What can you say about yourself? Sailor Bob and friends. 2 Jul 2023

Zane, Linda, Anita, David, Marty, Lockheed, Catherine, Catherine, Peter, Vigas, Kisintan, Yubarengita, Michael, Marthus, Gilbert, Ross, Chris, Dee, Josh, Saroja, Mitra, and Bob. Bob. Bob. Bob. Bob. Bob. Bob. Bob. Hi, everyone. Good to see all the happy faces. Seems to be the many in here. And what we point to and what's pointed out in all the ancient texts, there is only one. One essence. Everything is that. It's including you, me, and everything else. That's the great mantra, I am that. And we all know that. Because that's the chair you're sitting in, that's the room you're in, that's the space in the room, that's the tree. We know everything is that.

Which we put other words or labels on and discriminate it with the word. So, on any so-called spiritual search, it can only be that. And it tells you in the Bible, the Jewish, the Hebrews say, Here, O Israel, the Lord thy God is one God. There is none other. The Muslims tell you there is only God. How is his name? And we have many, many different names which we put on this term God. Tells you in the Bible, even in the beginning was the word. The word was with God, the word was God. That's all God is, and all these words we're putting around which discriminate us.

All things were made by him, by the word. And there was nothing made that was made without the word. Anything out there in the manifestation, you don't put words or labels on. How many of us see it all as it is? What it is means just non-dual, one without a second. This is what we talk about and point to. So I can't teach you anything, and I can't tell you anything. All I can do is point toward and ask you to look where I'm pointing for you. And see for yourself. And yourself, myself, we all got concepts about what the self is. And they tell you again in the Vedas that there is only one self, the Atman self.

If I could put it on the God self. But that's all there is. And that self is self-aware. It's self-knowing. It's self-seeing, tasting, touching, feeling. The one self expressing as everything. And that one self is no thing. And we've got this idea there are many things out there. But you see that all things are one thing and the one thing is no thing. You don't have to separate any of it. See it all as it is. It all unfolds naturally and effortlessly. Always and ever expressing and displaying. But it's never changed its one essence. We came to believe we were this person, this separate entity, when we were born and learned words.

And have a look at your birth. Did you have any words at birth? You didn't. And when you look into it you realise you didn't pick up any words. Until you were a couple of years old. And your parents started to teach you words. Before that you were seeing, you were hearing, tasting, touching, spelling. The functioning was going. But you couldn't put any labels on it because the capacity of reasoning hadn't developed. And where did you come from? Well, we told I was born. And we believe that. But can anyone actually remember your birth? When you look into your card, remember your actual birth. Somebody's given you a date or a day or a time.

We take that on. But what do you know about that? You don't know anything about it because you had no words. You couldn't say you were born. And the capacity of reasoning came by one of us. Parents floating around us taught us words. And so it all begins for us in the beginning was the words we learned. Parents tell you little Billy or little Jane, whatever you know. And you learn words like I and me. And then you say, well, this I they're talking about, this is me. I am little Billy or little Jane, whatever. Instead of missing out, missing out on what they're actually telling you.

It was all the one essence. I am that absolute. I am that reality. I am the great perfection. Their terms, they use written to different teachers. Absolute. What can you add to absolute? Well, you can't add anything to absolute. If you could, it wouldn't be absolute. And what can you take away from it? You can't take anything away from it. It wouldn't be absolute. And if you realize and recognize that I am the absolute, who could have ever be superior to you? And who could ever be inferior to you? And what would you want from anybody else? If you understood that, and everybody understood that, wouldn't be out there looking for this, or trying to become this, or wanting their land, or land, or something else.

Wanting something from them. Or they're trying to say something from you. And the world's problems wouldn't be like they are today. It would be a natural expression, unfolding, and functioning, just as effortlessly as the earth's rolling around the sun. Causing the seasons to come and go. The tides to come in and out. The stars and planets to form. appear, play around, and disappear. All life expressing itself. And the Sarkadatta points that out. He says there is only life. It's all there is. And he says life lives on life. And out of life, more life comes. And when you look into that, investigate. Because that's another thing they point out.

The false cannot stand up to investigation. Some of these beliefs and concepts we have. Look into them. Investigate them. Not what somebody tells you. It's under your own investigation. You'll know the truth. And that's the great call. Know the truth. And the truth will set you free. What is the need to be free from? The belief. The belief that I am this person. That I am this individual. That's going to become realized. Or have a great spiritual awakening. Or some conceptual idea. I've got that will turn things around. And some of you may have been practicing. Seed silly and earnestly for quite a number of years.

It hasn't happened. Why? You've been practicing yourself out. Might dawn on you then. After we've been practicing for a while. And nothing's done. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong direction. And when you're asked to look at what direction you're looking at. You're always looking within. Trying to find something. Which you believe. Is hidden away. Or inside. Or somewhere. Inwardly. In. No. But you've meditated. And looked at it. And questioned. And argued. And still. And still. Haven't found it. And what do they do? They tell us it's ignorance. We hear that term. And say. Oh yeah. I'm dull and stupid. I'm not as smart as that guy.

I'll never find it. But when they say ignorance. They're not meaning that at all. All they mean. Is that we ignore. What is we rightfully are. And always are. And always have been. You are that presence awareness. But you ignore it. You know it. Anybody can't. Is unaware right now. And you know you're not unaware. So if you're not unaware. You must be aware of it. So it's just that ignorance. Ignorance. That's all that needs to be recognized. Or seen through. And then it says. In seeing through that. You'll know the truth. And that's the other score. Know the truth. And the truth will set you free.

So there it all is. Simply. Available. Right here. It always has been. It's only a bit. I mean. Looking. And investigating. And find out. It is true. Saying you are the life. You are the life. That body. That body. And. And. you can't remember you that. And. as the most. is. of the first. and the first. and the first. and the first. and the first. and the first. and the first. and the first. and the first. and the first. and the first. and the first. and the first. and the first. and the first. and the first. and the first. and the first. and the first.

and the first. and the first. and the first. and the first. and the first.ivo. It is true. Saying you are the life of that body and you can't remember your birth. Well, how did you begin? It says in the beginning was the Word. When you learnt Word, you began there. But the life was with you before that. A couple of years before you learnt any words. So it means if you were alive before you learnt words, it must be you're prior to the words. And all the so-called mind is, when you look at it, mind is thought. Thought's words, sound, a vibration. And a vibration is nothing but a movement of energy.

