Introductory Meditation 2: The Presence Of Awareness

The second of twelve meditations introducing the essential themes of Rupert's approach to meditation.Awareness is the ever-present, non-objective element that knows and perceives all experiences, distinct from the experiences themselves, and recognising oneself as this awareness allows for a detachment from the content of experiences.

Transcript

Hello, And welcome back to Luminous. Meditation 2 the presence of awareness. The constant thread that runs through every experience is that we know it. We are aware of it. If we are having thoughts. We know them. If we are experiencing emotions or sensations in the body, We are aware of them. If we are experiencing the world, We are aware of it. How come our experience is known? How come we are aware of it? A stone does not know the sensation of rain. Or the warmth of the sun that falls on it. But we do. What is the difference? We are aware. There is awareness. There is not just the content of experience. There is the awareness of it. Be aware of the fact that you are aware. Be aware of being aware. When we walk in nature. The trees, Fields, Flowers and rivers that we see. Are made visible by the light of the sun. What is it that makes our experience knowable? What is it that illuminates or knows our experience? Awareness. Experience could not be known without the presence of awareness. Awareness is that which knows, Feels and perceives. But cannot itself be known, Felt, Or perceived as an object. The awareness that knows or is aware of our experience. Is not itself an experience. The awareness that knows our thoughts, Images and memories. Is not itself a thought, An image, Or a memory. The awareness that is aware of our emotions. And the sensations of our body. Is not itself an emotion or a sensation. The awareness that perceives the world, That is, The awareness that sees, Hears, Touches, Tastes, And smells. Is not itself a perception. It cannot be seen, Heard, Touched, Tasted or smelt. We cannot know awareness as an object of experience. We can only be awareness knowingly. Whatever it is that knows or is aware of our experience. Is what we refer to as I. I know my thoughts, Images and memories. I am aware of feelings and sensations. I perceive the world. I am that which knows. I am nothing that is known. I am that which is aware. I am nothing that I am aware of. I am that which perceives. I am nothing that is perceived. I am the knowing, Aware or perceiving element in all experience. I am the witness of the witnessed. I am the observer. Of the observed. I am the knower of the known. I am the experiencer. Of the experience. I am the fact of simply being aware. Or awareness itself. Understand and feel yourself. As the presence of awareness. To which all experience appears, Or with which all experience is known. Be aware of any impulse in you. To be involved with the content of experience. Take a step back. And know yourself as the awareness in the background of all experience. Leave your experience alone. And experience will leave you alone. That is, It will leave you awareness alone. Be the open, Empty sky of awareness. That completely allows the clouds and the birds to fly through it. Without any attachment. Or aversion to them. Simply rest in awareness. As awareness. Thank you.