Avastu Design

Was I Born?

Randall — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 09:05:09 +0000

Audio blog – we are seeking in spirituality with the root idea we have about ourselves still in-tact and unquestioned. We believe we are something which began, in other words an independent and finite existence. Instead of looking for some benefit for that entity we must question the entity itself and see if it’s true.

Second Life Meeting – 3/17/2011

Randall — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 04:08:56 +0000

Talk with Randall in Second Life on 3/17/2011. Randall talks about the ideas we have and hold closely, refusing to dig into – the very ideas about reality and our own existence.

Second Life Meeting – 2/24/2011

Randall — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 23:25:23 +0000

Talk with Randall in Second Life on 2/24/2011. Randall talks about the absolute nature of existence and points out that this is what you are.

Second Life Meeting – 2/17/2011

Randall — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 05:05:58 +0000

Talk with Randall in Second Life – Randall talks about pointers and challenges – pointing to that ineffable presence of “I” – the present capacity of knowing – through neti-neti eliminating all that is not-”I” and coming to the invariable and limitless presence of “I”. The challenge that is presented is the idea of being an entity looking through eyes at a world outside of yourself, a brain that receives second-hand data and paints a picture, a representation of the world. Can you know that picture? Are you in the brain looking at the picture? Randall wraps it up with the realization that existence does not belong to appearance – appearance belongs to existence. The means of measurement dictate the appearance of existence. When the means changes the appearance changes. Any appearance along with it’s parallel means of knowing is always relative. Without any means, what IS can only be called “absolute”. What IS without any relative or limited means of measurement. That “absolute” is truly the nature of existence itself, form-less, limitless.

The “absolute” and the “I” are one and the same.

Aren’t You That Intelligence?

Randall — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 04:56:49 +0000

Audio blog entry – Randall talks about what nonduality truly means – no separation or independence of existence. This honors the world as appearance yet points out that existence does not belong to the world, the world belongs to existence. The world is a play of existence, one essence, one intelligence. The podcast features some Chopin and also a bit from Rumi.

Second Life Meeting – 1/27/2011

Randall — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 02:57:42 +0000

Talk with Randall in Second Life. Randall discusses the idea that you are a separate existence and unfolds the nature of the subject-”I” as well as the appearance of the world. This podcast has a little music along with segments from “Sailor” Bob Adamson, Alan Watts, and Walt Whitman.

Second Life Meeting – 1/20/2011

Randall — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 18:17:21 +0000

Talk with Randall in Second Life on 1/20/2011. Randall talks about the falseness of separated existences and points out that the mature spiritual search is a direct look into that idea of existence itself – the idea you have about yourself. Existence is always given to form – when form changes we assume existence is somehow changing. But is it true? This is a direct challenge to the idea of myself as a separate existence.

All meetings end in dancing – the message is ultimately about celebration – about the absence of conditions. Each meeting ends with the dancing which symbolically points to the end of seeking and the realization that there is one whole reality, expressing in infinite ways, including dancing.

Second Life Meeting – 1/13/2011

Randall — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 16:13:29 +0000

Talk with Randall in Second Life. Randall unfolds appearance as always dependent on the means of measurement or knowing – that what appears is not a separate existence of itself but is THAT existence which alone IS. That which exists appears in an infinite display called the universe – available to know via a particular means of knowledge. As the means of measurement changes the appearance changes, yet that existence never ceases to be. What changes is not real in itself – this is the meaning of no separate existence. What exists never comes and goes, does not come into existence on it’s own and that existence does not end when the means of measurement ends.

Second Life Meeting – 1/6/2011

Randall — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 16:43:23 +0000

Talk with Randall in Second Life on January 6, 2011. As usual the talk pointed out the ineffable quality of the subject-”I”, always present and invariable while what appears comes and goes. Identification is investigated, noticed and ultimately seen as false. This was another marathon meeting, over 2 hours.

Second Life Meeting – 12/30/2010

Randall — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 00:34:37 +0000

Talk with Randall in Second Life – the pot is made of clay, a form of clay. “Pot” really speaking is then only a concept, only a mental category – pot really does not exist anywhere other than mind. If you touch pot, you touch clay. If you see pot, you are looking at clay. In the same way, Vedanta says the world of forms is nothing but a concept not truly in existence anywhere other than mind. The essence of the world is the cause – the form is only a relative appearance which is not an independent cause or existence. If that form changes, as it always does, nothing happens to the essence.

Randall discusses the more traditional teachings of Vedanta and the concept of mithyA – that which comes and goes holds no absolute reality or existence apart from concepts. That “I” which is the subject requires no concept – it is the capacity of knowing what IS – and what IS is not other than the knowing itself, so to speak.

A bit of music is added in for pause. Happy New Year, whatever that means.