Then you investigate this body. Am I this body? Well, again, you already know you're not the body because you say, my body. Just as you say, my mind. You say, my house, my car, my coat. You know you're not the house. You know you're not the car or the coat. You know you're not the body. You know you're not the body either. When you investigate, what's this body made up of? You see this body is made up of elements. Air, earth, fire, water, smoke. All the elements. Well, take the water. Stop drinking water, that element. How long would you last without that element? Without the word fire, the body temperature, how long would you last?

Without the air, without the fire, without the water. And can you get out of space and realise you're not separate from those elements at all? And all those elements would be broken down into subatomic particles, into space-like awareness. So you must realise you are the space-like awareness. That's what the word is. The pattern, shape and form is seemingly solid and real. But it's made up of elements. Water, words and things like that. So it's only appearance. And then you investigate and recognise things around you. There's a mirror behind you there. Have a look into that. And if there's one there, you look into a mirror, you know what a mirror is.

What do you see in a mirror? You'll see reflections. Or images. And you can't say those reflections are not there. But you go up and try and grab a reflection. Or an image out of the mirror. You can't. Because it's not there. It appears to be there. So you can't say it is not for its appearance. Try and grab it, you can't say it is. So, like everything else, it's appearance. And then the realisation and recognising that, that this body, mind is appearance. all the manifestation is appearance, reflections, patterns, shapes and forms. And the life essence, that pure knowing or awaring or being, is the actuality that's expressing in these wondrous pattern, shapes and forms.

And each pattern is a unique expression of it. So even though you've got that expression, you've seen you're crippled or you haven't got full mental capacity or other things, no matter how it's appearing, or you might be a genius or something like that, there's all that. And each pattern expresses a unique expression. There's no two patterns the same. But it would make a big difference if you recognise your true nature. And that's the opportunity that he gives us, all these scriptures, to recognise your true nature. And the Buddha told us that. He called it a cognising emptiness a couple of thousand years ago. And we think we've got to cognise or know this emptiness or recognise.

But what he's saying is that the emptiness itself can cognise, not you or me, or our patterns, happening in that cognising emptiness. And he made the statement then that emptiness is form. A lot of forms in this room realised that the room is empty, just the same as it was before anyone came into it. and he turned it round that way and the form is empty. Emptiness is form. All these forms are nothing but the emptiness. So it hasn't changed its true nature. Even the room itself is appearing in spaces, the content of space. It's all appearance. Appearance is a phenomenal manifestation. When they call it in the scriptures it's a phenomenal manifestation.

What's the definition of phenomena? The definition of phenomena is that which appears to be. It's all appearing. And it appears dualistically. It's all the one essence that vibrates into different patterns, shapes and forms. Two ends of the one stick. One stick can be a thick end, the other end a thin end. We divide it into two. Two sides of the one kind. Two sides of the one kind. And as Shakespeare told us, there's nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. How do you think? Investigate and think. You see the thinking is always in opposites. It's good, it's bad, it's today, it's tomorrow, it's yesterday.

It's past, it's high, it's low. Pleasant, it's painful. Have a look and see that the thinking and function is always dualistically because that's what the opposite is. The dualism. In non-duality, there is absolutely no duality. And there couldn't be any manifestation if it wasn't. So the manifestation is relative too. This is relative to that. Relativity or relationship is duality. So all these relationships you're involved in, you might be involved in the May Feel Well one. If you're taking it as a relationship, you'll be in strife. Can't help. You see, there's a natural coming together and to recognise the one essence of life in and known and realise that the same life is in your partner is in you and understand that can be very cordial, very rewarding.

Just move along naturally and effortlessly. But look at the world as it is now. All the different religions, all the different races, different creeds, different beliefs, different ideas. and look at the way our mind is going on in this. This is good, that's bad, that's fearful, that's anxious, that's distressing, that's guilty. No wonder we're mental messes, fearful and anxious, with AHD, whatever it is, and to a hard express or whatever other labels they put on, putting on flesh labels or I'm so and so, or I'm this and that. And you've never been anything other than the absolute. It's a pity it's happening, isn't it? But it does.

But the fact is it doesn't have to. Something resonates and you recognise, look into it. And it doesn't take much to see it for yourself. And there are people in this room that come along and have seen it. Just the same as once it was here. I didn't recognise it, I didn't see. And I had a hell of a mess of life and the way it was going on. It's a lot different today. Just a matter of investigating. Am I this body? Am I this person? How did I come about? I was born. But can you remember your birth? You realise you can't remember your birth.

It will go back and investigate. Have a look. That animating life essence you call your father enabled in that pattern a little microstatic particle to form. that ovum you can't see it with your naked eye. You call it a sperm. That sperm was suffused with intelligence life. It knew what to do. The same in your mother. That animating life essence in your mother enabled in that pattern. Another microscopic particle called an egg for an ovum to form. That ovum was suffused with life. It attached itself to the wall of the uterus. It knew what to do. And the sperm swam to the ovum. They weren't just two blobs of the goo nothingness.

They were suffused with that life. It's the same life that you are today because when those two came together and merged into one another that became the little fetus. The little embryo which is what you are today. What were you doing about it then? Nothing. What are you doing about it today? Nothing. But anyone there who is not breathing whose heart is not beating whose hair and fingernails are not growing food being degusted thoughts coming up the livingness the life is going on there. And take it back and you see you came from the life of your parents where did your parents come? The life of their parents.

life lives on life. That's how it comes about and keeps coming about. But we think the life is many but it's only the one essence appearing as the many. Seemingly so. what's it appearing? Well you know that you are here right now aren't you? You can't negate that anyone who thinks there's not stand up and tell me about it. No one can not negate what you're beingless. So you must be. You can't say I am not all you can say is I am. So you are what's that I am represent? doesn't represent the sense of presence? Anyone who is not aware of being present right now then you know you know immediately I am aware of being present.

