No Other-Ness: Genuine Kindness When Connecting To Others

Centering on the inner wisdom that we each hold, this meditation opens with light instruction on turning toward the center of awareness within, followed by a description of what the inner guru really is.

The guided meditation then begins and gently offers kindness to others while the light of awareness dissolves the separation between all beings.

Transcript

Hi,

Today's sitting time for silence,

Listening,

And a gentle attention is an invitation to turn toward the wisdom that is in us.

There is an essential intelligence that is beyond memory,

Beyond information we've picked up over the years,

Beyond ancestral information teachings,

Traditions,

What we've picked up from our families.

There is an essential intelligence,

Which is this power and creativity that simply comes from being.

The aliveness that each of us knows intimately at our core,

The sense of being on in a sense,

The sense of being here.

And this sense of being here is ever-present,

Constant.

It is as though this sense of being here is a single thread that winds its way through each and every experience throughout our life.

And even when we don't have a memory attached to a certain time of our life,

We don't doubt that we were there.

We don't doubt that here-ness.

So as we begin this sitting,

This time for listening,

Silence,

And attention,

I'd like to point out that we have a part to play in this essential intelligence.

And that part is communion,

Coming into union with our whole self,

Which really lies at the core of that essence,

That here-ness.

As we begin,

We can pay attention to this sense of being on,

Alive,

Here,

The sense of awareness of being.

Many teachers have given us tools over the ages.

Sometimes this is teachers that we've met when we were very young and we started our education.

Sometimes they were family members,

Friends of the family.

Sometimes they were friends along the way.

They were our teachers.

And sometimes they were people who were challenging for us.

They were our teachers too,

Pointing out what really grinds us or gives us a sense of,

That's not okay.

They help us define our boundaries emotionally.

And then there are teachers that have run through the course of time,

Through even before we were here in this life,

But teachers who have passed their wisdom through the ages because of its depth and potency.

And these teachers have given us tools to realize their insights and create new meaning through them.

Because the purpose of teaching anything is to give wisdom and let it bloom into a bigger and perhaps exponentially growing wisdom that can be given to someone else or to radiate out into the world.

Ramana Maharshi,

Perhaps the greatest enlightened being of the 20th century called the inner guru.

And what he meant by this is the potential of realization that is at our center at all times.

The inner guru is more potent than secondhand wisdom because it is closer.

We touch it intimately when we touch our being and when we are aware of our here-ness,

Our sense of being here.

Maharshi knew that understanding is an experience with a feeling behind it that could feel like opening up or stretching to a new size or this kind of energy at our center.

Understanding is not in the words themselves,

But it is the inner experience.

So teachers are helpful,

They're generous often,

And it's important that we take the wisdom from teachers,

But that first we take the wisdom from that inner guru.

That we give meaning,

Attention,

And regard this inner potential for realization,

For insight,

For understanding.

It's really,

Really potent.

And the teacher does not give us something that isn't already within us,

Held in potentiality as awareness.

What the teacher is doing is giving something that merely strikes the bell in a way that understanding can resonate,

Like the pulse of sound ringing out and being first felt strongly within us,

Close to where it strikes,

And then radiating out in rings,

Radiating out from us and through us.

So as we sit and begin our portion today that is quietly turning inward,

May you give attention to the inner guru at center.

Find a comfortable position where attention can be relaxed and awake at the same time.

Perhaps as awake,

As attentive as you can be without going into thought,

And as relaxed as can be without falling asleep.

Give a bow or a nod to that inner knowing,

The inner guru,

The inner wisdom within you.

And we will just breathe for a moment here together.

Notice any energy that is in the head or in the mind,

And give it permission to be light.

And give it permission to just float or fall away as we fall together into this silence,

Breathing into an even bigger space around you.

Noticing the space that is above,

Even with the eyes closed,

We can let the attention be aware of that space around the body,

Above,

Behind.

Notice that awareness fills the room.

Letting awareness explore all around you in a field or a space.

Even noticing that awareness can go beyond the room and into the space of the environment around the room.

Even into the space out of doors outside,

Awareness can explore the reaches.

Gently notice that this field of awareness doesn't have a clear edge.

So you can rest into that space,

Opening and relaxing as we settle in.

Being aware of that core sense of being,

The fact I am.

Now listening in,

Listening out.

Let the distinction between in and out be soft.

Take a deep breath in,

And as you exhale,

Allow yourself to soften into this space.

Feel the weight of your body,

The earth below,

Supporting this sense,

I am here.

Let's begin by bringing awareness to that center of your being.

Sometimes we notice the center when we say,

I.

Sometimes we notice the center when we just acknowledge the fact of being.

I am.

This center,

This I am that is with you always is not dependent on external circumstances,

But is what holds the ground of your experience.

It is the ground.

And in this space,

Notice the quiet presence that is not nothing.

There's a stillness that at the same time is on.

Acknowledge that this awareness,

Presence,

Is always here,

Always present,

And always on.

