Renowned spiritual teacher Rupert Spira joins Dr. Christopher Wallis on a conversation delving into their backgrounds in non-dual teachings, the power of contemplative questions, exploring the concept of Bhimarsha, the blind spot as a portal to infinite consciousness, the goddess within the crumba lineage, the fear of being nothing, recognizing pure awareness and the collapse of consciousness, and awakening to true nature.
The direct path teachings of non-duality, as explored by Rupert Spira, emphasize becoming aware of awareness and recognizing one's true nature as infinite consciousness.
The Tantric path, on the other hand, emphasizes the inclusion of all experiences and the recognition that everything is a manifestation of consciousness.
The Vedanta and Tantra traditions are interconnected and complementary, both leading to the realization of one's true nature as infinite consciousness.
Deep dives
The Path of Direct Recognition
The podcast episode explores the journey of spiritual practitioner Rupert Spira and his discovery of the direct path teachings of non-duality. He discusses how he transitioned from Advaita Vedanta to Tantric Shaivism and how the two approaches are actually part of the same great tradition. The direct path emphasizes becoming aware of awareness and recognizing one's true nature as infinite consciousness. This recognition goes beyond the duality of subject and object and leads to a profound shift in perception. The Tantric path, on the other hand, emphasizes the inclusion of all experiences and the recognition that everything is a manifestation of consciousness.
The Role of Self-Reflection and Experiential Contemplations
The podcast delves into the role of self-reflection and experiential contemplations in the process of awakening. Rupert Spira explains how the direct path teachings focus on awareness becoming aware of itself. Through self-reflective practices, one can recognize that consciousness is self-luminous and always aware of itself. The conversation also explores the importance of aligning the felt sense of the body and the perception of the world with the understanding of reality as an infinite consciousness. This alignment leads to a deep realization that the body and the world are not separate from consciousness, but are actually within consciousness and made of consciousness.
The Unity of Vedanta and Tantra
The podcast episode highlights the unity of Vedanta and Tantra traditions. Rupert Spira and Christopher Wallace discuss how these two approaches to non-duality are interconnected. While Vedanta emphasizes discrimination and the path of exclusion, Tantra focuses on inclusion and the path of love. Both traditions ultimately lead to the realization of one's true nature as infinite consciousness. Spira emphasizes that the Vedantic and Tantric approaches are not opposing or conflicting, but rather complementary and part of the same great tradition. The conversation underscores the need for each generation to reformulate and update the teachings to make them more relevant for the present time.
The Path to Self-Reflection and Sinking Into Being
The podcast episode explores the importance of self-reflection and sinking into one's true nature. It highlights the idea that self-reflection is essential for fully occupying and understanding oneself, allowing for a deeper connection and awareness. By sinking into being, instead of constantly reaching outward for experiences, individuals can find a sense of wholeness and fulfillment. The podcast discusses the distinction between consciousness and the finite mind, emphasizing that consciousness inherently knows itself and doesn't need to practice self-inquiry. It suggests that the capacity for self-reflection arises when consciousness becomes entangled with the content of experience, leading to the formation of the finite mind. The episode underscores the significance of recognizing the true nature of awareness and transcending the limitations of the finite mind.
The Blind Spot and the Falling Away of the "I"
The podcast delves into the concept of the blind spot or portal within consciousness, which cannot be objectified or experienced by the finite mind. This blind spot serves as a gateway to a wider and deeper awareness, beyond the limitations of the finite mind. It symbolizes the falling away of the false sense of self and the dissolution of the separate identity. The podcast highlights the paradoxical fear and attraction individuals experience when approaching this self-transcendence, as it can feel like a death or annihilation of the known self. However, by surrendering to this process, one discovers the infinite value and potential of their true nature. The episode touches upon the three stages of spiritual awakening: the recognition of oneself as awareness, the realization that everything is an expression of awareness, and the indescribable third stage of the falling away of the "I" and unity beyond existence and non-existence. It acknowledges the challenge of verbalizing or comprehending this stage, as it goes beyond the limitations and concepts of the finite mind.
Today’s episode is a conversation, and I’m speaking with the renowned teacher Rupert Spira. Rupert has been a spiritual practitioner since the age of 15. He began with Advaita Vedānta, as well as Sufi teachings, but the pivotal turning point in his spiritual life was meeting Francis Lucille, who introduced him to the Direct Path teachings of Ātmānanda Krishna Menon and the teachings of Tantric Shaivism, which Francis had received from his teacher, Jean Klein. Rupert is the author of You Are the Happiness You Seek and many other short books. He lives in Oxford, where I was fortunate to meet with him face to face, although the conversation you’ll hear today was recorded remotely. Rupert holds regular meetings in the UK, US and Italy, as well as online webinars and Retreats at Home. I personally find his long-form guided meditations to be amongst the most powerful and well-crafted guided meditations available anywhere, especially those in his audio download called Transparent Body, Luminous World, which is inspired (in part) by the Vijñāna-bhairava-tantra.
(During the recording of this episode we experienced some audio issues. Kindly bear with us as we learn the art of podcasting. We’ve already made significant improvements for subsequent episodes.)