But then what do we do? We get this concept of awareness and try and make something else. I need to become aware. How the hell are you going to become something you already are? Then you say I am having trouble on the path. What bloody path? You will fall off it so get off it. I am not going to take you anywhere. But have you stopped being that? You can put to all sorts of concepts on this body mind person but you fall out of that after a while because you know it's not true. That person is constantly changing. It's transient. The whole manifestation is transient.

There's nothing static about it at all. It's spontaneously changing. you know that you are and knowing that you are what's your next thought going to be? And none of you can tell me what your next thought is going to be. And yet you'll say I think. So that means that the thought comes up I think. But you didn't think the thought. But what happens? The thought comes up and you say I think this thought. And you believe this pattern shape and form that you call the person that you call the body mind that you call me has the capacity of thinking. But can a thought think?

Thinking stopped here for a moment or two. I wasn't saying it was good, bad, pleasant, painful. It was just as is. Neither good, neither bad, neither pleasant, painful, happy, sad. It was just pure awareness. Non-conceptual, fresh and new. As soon as I put any concepts on, like being fresh and new and moving, it moved away from it. and what's it all appearing in? This life, this being, this knowing, this one Atman self, not the personal self, as we believe, but one self, Atman self. This one Atman self is all there is. And it is no thing and everything. Just the same as you look in the mirror, you see your reflection or image in the mirror.

Go and try and grab your reflection or image out of the mirror. You can't because it's only an appearance. You can't say it's not there because it's appearing, it's a true reflection, it's your appearance of it. You can't say it is there. So that's the same with all those manifestations. You cannot say I am not. But you can't say you are not being. The beingness is there which they call Sat Chit An Enda. No, I'm a Rupa. Sat is existence. Any one of you not existing right now? No, you say don't be an arsehole, of course I'm existing. You are. What do you tell them it's kindergarten and stuff?

Anyone who's not conscious or unaware? Of course I'm conscious and I am aware right now. I'm not unaware. If I'm not unaware I must be aware. Am I happy to be? Well I wouldn't be dead now for quids if somebody were telling me this is going to be the end of your life right now. Give us another chance. You wouldn't. So you already are. Let that do it on you. Let that know. It's been so as far back as you can remember and even before the memory came into it. It was always and ever so because that's all there is. That's all there's ever been.

But we hear it and we know it but we miss the simplicity of it. The simplicity is nothing simpler than one and it's not even one. So it must be this and this is that. Try and get away from it. Try and move away. Try and tell yourself I am not. You can't. You call yourself a human being. You believe in God you call God the supreme being. Take that label away human. Take that label supreme. Try and separate the beingness without the word. The separation the sense of separation is dualism. And where does it all appear? Well if it's the one essence patterning shape and forming appearing and expressing as everything where does it appear?

Well the basic essence that's available to each and every one of us right now is this space we're sitting in. Try and grasp it. Try and push it away. Try and lift it. Do anything with it. It is no thing. It has no shape no form. Does it have any beginning? Try and find a centre to space. Does it begin here or there or over there? You realise that it can't find a point anywhere where it begins. If it has no beginning does it have any ending? or see if you can fly or run or get to the end of space. Get out of it if you can.

And you can't get away out of space. Now try and postulate or think of something that could be out of space. Anything at all. What would it be in? You can enable all sorts of things that you can see with out of space but then you realise they've got to be in something what would they be in? And you must realise they have to be in space. So wouldn't you realise then that the content of all this manifestation fighting you me and everything else is what they call space like awareness. Awareness like to be like space. What's space like? Well there it is. Can't say it is you can't say it no.

All this manifestation is like that space appears to be so just like shadows or images or reflections appear. This world and everything in it is appearance only. Seemingly so. you are the very essence and very life that's enabling it to be it. Only the one life the one intelligence energy. That's what I call it intelligence energy. Not your mind because the mind is just a concept the word and label you put it. Show me a thing called mine. If you believe you are. You'll say my mind will show it to me. I can't think show you anything I can call mine but what's mine when I break it down?

Isn't it sound, memory, idea, noise, reflection? An image vibrates into patterns. It's a vibration and that intelligence vibrates into patterns, shapes and forms. But there's nothing you can postulate or think of that can be outside of space. So it's all appearing in space. Space is no thing. Rabbit. No thing. Then ask yourself can something appear outside of space? Space is no thing. Can something come from no thing? Well it's impossible. So all this manifestation is no thing. Zero. Zilch. No thing. No pattern. No shape. No form. Just a spontaneous throb. A pulsation. It's not even time now. Because it's spontaneous. We've got the concept of time.

Past, present and future. But if you think there's a past, try and live it. Go back and live yesterday. Live five minutes ago again. You can't. You can recall what happened five minutes ago or what happened to rest. But what you can't recall is gone and gone forever. So so much of the past is lost. We can only remember a certain amount. What about the future? Well I can anticipate and imagine what I'm going to do after this meeting and then head down for Sophia and gorge on something. It's an anticipation and imagination. That's not the reality. But this presence, awareness, this actuality is right now.

When does now begin? When you say it's beginning and as you say it's beginning it's now, it's ending. And as you say it's ending it's beginning again. So it's got no duration. It's a spontaneous movement. And I call it intelligence energy, not your intellect, which you work something out with. But intelligence implies an activity, a knowing. Any activity is a movement of energy, a vibration. So it's that intelligence energy is vibrating and patterning this manifestation. The world, you, me, and everything is in it. The good, the bad, the ugly, the pleasant, the painful. All concepts, all mental constructs. But let the mental constructs be there.

That's how it's appearing. But know the truth. You are the life, the energy of it all. If that awareness wasn't there, what could be seen by that pattern you call you? What could be felt, tasted, touched, or smelt? Nothing whatsoever. It's not the pattern that's the expression through. That's just the vehicle which carries it around. because when that life essence disappears from that pattern, what happens to it? It rots, it dissolves, it goes back into the emptiness again. What about the life that's expressing through it? The vibrating essence which is absolute. It's never had any beginning, never had any end. It's ever fresh, it's ever new, it's ever spontaneous, it's ever lifeless, effortless.

