Why You Can't Stop Thinking During Meditation (And the Effortless Fix That Works)

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I remember the famous quote by Mark Twain, I think it was, he said, "My life has been

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full of disasters, most of which never happened."

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I love that.

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Physics would be much happier if there weren't such a thing as consciousness, because it

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doesn't know what to do with it.

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It doesn't fit in.

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The whole universe is this one vast field of information which we experience as this.

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Right now.

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The brain takes all this information it's receiving through the senses and puts it all

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together.

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And this incredible multidimensional surround sound, 3D, touchy feeling experience arises

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in my consciousness.

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It's just that 95% of the time it isn't needed.

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Things are perfectly okay.

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And it's dreaming up situations where things may not be okay.

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Karen, our guest today happens to have a Cambridge physics degree.

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He predicted the internet in the 80s.

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And now he's telling everyone that the secret to meditation is something so simple that

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it's been lost in plain sight for years.

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Can you imagine where that might be?

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I can't, but I'm looking forward to hearing it.

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Basically, is that we have to stop trying so hard?

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And I'm Karen.

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And unlike Moldor and Scully, we've talked to people deeply entrenched in the spiritual

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and metaphysical world.

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We've thrown ourselves into weird and wonderful experiences.

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I even joined a Covenant Witches.

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And, wait, you joined a Covenant?

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Yep, all in the interest of finding something that will prove that there's something beyond

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this physical, 3D we all live in.

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This is the Skeptic Metaphysicians.

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Hey there, quick question for you.

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Hey there, I'm Will.

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And this is the SkepticMetaphysicians where we ask the questions that polite people just

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don't.

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I'm polite.

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Wait.

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Ask those questions.

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Anyway, today we're asking a physicist why trying so hard to relax is the thing that's

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actually making us tense.

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Now renowned consciousness teacher Peter Russell is the author of How to Meditate Without

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Even Trying and 11 other books, including Letting Go of Nothing and From Science to God,

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a teacher of meditation for more than 50 years he believes that the critical challenge

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of today is freeing human thinking from the limiting beliefs and attitudes that lie behind

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many of our problems.

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Personal, social, global.

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He's inspired thousands through his talks, his teachings, his retreats and his popular

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online courses and we are excited to welcome Peter Russell to the show.

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Peter, how are you doing today?

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I'm doing good.

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I'm lovely to be with you, folks.

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Looking forward to this.

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We are very excited to have you.

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There are very few people that I am as excited to speak to as you, Peter, because I have followed

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you for a while.

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I saw you when you were interviewed by a cartollet.

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I mean, I read your books.

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In fact, I've got how to meditate without even trying right here in my hands and I have read

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it at least four times over.

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It's a very easy read and it's all, it's a big help for me because I'm one of those

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that has been trying really, really hard and you have opened the door to a whole new way

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of meditating that actually sounds so much better and feels so much better.

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What is it exactly that we're doing wrong that people tend to quit meditating instead of

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trying, I guess we're trying too hard to what you're saying.

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Yes, I think a lot of the trying is trying to control the mind or trying to get somewhere.

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When people start meditating, one of the most common complaints I hear is I can't stop

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my thoughts coming in.

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I can't control my mind.

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What people call the monkey mind.

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We have this idea that when you meditate, there's not going to be any thoughts.

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Thoughts will keep coming.

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It's how you deal with the thoughts.

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That's one thing that puts people off and so they start to try to stop thoughts coming

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or controlling the mind.

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The other thing is they think they're going to get somewhere.

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We're trying to get somewhere.

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We have that expectation, whatever it is, some idea or some other state.

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For me, meditation, the sort of meditation I'm interested in, I mean, there's many sorts

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of meditation.

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But the sorts of meditations I'm interested in are just, how can we just be more relaxed

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in the mind, be more present just with our experience as it is in the moment?

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I can do that by just letting go of thoughts as they come.

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I can talk more about how we do that.

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But in essence, for me, it's just about letting the mind relax and any control, any effort,

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is going to make the mind more tense.

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It gets in the way of the meditation.

