Rupert Spira talks about the end of spiritual seeking. He also explains how, often, spiritual practices that are intended to end our suffering are just a continuation of the search for happiness in objective experience, and why the true remedy for suffering requires no effort. The impulse to do something, or search for something, is the core of the ego. In Buddhist terms Dukkha, the core dissatisfaction, compels us to reach for something. This feeling like ‘something is missing’ has most people out in the world reaching for objects such as substances, activities, relationships and so on. In the spiritual traditions, the objects which we reach for are refined — it becomes a mantra instead of the glass of beer. But we are still trying to replace what is present now with something that we imagine will be present in the future if we do this practice. And that’s fine for a while, but sooner or later we have to ask the question, why? What am I escaping from? And who is the one that is escaping from it? Does the seeker actually exist? In the process, the impulse to move away from ourself winds down. And when it winds down completely, it leaves us in peace. The highest meditation is therefore not something we do. It’s what we are. And as we are already that, it requires no effort. Any effort would take us away from where we are now towards something which is not yet present. That is suffering — that’s the definition of suffering.
This video is taken from one of Rupert’s in-person retreats at Garrison Institute March 27 – April 3, 2022. To view and book for upcoming retreats (many of which can be attended online via livestream) go to:
▸ UK https://rupertspira.com/event/locatio…
▸ US https://rupertspira.com/event/locatio…
Timestamps:
0:00 What Is Dukkha?
0:21 Feeling Like Something Is Missing
1:17 The Search For Happiness
1:29 Self-Enquiry
2:25 The End Of Spiritual Seeking
2:54 Meditation To End Suffering
3:02 The Root Cause Of Suffering
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