Is it time on you? I am that, you should be all up shouting it, I am that. Like who was it that senator on the YouTube, we are at war with the racism or some last thing. get into all the concepts but you are and always have been and always will be. That knowing that, allowing me to express is much better than when I thought I knew and thought I was going to it, fired at and expressing it. And the manipulations I tried got me in all sorts of trouble, all sorts of stress, anxiety, fear. Disappear today, little bits can come up here and there, but they're seen for what they are.

and become laughable. It was like that bloke that was in the Spanish Civil War, I forget his name, the philosopher fella, was writing this thing, scratching it on the wall and he had the realisation. He said, death became a laughing impossibility. And it's so. You know the body's going to disappear sometimes, who cares? An impossibility to show the, to this possibility, what's life? Much the same. But what you are, the intelligence entity, the awareness, always fresh and new. And try and separate yourself from it. We believe we separate it and take on that belief. But look in your dictionary, look up the word belief. An unquestioned acceptance of something in the absence of reason.

We haven't accepted it, we haven't questioned it, we haven't investigated, we haven't looked into it. Unquestioned acceptance. Take it for granted. acceptance, goes on to say acceptance that I'm an alleged fact. An alleged fact, we're alleged, we're, it's alleged that we are these human beings, we take it to be real. It's alleged that I'm fearful, well I'm anxious, I'm unhappy, I've got a disposition. investigation. Investigate it, see it, all those things are there. Except as an alleged fact without positive knowledge or proof. And they tell you plainly and clearly, in all the ancient things, the false cannot stand up to investigation. See the false as false and know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

As simple as that. Get into it, tell us what you know, what you've recognised, and if you've got questions or doubts, ask them, because it might take you back to recognise a little bit more. I'll open you up. There you go. Thank you, Paul. You can put your ears on now. Yes, so we have a couple of welcome messages from our community. Manju is happy to be in the meeting and she says good morning to everyone and good morning from other people. And there is another happy birthday wish. So this will be a little bit more general, especially for people who are watching us and are intending to join us on birthday celebration.

I've posted about a week ago that we have four weeks. For people like Manju, Manju, I hope you got the message who want to fly from Sydney. And the amount of messages I got already people apologizing for not showing up is shocking. Like six or seven messages, people who said that, oh, I wanted really to be there, but it was too short notice. Four weeks, too short notice. It didn't happen yet. So, yes, there was a happy birthday wish and we thank you for all the happy birthday wishes, but please come and say it again in three weeks because that's from a local person. And Tanya says, I am that and also regarding the, that will be Sunday celebration.

If there's anyone in the community, particularly again speaking for people who are in the area or in the reach, who never met Bob, you're still welcome to come to Sofia. You're still welcome to have a slice of cake and just be there with us. But we do have to know you if we want to invite you to a private house of our friend Julia. So, if you do want to join us on the party on Saturday, make yourself known. Come to the meeting or schedule Zoom or, yeah, then you'll be most welcome. We have a comment from Tanya who says, I am that. Thank you, Bob.

It is very clear. I am that. And JB says, wonderful pointers, Bob. Thank you. And Jelena says, amazing. Love you, Bob and Kat. And Jyoti, love the spiel. Thanks, Bob. And no questions. Again, so the mic goes to you guys. Questions, sharing, whatever comes up. anyone would like to start us? It's all been so well covered. Sure. We should call him the blanket because he covers everything. Yes. Mr. Blanket. Maybe I ask. Yes, please. If there is no other question. If there is really no other question. I mean, I was really like something, sorry, Dean, you can sit here. So I, I mean, I was, I was really, something really moved me when you said everything is a reflection.

reflection. And then, like you say, like, like, it's like we are in 360 degree, like me, that I'm not realized, I'm not even close. But for a second I thought, what if it's like 360 degrees of mirrors around me? That's how it is? That's what you meant? You could see it this way. Yeah, like, everything is a reflection. But with mirror, we can't touch, but here I can touch this, you know, couch, like, I don't get it. What are you touching? The couch. It's a reflection. This is a reflection? Yeah. Oh, that's appearing in space. That body that you are is appearing in space. Are you the body?

Well, you recognize the body. If you're seeing the body, the body's an object. Where are you seeing it from? Gilbert's favorite saying, where are you seeing it from? Where I'm seeing it from? That's my question, really. Bob can't answer it, where do you think from? You have to experience it. It's kind of, you know, like when I'm thinking, you know, I can't really see anything inside. It's just the seeing, you know, I can see it's only the seeing happening, but I don't get what is seeing, which I know I have to find out the answer, but I can't find it. It's happening, right? Happening, right.

You're not unaware? Are you unaware? No. You must be aware. I am aware, yes. You know you're aware, but you can't say what awareness is. No, that's right, I can't. But you can't negate it. That's right. So if that awareness wasn't there, could you see the sofa? No, and I couldn't touch it. Couldn't say it was a freak, you couldn't touch it? No. Awareness is there for sure. Awareness is there for sure. Yes. But I mean, everything is a reflection of what? What's that reflection in my brain? No, it's appearing. Where does something come and cast a shadow? Where's the shadow? there? Yeah. So you walk past something in the light, a light or something like that, and you cast a shadow, and the light shining past, cast a shadow on the floor, on the wall.

Yeah. Where? Grab the shadow. We can't. Hmm? Yeah, we cannot grab it. Now, what did it do? Was it something that appeared in the space, didn't it? You can't say it's not there, but it's really no thing. That's right. But I can't understand why this couch is not noting. What? I mean, the couch here, how could this be noting? nothing. What's it appearing in? Well, in this space. Yeah, but it's appearing to you. What are you? Are you something? I am not, because I couldn't find it. Logically, I couldn't find it. There you go. If you couldn't find anything, then you know that, you know your body's appearing there, and how can it be no thing?

Just as soon as you're staying on the sofa, there is no thing as appearing. You go to a movie. That's right. You look and the screen, there's all sorts of things taking place on the screen. When the movie's over, you've got the screen. And what's on the screen when the movie's over? Yeah, nothing. All those people and activities were taking place on. Was anyone hurt? Was anyone killed? Would anything blow up? All you say makes absolutely, absolute sense, but I don't know why, what's wrong that I don't get it? Well, habitually we're used to playing the part of being this reflection, this human being, and we've been living in that for years.

