This That Is Everything

Fall Retreat in Austin, TX

Hi Folks,

My dear friend and collaborator Dena Evans and I will be returning to Austin, Texas this fall, offering a two-day retreat, October 18th-19th. The cost for the two-days is $150 ($75 if you can only attend one of the days) though no one will be turned away for lack of funds. For more information or to register, please email me at: john@johnastin.com.

THIS THAT IS EVERYTHING

[Note: In this short piece, I use the word This to refer to the presence of whatever seems to be showing up experientially.]

For a moment, just let yourself enjoy the spontaneous, unpredictable flow of This.

And as you do, notice the way in which This remains itself, irrespective of how it’s appearing. Notice that no matter the particular thoughts or moods, no matter what seems to be happening situationally, the presence of This remains.

Notice how This doesn't hinge upon what’s being experienced for it is inclusive of the entire flow of experiencing. That’s the liberating thing about it, the fact that This doesn't depend upon anything because it is everything.

A couple of days ago, there was a massive earthquake that struck Russia and as a result, here in coastal California, we received a series of Tsunami warnings. While we were hoping that it didn’t end up causing any significant damage (which it fortunately did not), massive destruction or not, This remains This, no matter what happens.

Feel this, the fact that no matter what’s being encountered, no matter what thoughts are present, no matter the particular feelings, circumstances or events presenting themselves, nothing changes the fact of This, the reality that This is not dependent on the nature of your mind, the nature of your emotional state, the nature of anything. That's how free it is.

Notice the constancy of This, how indestructible it is. It always looks different, to be sure, appearing in all the unique ways that it does in each instant. We of course, have our preferences, inclined as we are to favor certain of the appearances over others. But regardless of whether our particular preferences are being realized or not, This is.

This was This, before you began reading these words, it remains This as you read the words, and will continue to be This when the reading has ended. If you're a meditator, This is here before you sit on your cushion, it's here while you're sitting on your cushion, and it's still here when the meditation period comes to an end.

This is the meditation that has no end, the meditation of what is, this ever-changing, shining forth of reality, the ceaseless flow of This.