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What if you feel like you're doing it, right?

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I'll start paying attention to my breath and I get really relaxed and then I'm like, okay,

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I've got anxiety that maybe those have gone bad.

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I don't even know when I went from the relaxing to the eggs.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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You don't.

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Thoughts come in and we have no control over the thoughts that come in or when they come

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in.

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But it's we like to.

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What we do have, where we can have some influence control, is when we notice, when you notice

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your mind's gone off on whatever it is, that in that moment, we can just choose not to

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follow that thought any further.

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We can just choose to, if you like, pause that thought.

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And when we do, it's like, oh, here I am again.

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Here's the present moment.

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Here's my breath.

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So we don't need to do anything to become present, to come back to the breath or whatever

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it is.

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We just need to let go of the thought, pause it, step back from it.

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And there is the breath again.

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You can just be with it.

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Right.

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So how do you keep from having that thought that you let go of replaced by another thought?

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Ah.

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Well, it will, other thoughts will come up.

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The thing is, the thoughts aren't the problem.

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It's thinking they shouldn't be there as the problem and trying to control the more

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stopping coming up.

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So you know, you have one thought and then you come back to whatever it is in your case,

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you throw that kind back to the breath and you just, ah, relax into that.

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Another thought comes up, completely different one, or maybe the same one.

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It's like, okay, and this time when you notice it, that's the crucible.

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When you notice it, in a way, you've already become present again, because you've become

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present to the fact, you're off on a thought, you're aware of that.

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And so there, in that awareness, you're off on a thought, you can just let it go and just

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come back.

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Ah, here I am.

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Here's the tree outside.

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Here's the bird song.

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Here's my body.

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Here's the breath, whatever it is.

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So when I liked about the book and what you're trying to say, because a lot of the times,

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when I try to meditate, I'm one of those that work really, really hard.

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I defined that Nirvana.

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I need to be in that, that, that, that, of the void, right, that, ah, whether I'm focusing

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on someone's voice or music or something, I'm always focusing on something.

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But you say that the thing we should focus on is just being, right?

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What do we feel while we're sitting on the couch, or on the mat?

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Yes.

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How's the wind feeling against our skin?

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Just the act of being is what we're trying to achieve, right?

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Yes.

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Yes.

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Relaxing and just being in the present moment, however it is, wherever our attention goes,

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if it goes to the body, the clothes against the skin or the bird song or whatever it is,

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or just our feeling inside, oh, this feels good, this feels quiet.

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Okay.

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That is what is happening in the present moment.

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So we're not trying to control the present or focus on any part of it.

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In fact, I often say it's in my solar meditation.

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Normally we zoom in with, we zoom the focus in on something.

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We do that the whole time in life, we're focusing on something or other.

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And then in meditation, it's like zooming out.

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It's like, oh, here I am.

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Here's this experience.

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And you just notice the potential wand are different bits.

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And then as I say, thoughts will come in and you just gently come back again.

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Right.

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But it's really not putting any effort into trying to control the mind or focus it on anything

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particular.

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And when you do that, the mind naturally begins to settle down because often things like

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if you've got a campfire and you keep on putting logs on it, it keeps burning.

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Don't put any more logs on it settles down.

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Right.

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And I think it's the same with the mind.

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If you keep on thinking about one thing, thinking about another thing as we do today,

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it keeps active.

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If you just pause the thinking, pause the thinking again.

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Gradually, the mind settles down through the meditation and it just becomes quieter and

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quieter.

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It's reminding me of like a naughty toddler is trying to get your attention and you just

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kind of ignore it and then eventually it gives up and stops.

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Yeah.

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So some of them just say to themselves, not now, thank you, not now.

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Just any way to just not continue the thinking basically is don't follow that thought any

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further.

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And with that's where we have a choice.

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They say, we don't don't choose what comes, but we do have a choice just to step back

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and not follow it any further.

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And there is the present.

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Oh, you notice too close again.

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So whatever it is.

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Uh-huh.

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So then you could really do this.

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Then you open up the door to doing meditation in all kinds of ways, not just sitting on a

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mat with your eyes closed.