To see, drop it and see something different, it's a big movement, but it's not a movement at all. There's no movement. People say, I saw it, I saw it, then I lost it. It just dropped back into the old habit pattern, haven't lost it at all, can't live it. But it was, when they saw it, it was there before they saw it even. And they haven't lost it, something's happened, and we've taken a moment. When you say, I don't get it, how do you know you don't get it? Do you have an idea what will happen when you get it? Because when you say, yes, it all seems obvious and logical, but I don't get it, how do you know you don't get it?

Because you can't deny the fact of your existence, existence, and that is really the only thing to get. I mean, there is not even a getting of it involved. There is a certainty of being. And now the idea comes that there is something else that I should get to be enlightened. That idea of I who wants to get something or be enlightened is a thought, is a mental construct. That mental construct never ever will get a thing because mental construct doesn't even have hands to get it, doesn't have a brain, doesn't have eyes. Mental construct is like a cartoon written or the character described in the book.

It can't get a thing. Put something softer in this. So, if you have an idea that there is an eye that needs to get something, look at this idea because you are aware of you have no doubts that you exist. If you try not to exist, it fails. There is an existence. That existence is the awareness. That existence is limitless, boundless awareness. You can put a limit by imagining that it is in the brain or in the body. But you have to have the act of imagination to limit it. Without imagining that it is limited, you can't say it is just that open field of knowing, knowing of existence.

So see, in that open field of knowing, the idea comes, I, Mitra, I'm not getting it. but that idea, that construct, who wants to get it, the above construct, the construct, and the idea of what is to be got, they all images, the clouds on the sky, that imagined self will never get it, ever. It can't, it's impossible. And then, there is no it either. What is the it that the eye wants to get? the it, what's the concept of it, pleasure, superior state, state of clarity and bliss and joy. That state is something that comes and goes on the sky. And if it comes and goes, it's not a reality.

You can get certain states by watching a good comedy or taking drugs or the states, but they're meaningless because the reality is that which never changes. The reality is that screen on which all those states come and go. All the beautiful experiences, ecstatic experiences, experiences of cosmic union with the universe and other beautiful images that we have taken from the sales speech that enlightenment has around itself. The idea of being enlightened, being and then me who gets into that state of constant uninterrupted pleasure. Those are all dreams. Basically, what can you say? What can you say about yourself right now, basically? I just, the only thing that I actually exist.

Exactly. There it is. You just, all you know. You are existence itself. that's right, but that's what I, that second bit, I don't get it. Like, I think my problem is, I was just, when you were talking, I was just imagining that if it's only one thing, that's, you know, like, Bob is that thing and speaking and Kathy is that thing and everyone is that thing and, you know, I'm that thing too. and then, you know, it's really weird that I'm just speaking and then that thing speaks from over there, you know, and that thing laughs from over there. Is it like that? But then I'm just, I don't know.

What did we say before that? That thing, there is no thing. That thing is no thing. If you're trying to grasp it as a thing, you'll go in those things. Yeah, and also the fact that I actually looked within I just couldn't see anything. So, I'm like, it's kind of obvious, you know, but logically, but not I have like a realization. But I, I don't see anything. Who couldn't see anything? Who? Who was it that couldn't see anything, darling? Who couldn't see anything? That's, you know, that's, again, I don't find anyone. You don't find anyone. So, who's asking the question? I don't know really. Who is, yeah.

So, that image you have about yourself, your name is, what's your name? Mitra. Mitra. That, that image you have of Mitra, that is just an image in your memory. And that image is a thought. Right. Right? And that thought is trying to figure out something with a whole bunch of other thoughts. So, it's in conflict with itself. Yeah. Who wants to see? Without that thought, what are you? Sorry? Without that thought, what are you? Are you dead? No. So, what must you be? Huh? If you're not dead, what must you be? It's something that is alive. Alive. You are the love. It's not a thing.

Now, what does it tell you in the scriptures? Christ, what does Christ say? I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life. That sense of presence, which expresses through your mind, as I am, is the very life of you. And you are alive right now, aren't you? Yes. It's not, what more do you want? Sorry. I say, what more do you want? If that life wasn't there, you'd be a corpse. You wouldn't be able to say there's no shadow then. Be what you are. I have a couple of answers also from people who are with us online. And Manju says, to know I do not get it requires the knowing of I do not get it.

You are prior to formulating the sentence I do not get getting it. And Vivek says, there is someone who wants to get something. Reality is there, is, reality is there is no someone. How can one get the self that is just being? This is just it. Amanat says, body, consciousness, I playing as nothing, nobody. It's just consciousness without the body or body, thought, self-centered activity. And Gioti says, getting it in my mind means someone, some type of a shift somehow. And I think it has been said in many ways. When you sit in your heart, when you sit in a sense of presence, being, that you can't deny, there is no concept of there has to be me and it.

That concept, those divisions comes when you actually go into engaging with thinking. With the thinking, there is me, I should see something, I don't see, maybe I'll see it in future. So this all the conceptualizing, all the imagination goes from the mental activity. When, as Bob was saying, without the thought, are you still alive, you're still alive, you're in the heart, without the thought, there is no questions. If there is no questions, there is no one who wants to know, there is no questioning going on, there is just resting in that nothing's wrong in that being. But because we are so well trained to always engage in every thought that comes, we take it seriously, the thought comes, but, but, but, yes, but, and after that but comes, any idea that comes, it appeals so serious and so relevant and so real, that straight away, all the attention takes it as if it was something that mattered.

It's just a thought, it's just a noise, it's nothing that really, that is really meaningful enough to take the attention, the source of life out of the heart. But any bullshit thought, oh, he doesn't like me, or, oh, I'm gonna be late, or any bullshit thought, or, oh, I'm not getting it, takes the attention, grabs the attention, and totally identify you as a thinker of the thought. Now, you are solid, real, the conceptual image. But it is never real. As you look closer, there's nothing there. Yeah, there is nothing, it's obvious. But you can tell how the mind constructs that duality in an instant. The thinking kicks in straight away, out of the activity of seeing, that is, I see this.