Second Life Meeting – 12/23/2010

Randall — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 17:00:20 +0000

Talk with Randall in Second Life. Randall talks about what is real about your self and what is appearance, the nature of appearance and points out the immediacy and availability of whole reality.

This talk is more in line with traditional Vedanta – speaking about the Atma or Self, Sat or what IS, and mithyA, or what comes and what goes, what appears. Vedanta points out that reality is already whole, that what you are is already that whole. There is no individual who reaches this wholeness but it is the realization that you are already that.

No Finish Line

Randall — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 05:32:27 +0000

Another audio blog – an investigation into the most basic ideas we have about what we are. We begin from the individual who is seeking a way out, then take a look at the obvious fallacy of identification as reality. You are present but left without any upon which to place that identification. Your presence is always shining and aware of all that appears, including the body and mind. Then we take a look at the assumed fact of an outside world – is this something real and independent? Finally we look at the very assumption of “experience” itself – is there such a thing? Isn’t it this most basic assumption which is the root of duality as real?

If there is no such thing as experience, then no experiencer is required to be there.

This blog post is another attempt to incorporate music – there has been some good feedback. Just listen without trying to figure it out – see if there are any concepts arising to trip over.

You Have No Opposite

Randall — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 23:52:04 +0000

Audio blog – it’s been a while since there has been a new audio blog entry. This post discusses the immediacy of the Subject-I and then goes on to point out the discovery that what you are has no opposite – that opposites are only descriptions in language but the reality of this immediacy is not divided, not split up – you are the immediacy and there is no opposite to that.

This post has music, sort of in the style of the UGC. Various classical pieces. Lay aside mental analytics and just see if there is a resonance.

Second Life Meeting – 12/10/2010

Randall — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:03:19 +0000

Talk with Randall in Second Life. Randall points out the immediacy and intimacy of your present Self or Presence Awareness, then talks about the Vedanta concept of mithyA – what isn’t real but isn’t false, the tendency to take appearance as absolute, separate reality.

Second Life Meeting – 11/28/10

Randall — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:31:48 +0000

Impromptu talk with Randall in Second Life on November 28, 2010

Second Life Meeting – 10/21/10

Randall — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 21:55:04 +0000

Talk with Randall in Second Life. Randall talks about the initial recognition of yourself as no-thing, the realization of the inherent oneness of experiencing and experience, and the discovery of duality as the irresistible urge to divide in order for the expression of Joy.

Second Life Meeting – 9/30/10

Randall — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 01:03:28 +0000

Talk with Randall in Second Life – Randall talks about the absolute absence of content with regard to the “subject” or present experiencing, then goes on to point out the singularity of experiencing and experience.

The sound quality of this recording is bad in spots due to a short in the headset.

Second Life Meeting – 9/9/10

Randall — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 16:07:40 +0000

Randall talks in SL about challenges and pointers.

Second Life Meeting – 9/2/10

Randall — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 01:34:25 +0000

Talk with Randall in Second Life – Randall talks about the subject which is ever present but not appearing within objective content – also a pointer about the intelligence or Life which is the essence or cause of all appearance or form. A joke or two ends out the evening.

Second Life Meeting – 8/26/10

Randall — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 03:43:20 +0000

Randall talks in Second Life about the obviousness of the pure subject-”I” and also points to the essential oneness of what we “call” experiencing and experience.

Second Life Meeting – 8/19/10

Randall — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 03:43:07 +0000

Randall talks in Second Life about the clay and the pot.

Second Life Meeting – 8/12/10

Randall — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:43:35 +0000

Randall talks in Second Life about inquiry into the reality of “person”, then talks about the intelligence which is the whole itself

Second Life Meeting – 8/5/10

Randall — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 04:26:28 +0000

Randall talks in Second Life about two questions:

1. Are you the mind, or are you aware of the mind?

2. Is the mind in the body, and the body in the world, or is the world and body IN the mind?

Gilbert Schultz joined the meeting but the recording did not capture his talk.

Second Life Meeting – 7/30/10

Randall — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:25:53 +0000

Randall talks in Second Life about the importance of being honest with oneself in the investigation of what you are, with the core question – Are you the mind, or are you aware OF the mind?

Second Life Meeting – 7/22/10

Randall — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 03:48:42 +0000

Randall talks in Second Life about the invariable presence of “I” in all experience, and points to the immediacy of nondual reality.

Second Life Meeting – 7/15/10

Randall — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:48:22 +0000

Talk with Randall at the Second Life UGC – Randall talks about various ways of investigating our default beliefs and points to the limitless and unconditional space of “I”.

Second Life Meeting – 7/9/10

Randall — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 04:12:17 +0000

Randall Friend talks in Second Life about the subject-”I” then points to the one essence or “Life” which is expressing as everything.

