah everything that anyone
71:19
has ever done is stemming from the same
71:25
root or the same factors the genes and
71:30
up-to-date-conditioning anything anyone
71:34
has done through our history and to the
71:37
end of time is a happening and not
71:42
someone’s doing so the people who maybe
71:47
you know in liquor man he wrote a book
71:51
adviser in 12 steps of like alcoholic
71:55
anonymous right there he describes
71:58
because he was alcoholic before himself
72:01
and he says that yeah the whole like
72:07
problem of them is based on total
72:10
powerlessness that they cannot lady in
72:15
the beginning like they except they
72:18
cannot do anything and they rely totally
72:22
on higher power but how you can explain
72:27
this what what does it mean rely on
72:29
higher power it will change if it
72:32
changes or who is going to change so
72:37
you’re talking in in a way they pray to
72:40
God to help them to get rid of this
72:44
habit it’s not which destroys their life
72:49
yeah so you’re talking about the 12-step
72:52
program
72:53
yes exactly so one of the principles in
72:55
the 12-step program which you’re
72:57
describing is handing over your life to
73:00
to God or to a higher power now that is
73:04
an attitudinal handing over so Ramesh
73:07
would sometimes say that you know often
73:09
when we pray to God um we are begging
73:14
God for something right and he said
73:18
that’s not the healthiest of attitudes
73:26
to form a prayer from but if that’s
73:30
what’s part of our makeup if I there’s a
73:33
strong attachment to outcomes then we
73:35
are going to be forced to pray that way
73:38
where we’re essentially begging God for
73:40
better outcomes the handing over of
73:46
one’s life to a higher power doesn’t
73:48
have to have a particular attitude in it
73:51
you can hand over to a higher power with
73:55
a healthy attitude rather than say
73:58
begging please God give me this it can
74:03
be well it’s actually speaking about
74:07
surrender it’s about real realizing and
74:10
for people who have strong addictions it
74:13
can sometimes be easier to realize this
74:17
because of their particular life
74:22
experience they can realize actually I
74:24
really am not in control I’ve been
74:28
trying to stop this havoc habit for
74:32
years and years and if I was in control
74:35
I would have stopped by now and so a
74:39
realization a really seeing the evidence
74:46
from one’s own life can bring about this
74:49
surrender which is different to giving
74:52
up it’s it’s a form of giving up but
74:55
it’s a surrender giving up with insight
74:58
it can come through despair you know you
75:02
can
75:03
Renda through really hitting rock rock
75:07
bottom and complete despair that is so
75:10
full the despair is so full that it
75:16
bursts through and turns into surrender
75:20
but you can have surrender without that
75:24
complete despair where you realize by
75:29
looking you say but the realization is
75:32
Grace in a sense the realization I
75:35
really can’t be the doer I I I can’t do
75:38
this myself I actually need to hand over
75:42
and and ask hand my life over and say
75:47
it’s in your hands now I can’t do this
75:50
but if everything is predetermined and
75:53
let’s say that everything is according
75:56
to the will of God is it possible that
76:00
the God will change his all his own
76:04
rules for the benefit of few of you guys
76:08
who who are praying for him he’s not
76:10
changing the rules what it means is that
76:12
the story is written for in that moment
76:15
the alcoholic or the addict to realize
76:20
so that realization is part of the story
76:23
in the realization there is a handing
76:27
over a surrender so it’s all part of the
76:30
story and now that the story has created
76:33
a individual with less do ership and
76:38
less attachment to outcome because the
76:42
handing over of surrender is really
76:44
saying I I’m not the doer I can’t do
76:47
this then it makes sense that if certain
76:51
variables have changed certain outcomes
76:53
will change things might take on a new
76:56
trajectory the new trajectory is not the
76:59
changing of destiny
77:01
the so it’s not really it’s a new
77:03
trajectory relative to the trajectory
77:05
that was happening before but that
77:08
change of trajectory was always going to
77:11