Out of the activity of feeling, that is, I feel that. Out of the activity of being, this is me being that, or whatever. There is no need to split the singular activity, being, seeing, knowing, cognizing. That is what you are with that, within that activity. There is, of course, some action thoughts, there are some doubtful thoughts, and there are some questioning thoughts. But staying actually anchored in that sense of being in the heart, you see, they're just thoughts. And none of those thoughts actually matter. Those thoughts that are necessary for the functioning of the body, they will come charged and they will exercise action. But those sort of philosophical statement, oh, this is me, I'm not getting it, they're rubbish, really.

I mean, they believed, and they seem serious, and they create, and believe me, I've been in a persistent identity of the seeker for years and years. This was who I am, I'm a spiritual seeker, like the other roles, you know, of wife, or friend, or whatever, spiritual seeker. But there is no such thing if there is no thought. That's right. Yeah. I mean, you told me this last week as well, and, yeah, thank you for reminding, like, just being, just resting in that sense of presence that it's alive, even though I cannot define it, and until this thing, I just clearly see who I am.

Just haven't had a chance since last Sunday to do it, believe me. There's nothing to do. I know, it's not, but, you know, yeah, well, I know, I know, it's ridiculous, but, you know, just a tragic thing in the family just took me away from everything. But, thank you for reminding. I think even in the most tragic thing, you can still go back to that resting place for a few seconds a day, which really is helpful, isn't it? Yeah. Thank you so much, really appreciate. I'm sorry you're going through challenges, but if you look at the nature, you know, like you look at the wild animals almost every night when it gets dark or wet, it's a challenge.

There are lots of predators hunting. Those creatures, they don't have comfortable situations like us, roof over the head and warm clothing. nature is constantly at that state of challenge and survival. And even though they actually, yes, the wild creatures live their lives like this, they are rooted in a sense of I am-ness. There is no thought that takes the attention away. Oh, it shouldn't have happened to me or, you know, I'm not getting it, I'm not there, I want to get it, I want to become. Yeah. They just address whatever shows up, you know, they're one with the environment. Challenge comes, response comes, challenge comes, response comes.

There is not even a need to rest in the stillness at all because there's no one to rest there. That's right. Even that one who needs to stay in the heart or who needs to rest or who needs to relax is a subtle conceptualized self which does not exist. It's just a pointer, you know, like be who you are, be the space. What does space actually feel or experience or does to be? Nothing. You can't even say that it exists. That's right. So to say to relax it isn't a pointer that is supposed to address imagined, subtle imagined self and give it an instruction. It is quite the opposite.

It is the inspiration for cessation of doing. Just, you know, whatever you consider yourself a doer, just stop it. Just stop it. And of course you can't stop it. The imagined self can't stop being what it is. But in the disengagement with that imagined self there is awareness of it that doesn't come from it. That's right. There's an awareness of it that doesn't come from it. Yes. Yeah. And that is also why you will never know yourself. How could you possibly ever find the answer to the question who am I? You can't do that because you are it. So why they sit and meditate on it?

To find out for yourself that you cannot find the answer to who am I. Oh, that's the only point. Yes. Oh my God. Okay. And that is when the seeking stops organically. When that whole program of having the answers and knowing the answers basically collapses. like the computer really gets overloaded and it stops. And then, oh my God, in that stop, what answer is ever required? Everything's there. Whoever wants to know who they are. There's no one there who wants to know. You want to say something? No. Beingness. Beingness. Beingness. Nothing. Nobody being. Sorry, it's just a few, just two words. There's nobody being. There's just beingness.

There's no identity that's doing that. The natural state has no language. It has no words. It's silent. So being doesn't have a language. It doesn't need a language. But the person, so-called person, needs language to tie itself up in knots trying to find the answer. And as Bob says, you know, you'll never work it out in the mind. No answers to be conscious of the consciousness. What happens if you're conscious of the consciousness. What happens to the mind? What happens to the mind? Yeah, where is the mind? If you're conscious of the consciousness. It's no mind. It's no mind. So, can no mind have a problem.

It's an old Zen saying, no mind, beginner's mind. And Nisigarata says, be conscious of the consciousness. And you can read that in a book and pass on to the next sentence. But like so many of the pointers, the only value a pointer has is in the recognition of what the pointer is pointing to. So be conscious of the consciousness. There's only one consciousness. There's not my consciousness and your consciousness. It's the one consciousness. It's the one screen in the cinema that has all the comedies and the dramas and the tragedies. The screen doesn't change. It doesn't change. It's just the same screen. And when the light is turned off, it's pitch black.

The screen's still there. But when you go to sleep at night, the consciousness is abating. It's resting. The psyche is resting. But in deep sleep, there's awareness. It's still there. If somebody knocks on that door loud enough, you will get up. Something will stir and you'll get up and answer the door. Because the awareness is always there. It's timeless. It's not a thing. So it's not a competition. Spirituality is really like a huge competition where all these people are playing close to the guru, kiss the guru's foot and all that shit. I've seen it. The first time I saw people lining up to kiss the guru's feet, I was like, what are they doing?

And the guy was just blissful. He had bare feet and he was being kissed by all these people. He was in heaven. But an amazing experience to see that. It seems like ego. But it's just consciousness playing a role. It's playing all the roles. Each of us are playing a role in the consciousness. It's one consciousness. And to be conscious of the consciousness, as Nisargada pointed out, something happens. And to be conscious of what happens to the mind when you're conscious of the consciousness is like a master key. The master key to self-realization is the knowledge I AM. That's what Siddhartha Meshwar pointed out. But our problem is that we add things to the I AM.

I AM Gilbert. I'm a male. I'm an Australian. I'm a good bloke. I'm a bit of a dodgy character sometimes. Or whatever. But come back to the I AM. And what is I AM? AM is the verb to be. I is identity. What is my identity? Being is there. AM to be. Being is spontaneous. The awareness is spontaneous. It's not depending on me trying to become aware. The awareness is there. Like Bob asks a question sometimes, are you unaware? And of course, no, no, of course I AM aware. And then the next question he asks is, what did you have to do to be aware?