Now let's begin to slow down together.

And as we do,

I invite you to let awareness be noticed in and through the body,

And around into the space,

And even bigger than the space.

Just noticing this.

And now imagine your center,

The center of being,

Right here,

Closer than close.

Only you know how close this sense of being is for you.

And imagine around this sense of being,

The fact of being.

In your mind's eye,

Imagine a golden,

Warm light shining from where you find that center of your being.

Feel the warmth of this light.

Allowing this light to fill your entire body,

Radiating out from that center.

The center of being,

I am.

And as it radiates out,

It's coming into the space around you,

Concentrated at this center.

And with every breath,

This light gently fills the space.

Let's take this moment with this light,

And awareness of the space around,

To connect with others.

And as we do,

Remember that this inner wisdom,

This inner guru,

Is shared.

It is not only available to you,

But the same intelligence,

Creativity,

Power,

Potential,

Lies at the center of each and every one of us.

So,

We are more than interconnected.

This light is the same light shining at the core of our being,

In everyone.

And in this way,

Our separateness is an illusion.

As we connect with others,

Begin by calling to mind someone you have a warm,

Loving relationship with.

Someone who,

When you imagine them,

A little joy rises in your heart.

See them,

Imagining them,

Their face bathed in the same golden light of warmth that is radiating from center.

And with kindness and generosity,

Silently offer them this wish.

May you be safe.

May you be happy.

May you be comfortable.

And feel the connection with this person,

As this wish is received.

And notice how this wish for their well-being arises from the same light that holds you,

That comes through you,

As it touches their light.

Now,

Bring to mind someone with whom you have a neutral relationship.

It could be a stranger,

Someone you occasionally encounter,

Or someone you interact with regularly,

But you don't feel any strong emotion toward them.

And send them the same offering,

Imagining their face.

And as the offering is given,

This light is given with it.

May you be safe.

May you be happy.

May you be comfortable.

As this light is extended,

This warmth and kindness,

Feel the neutrality between you dissolving.

As this light and this offering actively acknowledges the truth,

They too are yourself.

Now consider someone with whom you have challenges or tension.

Acknowledge whatever comes up in you as you consider them and see their face.

And with some gentleness,

Recognize that this person,

They arise in this world you experience through awareness.

Through your sense of being,

Your sense of here-ness,

This person arises.

It is through you that they are experienced.

So recognizing with gentleness that this person is in you,

With an open heart,

Offer them the same wish.

May you be safe.

May you be happy.

May you be comfortable.

And gently acknowledging any changes within you as you offer these words and this warmth.

Letting this warmth radiate from the center and connect with this person.

Seeing their face or seeing how their energy,

Their quality might be affected as this warmth and this wish.

May you be safe.

May you be happy.

May you be comfortable,

Is received.

As this connection is happening,

Recognizing them as part of your own experience.

As you offer these wishes,

Remember the truth.

We are not separate from one another.

The projections that we put on to other people are reflections of ourselves and what we can't or struggle to accept within us.

So in the same way that we are extending this kindness and light and warmth to these others,

We are offering it to ourselves.

See how all three individuals,

Whether loved,

Neutral,

Or challenging,

Are reflections of yourself,

This light.

And they are part of your greater sense of being,

The shared inner guru.

Now gently bring your awareness back to the center,

The sense of I am,

The fact of being yourself.

Now see the golden light,

The warm glow of awareness,

Radiating from that center of being.

And feel this radiating through you into a space that is larger than the body,

Larger than the room,

Just filling the space.

This wisdom can flow.

It can be given.

And it won't run out.

Inviting this light of awareness to expand and encompass all perspectives here,

All beings,

Those you know,

Those you don't know,

And those you may never meet.

Realize you are the setting for all of them.

Everything,

Every experience,

Every memory,

Every thought,

Every emotion,

Every person arises within your awareness.

Take a moment to pause,

Slow down.

Honor your experience.

As we have touched on today,

Your being is the ultimate context for everything.

Through your being,

Everything arises for you to experience.

Without this awareness filling the space,

Would we know anything?

Would we even know that we are?

You are the aliveness,

The being that makes everything else experienced,

Experienceable.

And feel the importance of this truth,

Honoring yourself,

The importance.

Allow this truth to settle deeply within you.

Let's take one more deep breath together.

Inhale slowly,

Deeply.

And as you exhale,

Allow the exhale to be a little longer.

Allowing everything to soften that can soften.

The eyes,

The jaw,

The belly,

The hands.

Notice this connection to being that is given.

It's always here,

A single thread through every experience.

May you continue to remember this presence,

How very,

Very relevant you are and your infinite capacity for wisdom,

Kindness and compassion.

Take a moment to come back to the space around you,

Letting attention sink back to where the body is.

And when you feel ready,

Gently open your eyes,

Still noticing here and now the warmth and insight of your inner wisdom.

Thank you.