Part 28 - Peter Brown - An Introduction to The Yoga of Radiant Presence (2017) | Nonduality
Oct 30, 2023
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Topics discussed in this podcast include the concept of patterning in yoga, the principle of unresolvability, questioning assumptions in the yoga of radiant presence, exploring the nature of experience, the infinite subtlety of a concept, recognizing and embracing the seamless continuity of the yoga, radiant presence and valuing experience, embracing confusion in spirituality, the disconnect between experience and reality, and the unpattered nature of actuality.
Yoga reveals that patterns in experience are unresolvable, leading to liberation from fixed patterns of karma.
Experience itself is open-ended and cannot be pinned down, constantly revealing more and defying generalities.
Interpretation defines the existence of everything within experience, but it may not reflect the actuality of experience.
Deep dives
The nature of apparent patterning
In yoga, it is discovered that all apparent patterns and forms in experience are fundamentally unpatterned. Despite the seeming complexity and consistency of patterns in the visual field, sounds, objects, and bodies, a closer look reveals that patterns are actually unresolvable and open-ended. The principle of unresolvability is the key to liberation from karma, as it challenges the belief in fixed patterns and frees one from being entrapped in them.
The intrinsic nature of experience
Yoga explores the intrinsic nature of experience, which is the soul actuality. Experience itself is constantly and infinitely present, comprising the essence of radiant presence. It is the experiential field that can be found to be self-verifyingly existing, regardless of personal belief. While patterns and appearances within experience may seem fixed, experience itself is open-ended, bottomless, and cannot be pinned down. It is made of the specifics of each moment, constantly revealing more, diverging from previous notions, and defying generalities.
The power of interpretation
Interpretation plays a significant role in shaping our perception of reality. Everything that appears within experience is defined into existence by the interpretive faculty of consciousness. This includes the body, the world, oneself, and various interrelationships. However, these interpretations are imagined and not necessarily reflective of the actuality of experience. The world and its elements are hypothesized based on the inherent patterning within the experiential field. Coming to recognize the inherently interpretive nature of experience is a crucial step in the practice of yoga.
Engaging with experience itself
The essence of yoga lies in attending to experience itself, rather than focusing solely on the contents of experience. This requires a subtle shift in attention, recognizing and settling into the intrinsic mode of intelligent engagement with actuality, which is always present. It involves acknowledging the vastness of experience, beyond the limitations of conceptualization and abstract thought. The efficacy of yoga emerges from direct observation and understanding of the actuality of experience, the presence of radiant presence, and the all-inclusiveness of this intrinsic mode.
The actuality of experience
The podcast delves into the concept that the only thing that is truly real is one's experience. Everything that appears in one's experience is considered actual, while anything that is not present in one's experience is deemed non-existent. This applies to dreams, bodies, personalities, and even the world itself. Understanding this perspective allows individuals to grasp the power and truth of their own experience, leading to a clear understanding of their situation.
Distinguishing between fantasy and reality
The podcast emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between fantasy and reality. It points out that Samsara, or being lost in fantasy, hinders one's ability to recognize the actuality of experience. The challenge lies in differentiating between what is imagined and what is truly present. Understanding spirituality is a matter of recognizing that reality exists independently of one's fantasies. By orienting to the actuality of experience and letting go of mistaken notions, individuals can gain clarity and perspective.
A compilation of introductory talks from 2017 on the Yoga of Radiant Presence by Peter Brown. This great secret of yoga is that the immediate, concrete being of the yogi, YOUR experiential field, is in fact the entirety of the absolute, the divine. The practice of Yoga is possible because this is so; through investigating the accessible nature of one's experience, the absolute condition can be recognized. Peter Brown made himself available to transmit and teach this Yoga individually, in groups, and at retreats until he passed away in September 2022.
http://www.theopendoorway.org/index.htm
Our site, Nic Higham nondual therapy: https://nisargayoga.org
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