And the obvious thing is nothing. So there you go. The actual basis of existence is torn away from this idea of me that's doing something. I'm not the doer. Consciousness is doing everything. And the arrogating eye says, well, you know, I must have some sort of contribution in this thing. Me? But it's nonsense. You know, you are that. You've always been that. You could not be that. And that is all there is. And Bob points this out in his meetings and his books. And he says, well, you know, you are that. You've always been that. You could not be that. And that is all there is.

And Bob points this out in his meetings and his books. And then he ends up with, well, that is that. Full stop. So yeah. Be conscious of consciousness. Let that sink in. You know? It's not what you're ends up with, well that is that, full stop. So yeah, be conscious of consciousness, let that sink in, you know. It's not nothing. Nissa Gharata and Bob and the other teachers, they don't make this stuff up just for the fun of it. Some of them do. Like Osho just loved having fun, you know. And there you go, that's the consciousness. Can I say one more? Just for me, I grasp by battle with the whole wanting that moment of realization through thinking, through using these words, sort of like why did I have that, like, I don't know, moment of, oh, that's it.

But the times where I've come close is where I just wasn't thinking, where I managed to clear my mind. I wasn't trying intently, it just sort of happened and the words help you kind of get in that direction, but you're not going to find that moment of, oh yeah, I finally get it from hearing these words and playing with these words. It sort of comes when you sort of manage to clear your mind completely or as close as possible. And then, then you sort of, the understanding comes with that, for me at least. That you're not going to, yeah, I don't know if that helps.

How do you plead with it? Well, with a broom. With a broom. I mean, for me, Gilbert actually sort of went through this mantra of no mind, repeating, you know, something over and over, which is sort of, you know, using a word and a phrase. But for me, it really helped me. Like, I, I was still with this exercise, no mind for five minutes, just over and over, breathing at the same time really helps as well. And then at the end of it, you've managed to hold on to this, this word, doesn't really mean anything, could be any word. And then by the end of it sort of, everything just sort of went quiet.

I didn't even need the word anymore. And I had this sort of just, it didn't last long, because the thoughts come back as they do, but it was like the cloud, the sky was clear for a moment. And I just didn't think, I just felt, and I just sort of had this like euphoric feeling. And then of course the thoughts came back and that's fine. They do. But, yeah, for me, breathing really helps. It's a good starting point. Yeah. Mind happens here. No mind here. Yeah. I mean, I have... No mind everywhere. Yeah. That's a, that's a, like an entry point can be when the mind is still dominant.

We don't have Cavasher here today, but what's been coming up for me over and over again is this song. In the chilly hours and minutes of uncertainty, I long to be in the warm hold of your loving mind. To see you all around me and to take your hand along the sand. Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind. When sundown pales the sky, I want to bite a while behind your smile. And everywhere I look your eyes I find. I want you near to kill my fear. To help me to leave all my blues behind. For me to love you now.

Would be the sweetest thing. Would be the sweetest thing. Would be the sweetest thing. Would make me sing. Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind. When rain has hung the leaves with tears. I want you near to kill my fears. I want you near to kill my fear. To help me to leave all my blues behind. For me to love you now. Would be the sweetest thing. It would make me sing. Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind. Thank you. Donovan Leitch. I have a couple of comments from people who are online with us. And there is Alvaro says, as usually amazing pointers, thank you so much, muchas gracias.

And Bradley, the original conspiracy, the I am that can think is convinced that I think I am. That's the original conspiracy. Amarna says, shift is in the mind or consciousness as we, we are prior to consciousness as witness. Witness can't be separated, can not be imagined. Thanks Emilian Kat beautifully explained. And Viva says, realization is not a target to achieve. It is just being. And Bradley, listening in is the antidote to sinking out. Lovely. And Amarna, no actor or act, just action. Only that's also for mind. Otherwise all three are emptiness with fullness. Not creating listener and listened with full awareness is rare. Both self and self, capital S and small s are same, not mere words or thoughts.

And there's lots of icons there. Amarna likes icons. Emojis. Thanks Emilian Jane. That was beautiful inquiry blasting both self and non-self. And no mind is also part of mind as long as it has interest and self gain, name and fame and shape. That's also from Amarna and Bradley. Listen to the unity at the crossroads where horizontal time intersects vertical time. Where all head traffic comes to a halt. Head traffic comes to a halt. And Amarna says, thanks Emilian Gilbert. So that's that. That's 10 minutes to go. Anyone? Yeah. Sorry. Thank you. Yeah, I was thinking about the kiss the feet of the guru thing. You definitely don't want to have any mind when you're kissing someone's feet.

Because if you did, I mean, kissing that person's feet would be torture. I was thinking about this appearance question. And I, where I've been working, I come in and there's praying mantis that are in the room. And every time I go in there, you know, they kind of change their color and blend in with the tree that they're on. So they turn brown and, you know, you look at them and they camouflage and they appear as though they are a tree or stick. But actually, they're praying mantis. And, you know, scientists have been, well, actually I'm teaching a bit of science at the moment. And we're looking at atomic science and atoms and, you know, they're breaking down.

Everything's made up of atoms and atoms are made up of space. 98%. I don't know where they get that number. Wikipedia. Wikipedia. So, yeah, everything's made up of atoms. So, you know, you look at this praying mantis pretending, appearing to be a tree and now appearing to be a praying mantis because it's actually made up of space. And so you ask the question, how is this couch, you know, space? Well, it appears to be a couch. But what it's actually made of is this space. And you're also made of the space. But you appear to be nature. And everything. Bob appears to be Bob, but he's also space.

And I appear to be this thing, but I'm also space. And then let go of that word space. And that's it. So that's where the saying space, that comes from. Yeah. That's. Far out, man. Far out. Yeah. Hopefully that answers some of the questions. Thanks. Another way of looking at it and that we had a question over the phone yesterday from England. And that's a very simple way of looking at it because everyone remembers at least one dream at night. I mean, there are people who remember seven, ten, whatever. But throughout your life you would remember at least one dream. And in that dream you were probably engaged in some activities, even though your physical body was lying flat on the bed.

