John Astin, health psychologist and meditation teacher, discusses the non-conceptual experience of the present moment and the limitations of the thought world. Topics include consciousness, impermanence, integrating realization into daily life, anxiety, the power of attention, and the infinite and impermanent nature of reality.
Our conceptual interpretations of reality can overshadow the richness and mystery of what is actually happening.
By tapping into the wordless, non-conceptual aspect of reality, we can experience the boundless vibrancy and radiance of everyday experiences.
The present moment is ever-flowing, continually arising and passing away, and recognizing this timeless and dynamic nature can lead to liberation and freedom from conventional perspectives.
Exploring the non-conceptual side of experience allows us to access the unresolvable, infinite aspects of reality and embrace the indescribable richness of our existence.
Deep dives
The Ineffable Nature of Experience
The podcast explores the indescribable and unresolvable nature of our experience. It highlights how our conceptual interpretations of reality can overshadow the inherent richness and mystery of what is actually happening. The speaker emphasizes the importance of feeling and acknowledging the presence of experience rather than getting caught up in the commentary and labels that we overlay onto it. This can lead to a deeper understanding of the boundless, formless, and ever-changing nature of reality. By exploring and recognizing the inconceivable nature of our experience, we can potentially free ourselves from suffering and find profound joy in the present moment.
The Dual Perspective of Reality
The podcast delves into the coexistence of the perceptible world of forms and the inconceivable nature of experience. It highlights how our conceptual interpretations overlay onto the raw, unfiltered reality, creating a dual perspective. It explains that while our thoughts and labels are important for functioning in the world, they do not capture the true essence of experience. The speaker suggests that by tuning into the wordless, non-conceptual aspect of reality, we can tap into the boundless, vibrancy and radiance that underlies our everyday experiences. This dual perspective allows us to appreciate the beauty and magic of the formed world while simultaneously recognizing its ultimate indefinable nature.
The Endurance of the Present Moment
The podcast explores the paradoxical nature of the present moment and our concept of time. It explains how our beliefs in stability and continuity create the illusion of enduring forms and fixed boundaries. However, through experiential investigation, it becomes apparent that the present moment is ever-flowing, continually arising and passing away. By deepening our awareness of the fleeting and dynamic nature of the now, we realize that there is no fixed shape or duration to the present moment. The speaker suggests that by embracing this timeless and ever-changing quality, we can find a sense of liberation and freedom from the limitations of conventional, time-bound perspectives.
Reconciling the Conceivable and Inconceivable
The podcast discusses the challenge of reconciling our everyday conceptual understanding of reality with the inconceivable nature of experience. It highlights how our interpretations and descriptions of reality create a sense of stability and continuity, which contradicts the ever-changing and ungraspable nature of what is actually happening. The speaker suggests that in exploring the non-conceptual side of experience, we can become more attuned to the open-ended, unresolvable, and infinite aspects of reality. By recognizing that our knowledge and interpretations are limited, we can access the vast richness and bounty of the indescribable, never-ending realm of experience.
The Wonder of Reality
The podcast discusses the inherent wonder and beauty of reality. It emphasizes that every experience, whether positive or negative, is an expression of the radiance and presence of reality. The speaker highlights that this radiance is unconditioned by how it appears and that there is no experience that can obstruct or pull us away from it. The key insight is that this radiance is present in all experiences, making it unconditioned and independent of our activities or the situations we find ourselves in. This realization invites us to shift our attention with deep curiosity and explore our experiences with an awareness of the underlying radiance and presence of reality.
The Endless Enjoyment of Existence
The podcast explores the boundless enjoyment that can be found in every moment of existence. It challenges the notion that certain experiences are not okay and need to be changed to find well-being or happiness. The speaker encourages us to shift our perspective and appreciate the richness, vibrancy, and wakefulness of every experience. By bringing deep attention to the present moment and perceiving its uniqueness, aliveness, and ungraspable nature, we can extract the beauty, joy, and richness from even the most mundane or challenging experiences. This allows us to discover the absolute wonder of reality and enjoy the ever-changing flow of life.
The Presence That Never Leaves
The podcast delves into the concept of presence, highlighting two different perspectives. It recognizes that presence is often seen as something separate from our current state of being, requiring cultivation and practice. However, it introduces another perspective, the presence of what is. This presence is always here and doesn't come and go like a transient state. The speaker encourages us to explore our experiences to see if presence has ever been absent. Every experience, whether labeled as positive or negative, is included in the presence of what is. By entering into direct experience and letting reality tell us what it is, we can dissolve separations and uncover the mysterious, untethered nature of presence.
A deep dive down the rabbit hole of our astonishing, non-conceptual experience of what IS.
John Astin is a health psychologist, meditation teacher, musician, and the author of four books on spiritual practice, including This Extraordinary Moment. His guided meditations can be found on Sam Harris's Waking Up app. He has a Ph.D. in health psychology and is an adjunct professor of clinical and counseling psychology at Santa Clara and Notre Dame de Namur Universities. Find his books, teachings, and more on his website. Here's our prior interview with John. Here are all our videos on consciousness, meditation, and awakening.
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