RUPERT SPIRA

There are three possibilities for our self - to be something, nothing or everything. As ‘something’ we believe and feel our self to be a cluster of thoughts, feelings and sensations - a body/mind - born into a world, moving and changing, and ultimately destined for death. As ‘nothing’ - not a thing – we know our self as the open, empty space of Awareness in which all appearances of the body, mind and world arise. This space is not affected by whatever appears within it and is thus experienced as peace itself; it is inherently free of resistance and seeking and is, as such, experienced as unconditional happiness, and it does not share the limits nor the destiny of whatever appears within it and is thus experienced as freedom.

This empty space of our own Being is also intimately one with all experience. In fact, it is even closer than that. All we know is the knowing of experience and that ‘knowing’ is our self. This ‘knowing’ doesn’t just pervade all experience; it is all experience. As such, our self is realised not just as the witnessing Awareness in the background of experience - although it is often ‘found’ there first - but in the foreground as well. As such we know our self - it knows itself - as ‘everything.’ This intimacy, in which there is no separation or otherness, is the familiar experience of love.

In Rupert’s meetings, through silent meditation, guided meditation and conversation, we explore each of these possibilities in relation to our own experience. It is an exploration that goes far deeper than intellectual understanding, penetrating not just our thoughts but the way we feel the body and perceive the world, profoundly effecting our thoughts, feelings, perceptions, activities and relationships.

Rupert SpiraFrom an early age Rupert was deeply interested in the nature of Reality. For twenty years he studied the teachings of Ouspensky, Krishnamurti, Rumi, Shankaracharya, Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta and Robert Adams, until he met his teacher, Francis Lucille, twelve years ago. Francis introduced Rupert to the teaching of Jean Klein, Parmenides, Wei Wu Wei and Atmananda Krishnamenon and, more importantly, directly indicated to him the true nature of experience.

Rupert’s first book is "The Transparency of Things," subtitled "Contemplating the Nature of Experience,". His second book, "Presence Volume I The Art of Peace and Happiness and Presence Volume II The Intimacy of All Experience" has been currently released by Non-Duality Press. www.rupertspira.com