happen that way
77:12
so the praying is part of the store
77:16
and the outcome of the prayer is it
77:19
already in place whether God delivers
77:22
when I say God we have to be very
77:24
careful here I’m not talking about a God
77:27
as a separate entity I’m not talking I’m
77:30
talking about God as a a theoretical
77:34
source and to be more precise in the
77:39
framework that’s put forward as we say
77:40
this theoretical source existed in
77:44
potentiality before life came into
77:46
existence at some point the source
77:48
exploded into actualization or exploded
77:51
into manifestation potential turning
77:54
into actualization and so God became the
77:58
story God became the addict God became
78:02
the outcome so there really isn’t an
78:08
addict praying to some God out there but
78:12
rather God turning into the whole
78:16
manifestation including the addict and
78:18
the freedom for the addict should that
78:21
happen or the continuation of the
78:24
addiction so when when it comes to this
78:28
question of will my behaviors change
78:34
after the dissolving of the belief in
78:38
personal doership and attachment album
78:40
isn’t a fun story in a way of how Nyssa
78:45
Ghaderi responded to a westerner who was
78:51
questioning him about his enlightenment
78:53
based on how he behaved in life so the
78:59
lady asked him or suggested to him is
79:04
that you call yourself enlightened and
79:08
yet here you are sitting in a tiger skin
79:13
because that was the meditation seat
79:16
that was often used there to insulate
79:19
from the cold sitting in a tiger skin a
79:22
dead animal and smoking beedis
79:28
no chain-smoker disagreed others
79:32
response was I didn’t kill the tiger and
79:38
I’ve been smoking for my whole life I
79:41
like it why should I change now if he
79:53
likes it it’s one thing but if still he
79:56
sees that it’s destroying his own life
79:59
it’s quite another story but what I
80:04
remember I heard in Ramesh what he’s
80:07
saying what you do in the moment what
80:10
you talk in the moment what you think in
80:12
the moment what you feel in the moment
80:14
is exactly what God wants you to do
80:17
speak think and feel exactly so nothing
80:25
changes and even the attitude it’s
80:28
already it’s like if it is predetermined
80:30
the attitude changes it will change if
80:34
not not even your attitude is not in
80:36
your control the insight that we have
80:40
that can change the attitude also not in
80:44
your control but a happening and the
80:47
attitude to the attitude also so nothing
80:50
is in my control nothing absolutely
80:52
that’s what this is suggesting so you
80:54
can relax
80:55
mm-hmm if we really see this rather than
81:00
just believe it I mean to just believe
81:02
the concept is not ideal but to ask how
81:08
can I see how can I know how can I have
81:13
clarity on the fact that everything is
81:17
happening exactly as its destined to
81:19
happen that’s the question you need to
81:20
ask you Goods no good saying oh you know
81:23
I believe that we are always functioning
81:26
the only way we can we need to ask how
81:31
can I have clarity about this and then
81:34
get an explanation and see if the
81:37
explanation satisfies if the explanation
81:42
in a sense allows you or forces you to
81:44
see life radically differently very
81:48
often there is this what is a notion
81:52
that there is like enlightenment
81:55
understanding its grace and what is
81:58
Grace it’s like a sudden intervention of
82:02
the higher force or it is also a part of
82:07
pretty something that is predetermined
82:10
so if the grace is predetermined it will
82:13
happen that’s wrong if it does not
82:16
determine the it will not happen that’s
82:18
right the grace also this follows the
82:20
rules of redetermination from your
82:24
destiny grace doesn’t follow the rules
82:27
but grace is part of the manifestation
82:31
part of the flow of what happens next
82:35
but destiny is part of the destiny Oh
82:38
grace part of the destiny well I think
82:41
it can change the destiny no no it’s
82:44
part of the destiny so we have to define
82:46
what is what do we mean by grace grace
82:49
effectively is a word that is used to
82:51
describe a happening in the moment that
82:55
is clearly felt as not my doing like I
83:00
didn’t you know I didn’t make this