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You could do it walking down the street or driving into your car or talking to your toddler

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or being in an amusement park as long as you are very much in the present, very similar

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to what the Eckhart Tolly talks about, right?

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And it's not hot.

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I mean, not driving in a car.

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Well.

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That's so relaxed.

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So that might, yeah.

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Well, you don't close your eyes, certainly.

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Well, that's what I mean.

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You don't have to have your eyes closed, right?

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You can actually keep them open and experience the present moment.

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And that is meditation to you.

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It's different sort of, I call those sort of mini meditation.

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The actual sitting down, I do recommend people have a period of sitting down each day,

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whatever it is, 15, 20 minutes, whatever works for them, where they just, they meditate

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and you're just learning that skill of just stepping back from the thought, coming back, being

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in the present moment and just relaxing.

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It's like, when you come back, it's like, ah, it's like, hey, I am.

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And so we are learning that skill when we're meditating and then we can take that out into

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the world.

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So I wouldn't call that meditation when we're doing things.

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The meditation for me is a sitting being quiet.

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But when we come into the world, then we can take that skill we've learnt and just notice

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you're driving in the car and you notice, oh, I'm caught in that sort of gain.

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And you just come back to, now the present moment is what you're seeing and maybe the feeling

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of your hands on the wheel, the sounds of the engine, you could just be there with that.

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And I would suggest you're probably driving safer because you're not distracted by your

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own mind.

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I'll tell you what.

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I'm telling you.

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Right.

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I'm not going to be able to do that.

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I'm not going to be able to do that.

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I'm not going to be able to do that.

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I'm not going to be able to do that.

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I'm not going to be able to do that.

242
00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:05,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

243
00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:06,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

244
00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:07,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

245
00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:08,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

246
00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:09,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

247
00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:10,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

248
00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:11,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

249
00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:12,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

250
00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:13,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

251
00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:14,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

252
00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:15,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

253
00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:31,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

254
00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:32,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

255
00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:33,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

256
00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:34,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

257
00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:35,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

258
00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:36,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

259
00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:37,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

260
00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:38,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

261
00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:39,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

262
00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:40,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

263
00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:41,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

264
00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:42,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

265
00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:43,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

266
00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:44,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

267
00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:45,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

268
00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:46,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

269
00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:47,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

270
00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:48,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

271
00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:49,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

272
00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:50,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

273
00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:51,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

274
00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:52,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

275
00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:53,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

276
00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:54,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

277
00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:55,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

278
00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:56,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

279
00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:57,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

280
00:13:57,240 --> 00:13:58,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

281
00:13:58,240 --> 00:13:59,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

282
00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:00,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

283
00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:15,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

284
00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:16,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

285
00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:17,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

286
00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:18,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

287
00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:19,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

288
00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:20,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

289
00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:21,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

290
00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:22,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

291
00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:23,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

292
00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:24,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

293
00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:25,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

294
00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:26,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

295
00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:27,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

296
00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:28,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

297
00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:29,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

298
00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:30,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

299
00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:31,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

300
00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:32,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

301
00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:33,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

302
00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:34,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

303
00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:35,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

304
00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:36,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

305
00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:37,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

306
00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:38,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

307
00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:39,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

308
00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:40,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

309
00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:41,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

310
00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:42,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

311
00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:43,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

312
00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:44,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

313
00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:45,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

314
00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:59,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

315
00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:00,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

316
00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:01,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

317
00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:02,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

318
00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:03,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

319
00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:04,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

320
00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:05,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

321
00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:06,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

322
00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:07,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

323
00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:08,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

324
00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:09,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

325
00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:10,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

326
00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:11,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

327
00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:12,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

328
00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:13,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

329
00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:14,240
I'm not going to be able to do that.

330
00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:20,240
I suggest to people is to open them slightly just for a few seconds, just to look at the floor,

331
00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:26,240
just look down at the floor, just brings you back to the here and now.

332
00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:28,240
And then just close the eyes to go back.

333
00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:32,240
That'll just break up that hip and go get greedy thing.

