Published by Spiritual Unfoldment With John Butler
Christianity
Religion & Spirituality
Spirituality
"WHO AM I, but just one more of those who, since time began, have walked the hills and gazed upon the stars? When we, with heart outstretched, feel close to God, it's safer to be humble than to think we know. Experience, however, is given to be shared. While others receive otherwise, each part unique, though incomplete, contributes to the whole." John Butler has been practising meditation for over 50 years. In these conversations with Phil Shankland in Bakewell Parish Church and in locations around Bakewell he addresses questions arising from his books and questions from viewers.
To realise is to make real. Not through teaching but through personal experience. What is truth? That which doesn't change. And there we are safe. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What are thoughts? Wobbly! The only thing you can trust is this Presence. I’ve almost forgotten what it is to think. Thoughts seem to me now a phenomenon long forgotten. I’m not a man. I don’t have a name. I don’t have a form. I’m this. I’m complete. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
John & Phil share their experiences with AI - for good or for ill - starting with a discussion on an AI generated video about Einstein which they both watched. John asks whether any words of man are reliable. "The tongue advertising its own ego. A work of the devil." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
John and Nitya hosted this solstice weekend retreat at the Briery Centre in Ilkley on the theme 'Towards simplicity'. John introduces the theme and Nitya sings a beautiful kirtan chant as the solstice sun rises. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
"With words there is always a person, a me, an ego which spoils the purity of no words. The basic impurity that we have to deal with in our lives comes back to this ego - 'me'." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Whether we look beyond clouds to the open sky above or into the deep earth beneath, beyond these few agitated years of life we come to rest. Meditation is just a way of looking at the sky within oneself - or finding rest beyond the restless mind. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Anything you can do to turn towards what we may call Truth, or God, or purpose, or meaning of life, whether it be meditation or prayer helps when we encounter the doubts and questionings in the mind. Anything we have – meditation of prayer – acts as a handrail to take you through the confusion of the mind. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
John invites viewers to support the Spiritual Unfoldment Trust. Supporting the Work helps to make it available to a wider audience as well as facilitating the ongoing 'behind the scenes' work: recording and editing conversations, maintaining a library of over 500 videos, managing audio recordings and releases across platforms such as Spotify, and keeping the website and social channels like Instagram and Facebook up to date Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Most people are fascinated by their mind - they love their mind. I'm not particularly interested in it. I'd rather look out the window, keep my feet on the ground and use my common sense. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Life goes on in space between the observer, or listener and what is seen or heard - the change 'out there' and the changeless - which doesn't change. All spiritual practice leads to discrimination between what comes to pass and what doesn't - the change in changelessness. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
“When your own heart is full of love, you see love everywhere, you love everything. I don’t think it’s possible not to love if you have a pure heart. Jesus says, 'Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.'' Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
John is asked "What's our purpose?" He replies "To serve. To be a servant, even though unworthy, generally, first of what we love and then, of God. To do God's will or, as we pray, 'Thy will be done'. It's nothing to do with John Butler, but the surrendering of this to God. 'Into Thy hands, O Lord - not my will but Thine be done.' That's our purpose. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
At any time in our life, we have only one real choice - towards God or away. Towards God always brings us to the present, here and now, where we find the Infinite Presence. Turned away, we face the consequence of absence. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In the Chakra Lounge, Bakewell, John chats with visitors from Germany, Scotland and most parts of England, who have meditated with him in All Saints church for a week. "We experience life with two aspects - one changes, the other doesn't - the transitory and eternal. We can follow either so, which do we choose? Be insatiable for love. The love that never says 'No'. It calls, 'Come to me, beloved. Come home where you belong'. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
It's a fundamental aspect of the Work to practice attentiveness. Whatever we're doing, work with attention. Even leaning on a stick with attention is a wonderful thing. If enough attention is gathered to a single point, it becomes almost miraculous. Attention is a very good way of dealing with thoughts - when you listen to something with full attention there's no more left to give to thoughts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
"I don't seem to have the words in me. Just as the body dies out so do words. A much better teacher is Nature - just look up at the sky. Or listen to the 'tick-tock' of an old clock. A dog resting its head on your lap looking up at you in silence. Much better."" This is the last of the current 'Inside Story' series in which John explores more deeply the 'windows of realisation' in his most popular book 'Wonders of Spiritual Unfoldment' (Chapter 40). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Talking is normal. It is seen as odd if you don’t talk. The trouble with talking is it separates us – we are inevitably talking about “my“ experience – yours and mine. In duality, this emphasises our separation. Talking imposes separation on the world that without us is not separate. Are the trees separate from the grass? Are the birds separate from the sky? When we stop talking, the world falls back to peace. In deeper communion, we find stillness. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
John reveals the latest news about his collaboration with Broughton Sanctuary. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The real teacher in my life has always been nature. I’m not an intellectual sort of man. I’m not a thinking man at all. I’m not really interested in thinking my way to God – I never have been. I’m not the sort of man that reads books or goes to human teachers. I find the significant lessons are simply what's given to me day by day in my interaction with the living world. This is my teacher – life itself. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
"There was no doubt where my heart belonged. It was a frightening and deeply moving experience for me to go to Russia for the first time and realise that’s where my mother came from - and I, too. It’s what I'm made of."" Completing the 'Inside Story' series in which John explores more deeply the 'windows of realisation' in his most popular book 'Wonders of Spiritual Unfoldment' (Chapter 32). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