83:02
happen
83:04
and it’s very often linked to or used
83:10
the word grace is used to a happening
83:12
that leads to a very beneficial outcome
83:15
especially a beneficial outcome in
83:17
relation to this topic of freedom um so
83:22
it’s sort of what happens is we can see
83:26
that like a lightning bolt comes out of
83:31
nowhere and strikes us and strikes us in
83:34
a way that leaves a beautiful design on
83:38
our shoes for example and we and we say
83:42
wow you know wow what grace not my doing
83:46
and the outcome is a beautiful set of
83:51
shoes better than I had before because
83:53
it left this amazing
83:54
pattern on the shoes so that’s just an
83:58
analogy the the it’s like a lightning
84:01
bolt that hits us and we see everything
84:05
completely different not everything
84:08
completely we see that there is no doer
84:10
for example so how did that insight how
84:14
did that change happen often those
84:17
changes happen where by default that we
84:21
in the the change is seeing that there
84:24
is no one in control but there is life
84:27
happening so when that happens it’s it’s
84:32
felt this wasn’t my doing like nothing
84:35
is am i doing so grace is really just a
84:39
word used to label a particular
84:42
happening at a particular point in time
84:46
that delivers a certain outcome or
84:50
certain result so Gracie what we call
84:54
grace is part of the unfolding of life
85:02
I just wanted to say that I feel too
85:13
much resistance today and today’s
85:16
satsang can you see it as a happening so
85:29
um often a question that is put forward
85:38
is um you know what what can I do about
85:44
this suffering or why is the suffering
85:48
arising what am I not getting what more
85:56
do I need to understand and an answer
85:58
that I think can be quite appropriate
86:02
because there’s a nuance something needs
86:06
to hit in the head because they aren’t
86:08
the question itself is part of the
86:11
suffering though that what what the
86:17
basis of the question is part of the
86:20
suffering dynamic the answer is that if
86:24
we can look at life as a masterpiece a
86:26
creation and that the artist the master
86:33
artist has used the colour of suffering
86:38
a lot in the masterpiece it is a very
86:47
valid color flavor and it has been used
86:53
by the artist a lot
88:26
we can witness the moment as a creation
88:31
a creation with lots of different layers
88:39
lots of different colors
90:11
that can be the realization oh I thought
90:15
I was the one that created the
90:19
masterpiece which I didn’t see as a
90:21
masterpiece I thought I was the one that
90:24
created the suffering in this moment oh
90:28
I thought I was the one that created the
90:31
decision and the outcomes and now I see
90:36
I simply cannot be the doer I am part of
90:43
the masterpiece
92:05
from issues to remark on the practice of
92:09
Vipassana and he had read an article in
92:17
newspaper that was promoting the
92:20
personna and he said he found something
92:24
a little odd said the this the the
92:29
practice was described as a practice
92:32
where the sensations in the body were
92:41
felt and witnessed that if there was an
92:46
itch that arose the practice encouraged
92:50
the itch to be felt for awareness to
92:57
land on the itch and for it to be
93:04
witnessed as a happening in the body
93:07
mind organism and Ramesh said it stopped
93:11
there at least what the journalist had
93:16
written and Ramesh said when the
93:20
understanding goes deep enough and
93:23
deeply what will happen is what will be
93:26
witnessed is not only the itch arising
93:30
but rather the itch arising and the hand
93:34
moving towards the itch and scratching
93:37
the itch and then returning back to a
93:40
resting position so what at first is not
93:46
encouraged because it can get in the way
93:49
of allowing the sensation to intensify
93:54
such that attention is fully honored and
94:00
isn’t interfere or that nothing is
94:03
interfering with awareness of that
94:07
sensation when that witnessing goes
94:11
deeper
94:14
the witnessing then can witness the body
94:18
moving the body is part of that which is
94:22
witnessed so as an itch arises and then
94:24
the body scratches it all a happening
94:27
arising witnessed by that which is aware
94:32
of what’s happening