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Yes! There is great joy when we discover our nature.

Chogyam Trungpa described what happened when the Buddha sopped struggling, saying he 'found a sane, awake, quality within!" I love it, so simple! Thanks Lorraine!

Your comment makes me happy. Fair trade!

The secret to overcoming this is just to sit for a very short time. Maybe less than a minute. Then it's not such a big thing. Your habit cannot object to you taking a break for such a short time. You can of course repeat this many times during the day! - Let me know if that helps!

I would phrase that a little differently: We can know our being, which is not just our mind. When mind is misunderstood, it becomes enmeshed in grasping and is the cause of much suffering. When comprehended accurately, that understanding frees us from grasping and removes suffering. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

You lost me there!

Thanks Edel, I agree! There was a freeing quality in it for me, something Irene said touched how I treat my mind too! I've let Irene know!

It's a great punch line! Thanks.

Yea the technology is very helpful.

Cecily here, isn't it wonderful technology can be such a help! And that we can access the practice whenever we need

Thanks Elle, IT's thanks to Martin's know how that the recordings manifest! I agree, lovely to have access whenever we need... ! Cecily

Cecily here, thank you for saying, I'm glad this practice helps you too!

I dont know enough about Zazen, so I cannot comment. Does dualistic experience cease, even temporarily? Does that cessation finish when the session ends? Does it require effort?

@@Path-To-Freedom"Dualism" is the mind's nature. The mind's function is simply distinguishing what is good for survival from what is bad. Basic perception, absent thought processing, is what you're referring to as cessation of duality. This happens to everyone on a regular basis. It's just not generally recognized. Doing anything involves effort. The thing about making substantial effort is that it is then typically contrasted by great release, thereby accentuating the nature of our life process. This aids in self observation which is the entire point of the exercise. Any resulting clarity allows for understanding which results in improvements in energy efficiency.

I think it would be useful to explore what I mean by duality. When you are reading this, there is a sense of Subject (you), Object (this text) and Activity (reading) It is but not . Non-Duality is where there is without this sense of subject and object. That is the innate condition, discoverable through, among other things, non-meditation.@@wthomas5697

@@Path-To-FreedomThe "sense" of subject and object involves thought processing. All you are referring to with the idea of "non duality" is basic perception. This occurs prior to what the brain does when determining what is good for survival and what is not. It's the data gathering phase of human brain function. In other words, basic consciousness. What you're referring to as "discovering" it simply amounts to recognizing it. In other words, thinking about it. Also, I think you're confusing meditation techniques with the state of meditation. The state of meditation is simply present moment awareness, which is the fundamental aspect of our entire experience.

Are there gaps between thoughts? @@wthomas5697

Thank you.

"That's why in a dream it all seems so real."

So glad you found that useful.

Glad you liked it. I hope it wasn't too "heady".

I cant help it!

Thanks Edel, I love that you can access and enjoy previous recordings, thank you Martin! Cecily

That's an old one! So glad you enjoyed it.

Thanks Chloe, the practice moved me too! Cecily❣

Thanks Edel, It;s wonderful to have the recordings, makes connecting with the practice possible any time! Cecily🥰

Strangely, I was just thinking about this earlier. "I'm told to relax, but let's face it, I am not able to relax..." There is a trick to use. You have to be OK with not being relaxed! To be relaxed about not being relaxed. To stop trying to force change. It's when we release the dove that it can fly. I am happy to clarify further..

​@@Path-To-Freedom OK so I understand from poking around that your practice is in the Kagyu lineage. From this I feel it is safe to infer that you are familiar with the Lojong Slogans. Mentioning because this brings one to mind, namely, "Self liberate even the antidote." - I always thought that was the hardest one to get through my skull, but the above sounds like just that. Can't say I've mastered them (which I think is impossible) - feel free to share your perspective. 😀

Actually I belong to the Nyingma lineage, but have studied with masters from the four main lineages and am familiar with lojong slogans. When it says "self liberate the antidote" this refers to relaxing into non-conceptuality, into "instant presence" where one no longer uses reference points to establish a position. A free and open natural state. This is what "Total ease" refers to. You could say "Going beyond mind". In this state of ease, the antidote is self-liberated, which means that it liberates of it's own accord, without needing any effort on your behalf. I hope that's helpful. Please feel free to clarify..@@sanghalion2662

Bienvenue! Hope you liked it.

Thank you James.

So glad it was useful for you.

So glad you liked it.

You are right!

@@Path-To-Freedom lol 😆

Sorry, I don't have any experience with telepathy.

Close, but not quite right! We are all Buddhas, but we are unfamiliar with our true Buddha-like nature. Because of this unfamiliarity, instead of manifesting as Buddhas, we manifest as sentient beings. The more familiar we are with this nature, the more we perceive and act as Buddhas. Thanks for this comment. It will be a topic for exploring, probably next Saturday.

I was going to include a clip from the TV series Friends where Ross exclaims "But we were on a break!". Then I realised it might not connect with people. Some too old, some too young.

@Path-To-Freedom he he , love it!! 😆😆😆😆 I'd say most people would !

Thanks Edel, a friend inspired, letting us know "You're okay!" when we'd sit with her. ! I'm delighted to pass it on!

Thanks Edel! I'm just having a look again at this myself... it means a lot to really find we're OK, gives us courage deep down!

Thank you!

You are very welcome! Glad to be of help!