Second Life Meeting – 7/1/10

Randall — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 04:38:51 +0000

Talk with Randall in SL – discussing the dependency of concepts to know reality, and the immediacy of what is being pointed to.

Second Life Meeting – 6/25/10

Randall — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 04:51:30 +0000

Randall’s talk in SL focused on the illusion of the waking vs. dream states, the picture of “outside world”, the unconditional space and the neti-neti approach.

Second Life Meeting – 6/17/10

Randall — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 04:29:26 +0000

Randall talks in SL about the true “I” that is the capacity or opening in which all experiences take place.

Second Life Meeting – 6/11/10

Randall — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 11:56:25 +0000

Talk with Randall in SL about the primacy of the subject-”I”

Second Life Meeting – 5/27/10

Randall — Sat, 29 May 2010 13:25:24 +0000

Randall talks in Second Life about the timeless present and how experiencing is not apart from experience.

Second Life Meeting – 5/20/10

Randall — Fri, 21 May 2010 05:24:13 +0000

Randall talks in Second Life about the essential oneness of experiencing.

Second Life Meeting – 5/13/10

Randall — Fri, 14 May 2010 13:07:59 +0000

Randall talks in Second Life about appearances and reality, as well as raw experiencing just as it is.

Second Life Meeting – 3/19/10

Randall — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 23:59:32 +0000

Talk with Randall Friend in Second Life on March 19, 2010.

Second Life Meeting – 3/12/10

Randall — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:41:58 +0000

Talk with Randall Friend in Second Life on March 12, 2010.

UGC Interview – Undefinable Part 2

Randall — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 02:32:31 +0000

Part 2 of UGC interview with Randall Friend.

UGC Interview – Undefinable

Randall — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 02:28:17 +0000

Part 1 of interview with Randall Friend.

You Are A Thought Story

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:26:41 +0000

A discussion of the ME, the story which is created from memory and imagination, the facade or mask which we wear as we face the so-called “outside world”.

The False Filter of ME-Seeing

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:25:00 +0000

A discussion of the falseness of the filter we call ME-seeing.

Oneness of Consciousness

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:23:46 +0000

Randall Friend talks about the Oneness of Consciousness

Subject “I”

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:22:15 +0000

A discussion of the Subject-”I”.

Screen of Awareness

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:21:06 +0000

Randall Friend discusses the Screen of Awareness, which is only a concept, but points to the ever-present background or capacity or principle because of which all experience is known.

Absolute Perspective

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:19:24 +0000

Randall Friend discusses the “Absolute Perspective”.

The Basis of Neti Neti

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:18:04 +0000

What is the basis of Neti Neti? Randall Friend discusses the negation of all that you take yourself to be, the negation of all objective content to find the pure subjectivity or presence-awareness that is your true nature.

Nature of “I”

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:15:16 +0000

An inquiry into the nature of “I”. What IS “I” – is another way of asking “who am I?”. What is that “I” which has been referred to over a lifetime? Is it truly the body or thoughts?

Inquiry Into Your Self

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:13:35 +0000

An inquiry into your true Self.

Summary for You Are No Thing

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:11:54 +0000

Book Summary of You Are No Thing by Randall Friend

UGC Interview – You Are No Thing – Part 2

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:10:04 +0000

Part 2 of interview with the Urban Guru Cafe about the book “You Are No Thing”, from Non Duality Press by Randall Friend.

UGC Interview – You Are No Thing – Part 1

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:06:10 +0000

Part 1 of interview with the Urban Guru Cafe about the book “You Are No Thing”, from Non Duality Press by Randall Friend.

UGC Interview – Challenging Assumptions

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:02:57 +0000

Another interview with the Urban Guru Cafe

UGC Interview – Conversation with Randall Friend – Part 2

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:01:26 +0000

An interview for the Urban Guru Cafe – part 2

UGC Interview – Conversation with Randall Friend – Part 1

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:59:33 +0000

An interview for the Urban Guru Cafe – part 1

Interview with Charlie

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:57:49 +0000

An interview with Charlie Hayes, of the blog Being is Knowing. Charlie’s side of the recording was apparently muted during the interview.

Second Life Meeting – 10/5/08

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:54:32 +0000

Meeting with Randall Friend in Second Life on October 5, 2008

Second Life Meeting – 9/28/08

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:53:17 +0000

Meeting with Randall Friend in Second Life on September 28, 2008

Second Life Meeting – 9/16/08

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:52:04 +0000

Meeting with Randall Friend in Second Life on September 16, 2008

Second Life Meeting – August 2008

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:50:29 +0000

Meeting with Randall Friend in Second Life in August 2008

Second Life Meeting – June 2008

Randall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:48:40 +0000

Meeting with Randall Friend in Second Life in June 2008