Indescribability

This short meditation explores the indescribable, inconceivable nature of moment-to-moment experience. John aims to present a philosophical line of thinking, inviting you to appreciate your life, ideas and interactions with others. This meditation is designed to elicit introspection and provide listener's some wisdom to ponder.

Transcript

As you sit here with eyes open,

Pick any aspect of experience,

Say the feeling of the breath moving in and out of the body,

Or the play of light all around you.

Whatever is presenting itself most noticeably,

Just feel how vast and indescribable the experience actually is.

Notice the ways in which your ideas about whatever is occurring,

The labels you apply to each moment,

Are so small,

So much less rich and detailed than the experiences themselves.

For example,

This thing sitting here we call the body.

Notice how that concept could never hope to contain the vast kaleidoscope of textures and sensations,

Cascading through consciousness each instant.

Appreciate the way in which no words,

No concepts,

No descriptions could ever encompass the actuality of moment-to-moment experience.

Reviews

I love this. It reminds me of how language is an important tool for connection to self and others, but there is so much more too. Thank you 🙏

💛Thank you. I am a labyrinth facilitator and I have recently been on a retreat. The challenge is to put into words some of the experiences to share with those I offer labyrinth walks to. Your talk will help provide some guidance. 🌀

Deeply intense and all it took was a minute! Wow! Thank you! 🙏🏻

This series has got to be the most effective use of 60 seconds I have ever encountered. I have no idea how Astin does it; this time I even glanced at the timer to make sure it had only been a minute. (Spoiler: It actually ends a few seconds “early.”)

And just as I was thinking “Ah, yes, I have already learned this particular lesson (about the disconnect between verbal description and The Thing Itself),” there was a surprise: I was only halfway through the recording. The second half took a step/made a leap that I had *not* really worked through before—opening a new door. And in less than 30 seconds! I suspect sorcery.

Completely indescribable 1 minute thought hack! Wow! Thanks. I will be back 😁

This quick but very effective talk put me right in the middle of Now!

A profound, mind-opening 60 seconds