Meditations On Emptiness (Self-Enquiry)

This is a simple Buddhist-based meditation that looks at emptiness, awareness, and spaciousness. It has the focus on up-rooting the "I" thought through self-enquiry. As soon as the "I" thought appears, the whole world comes into being.

Self-enquiry can be likened to cognitive behavioral therapy in Western science and understanding. The spacious awareness can be termed supra-consciousness or meta-cognition in the Western research models of mindfulness.

May you be always free.

Transcript

My name is Celia Roberts,

And I'm the founder of the Biomedical Institute of Yoga and Meditation.

Today,

We're looking at meditations on emptiness.

So begin by just sitting comfortably,

Lying down if you wish.

Just see if you can capture the breath.

If thoughts start to arise,

Just notice,

Where do they arise from?

As soon as we have a thought,

As soon as the I-thought appears,

The whole world appears.

So anchor yourself gently in the breath,

And just notice.

Just wait for the next thought to arise.

Then really question,

Who is this I?

Who is thinking,

Perceiving,

Watching,

Observing?

With self-inquiry,

There's no need to answer the question.

As soon as the I-thought arises,

Just uprooting gently its origins.

Like pulling out a weed,

Gently extracting the ego,

So you become simple and pure awareness.

A field of consciousness,

On which the I-thought may or may not appear.

This time,

Let go of all anchors,

All practice.

Let go of everything,

The body,

The breath.

Just simply be.

Can you sit as spaciousness,

On which the form arises?

Can you sit as awareness,

Before the I-thought takes shape and form?

Can you be aware of awareness,

Watching the I-thought?

Can you be aware of the one who is observing,

Perceiving,

Watching?

What is this awareness,

Aware of itself?

We could call it emptiness,

Shunyata,

Spaciousness.

Scientifically,

Supraconsciousness,

The metacognitive state.

But spaciousness,

Space,

All that arises.

Thoughts of self,

Thoughts about self,

Thoughts of body and mind.

Anything that arises and passes,

Anything that is impermanent,

Must be discarded to see the ultimate truth.

This is the ultimate path to cease and end all suffering.

For we must not believe in what is not real.

One must really remember Buddha nature.

Buddha nature is present in everyone.

The extent to which we can comprehend this,

Makes an incredible difference.

Some people,

By simply hearing one sentence of this teaching,

Will immediately understand.

Buddha nature is present in everyone.

For all that comes and goes,

Arises and passes away.

For all impermanence of form,

Behind all form,

All shape,

All colour,

All sound,

Is Buddha nature.

Emptiness,

Awareness,

Nothingness,

Spaciousness.

May you come to know,

In this lifetime,

Your true nature.

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