You were probably seeing things in that dream, even though your physical eyes were closed. And you were seeing maybe people, maybe objects, maybe a room, maybe a nature. Where are they? What are they made of? Those things that you were seeing in your dream, engaging people that you had conversations, or maybe you were running out from. All these things appear out of the stuff we call mind, out of the mental images. In the same way the sense of self, the sense of separate self appears. It's a dream. Like right now I'm dreaming, right? Well, you are not dreaming, you are really being dreamt. That is how life experiences and expresses itself.

The emptiness dreams itself to be other than emptiness. It dreams itself to be a form. Is it happening or I can, yeah? Yeah, you can tell. Is it happening right now? Are you seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, smelling? Absolutely. Dreaming is happening. Wow. Dreaming. But there is no dreamer. Honestly, you guys, like you guys really... Absolutely. You know you are dreaming or not anymore? Absolutely. Like I do dream. The awakening is really an awakening to the realization that the world is being dreamt all the time. So you... It's just no dreamer. So you realize that even though the dream goes on, the dreaming goes... Going on.

There is no controller here that is doing any of it. Dreaming is happening. Seeing is happening. And there is no entity that does the dreaming. So you awaken to the fact of dreaming. The dream is there without the dreamer. The activity, singular, non-dual, one dreaming. Not the dreamer, dreaming a dream. No. Just the dreaming is going on. It doesn't stop as long as the body is there because that's what the body does. It takes, you know, the life, expresses through the body, projects the world out of the eyes as the images. Out of the ears as the sounds. This is the machinery to create that whole dream.

It will project the dream. So when the projector is on, the dreaming is going on. But the idea that there is some sort of an entity who does any of it. Who beats the heart of the body. Who grows the hair of the body. Who thinks the thoughts. That idea is seen through. And it's not... It can't be believed any longer. It's known for what it is. It is a false idea. It is a dream. And everything else, it looks just as real. But it doesn't matter anymore. So when you lose a really dear one in the family, how do you feel about it? I mean, you guys have actually seen this through.

Yes. I've recently lost my father. Ah, sorry. Yes, of course. You know, you've seen in the nature. You've seen when you have a pet animal. And a pet animal loses its co-pet or loses the owner. Dogs even go and die on the graves of the owner. There is the bodily functions that are involved in sharing space. So if there is someone that you lived with for all of your life, that energetic shift caused by the absence of that element on which the whole body was going on autopilot causes the body a stress. So you have two pets. Julia had two cats. One died first. I had tons of cats in my life.

There was always one that went first. And of course, the body needs to adapt. So there is a sense of sadness, some sort of a discomfort, which we humans translate into a word grieving into a story of sadness. There is a discomfort in the body, definitely. And we label it and we have the phases through which we have to go with the grieving. The body will adapt because that's what it does. And if the mind is disbelieved, then really the loss, you know, I lost my father, but I didn't live with him. So he exists in my reality as a thought, just the way he existed as long as I was in Australia.

He was a thought. And occasionally he was an image, you know, occasionally twice a week or so. He was an image on the screen when I had the video conversation with him. Right. But my sister who lived with him, of course, for her, the autopilot function about cooking for him and stuff like this, that was a little bit more of the adjustment. But yeah, it's it. And I'm sorry if you're going through grief because you can actually see how the bodily discomfort is really the body correcting itself already, adapting already. And you can give space for that discomfort. So it will be more and more natural to find itself in the new environment in which it will find its way and its autopilot because it needs to have the shortcuts in functioning.

But you can also watch the mind inviting the stories of great sense of loss because what is ever lost? That's right. Life doesn't die. That's what actually this question came up for me. Yeah. Nothing's lost, apparently. Yeah. You have a dream of a nightmare. It might be a nightmare. When you wake up, thank God that was over. Oh, it was the sadness then about the dream. When you saw it for what? When you saw the dream for what it was, you know, you're glad to be out of it. I know. It's really, yeah. When you dream of someone you love, it's a different story. But it's still only a dream.

Yes. And Zagadatta says, you're dreaming a dream you call the world. He says, stop looking for ways out. The dream's not your concern. Your concern is that you love one part of the dream and not the other. Start to discriminate. This is good. He says, love all of it or none of it. And the rest will be done for you. It's a beautiful thing. The rest will be done for you. Why the hell should I worry about it? And just relax into it. And it does. It works itself out. I just want more value for others to be honest. What other? Exactly. Joy. Joy. Joy.

Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. joy. joy. joy.ivo. eight.ivo.ivo.ivo. Another thing that helped me a lot is when my dad died was just this question. You know, really, I like to preface it with a pointer, though. If you're not this body and you're not in a thought, you're not an emotion, you're not a story, a belief, a behavior, can you find where you and that are separate?

Are you in that entity that you call a person or whatever? Can you find where you're separate from anything at all? Take a look. I mean, this is an invitation. And so every time I caught, I noticed I was observing the missing, the sadness, the reminders, all the things that brought me back into the... It was an invitation to just take a look. And it was the looking was simple. It's just right. Can I find where we're separate? Take a look. Can I... And you... And then in that looking, there was never finding anyone to be separate. There was never... And guess what happens in that?

Okay. I have a couple more comments from online community, and it's time actually for Sophia. A man says, no loser, no gainer, both imagined in dream. Vivek, questioning, doubting is mind's play, accepting it as it is, end of mind game. And Bill, we are the only... we are the one simple totality that holds everything. We never change in our substance, our wholeness. There is only one of us that holds all these bodies and universes that come and go within us, always free. Emptiness full of formless love. Beautiful. Amanas, in loss of father, my daughter or son role is gone, but many other roles are there.

Grief is also part of self. If we do not imagine or think what happened, let's try. Very sorry to hear about your father, the man. Thank you, Amanas. It was a while now. Tanya. Thank you for that, Julia. And Amanas, birth and death are greatest dreams and a lot of icons. And Kavi says, I love green. Can't you not love green? Yes. So that's that for today. And thank you, everyone. Thank you, Pat. Thanks, everyone.