334
00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:35,240
And it may happen two or three times if you've drowsy in the meditation.

335
00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:37,240
Just open the eyes a little bit.

336
00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:38,240
Here I am.

337
00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:42,240
It just brings you back to that wakeful state.

338
00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:44,240
It kind of resets you then.

339
00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:45,240
Yeah.

340
00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:46,240
Yes.

341
00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:48,240
Well, maybe you can help me with the issue that I've been having.

342
00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:50,240
No, he's only here about meditation.

343
00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:51,240
I'm sorry.

344
00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:52,240
Wow.

345
00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:53,240
Oh, pardon.

346
00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:54,240
Pardon.

347
00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:56,240
There you go.

348
00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:57,240
This is about meditation.

349
00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:00,240
It just so happens that this is about meditation.

350
00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:02,240
So I used to meditate very regularly.

351
00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:04,240
And it got to the point where I could just drop in.

352
00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:09,240
I could be in a crowded airport sitting, you know, waiting for the flight and just instantly

353
00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:10,240
just drop into that state.

354
00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:11,240
That's not me.

355
00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:12,240
Yeah.

356
00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:14,240
And then, I don't know, stuff happened.

357
00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:15,240
I got distracted.

358
00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:17,240
I stopped kind of doing it.

359
00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:22,240
And now getting back into it, I felt like it should have been like riding a bike.

360
00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:24,240
And it hasn't been for me.

361
00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:27,240
So is it, am I just the anomaly or is there something that I had?

362
00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:30,240
Do you have to restart over once you get out of the practice?

363
00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:31,240
Or is it just me?

364
00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:32,240
Hmm.

365
00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:33,240
Don't know.

366
00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:35,240
I mean, the practice is just being aware of the breath.

367
00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:36,240
That sort of practice.

368
00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:37,240
Mindfulness.

369
00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:41,240
I guess just really being able to just drop in like that.

370
00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:42,240
Okay.

371
00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:43,240
Okay.

372
00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:49,240
One of the things it could be is, and this happens, we have this expectation of where we're

373
00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:50,240
going.

374
00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:52,240
And that can get in the way.

375
00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:57,240
I mean, very often when I teach meditation, the very first meditation is like, oh my God,

376
00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:58,240
this is wonderful.

377
00:16:58,240 --> 00:16:59,240
Thank you.

378
00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:03,240
The next time they sit to meditate, it's like, I'm going to go into this wonderful state again.

379
00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:08,240
But having that knowledge, that expectation can actually get in the way.

380
00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:09,240
Yes.

381
00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:12,240
So I would say the first thing is forget about how it used to be.

382
00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:13,240
Okay.

383
00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:19,240
And just come back to whatever your basic practice is and do it without any wanting to be anywhere,

384
00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:21,240
any expectation.

385
00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:25,240
And then you won't get the frustration like, oh, I can't get back to where I was.

386
00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:30,240
And you'll probably find you can just begin to settle into a practice, which as you settle

387
00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:36,240
into it over time, we'll begin to take you back there, which I guess Karen means you are trying

388
00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:37,240
to hard.

389
00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:38,240
I am.

390
00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:39,240
Welcome to my world.

391
00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:40,240
That's so this is perfect.

392
00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:41,240
This is perfect.

393
00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:42,240
This is perfect.

394
00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:46,240
This is part of the trying, trying to get somewhere.

395
00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:49,240
Just be with, how are we meditating?

396
00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:53,840
Just be with the present and just this thing of this, when you notice a thought coming in,

397
00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:57,480
the thought could be, oh, there's just something like it used to be.

398
00:17:57,480 --> 00:17:58,480
That's just another thought.

399
00:17:58,480 --> 00:17:59,480
Say bye-bye.

400
00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:02,480
Well, so Peter, I have a really good point.

401
00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:05,480
A lot of people we talk to about meditation.

402
00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:11,560
The goal is to reach somebody or to reach enlightenment or to have mystical experiences

403
00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:15,080
or something along those lines.

404
00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:17,280
Though that's not for everyone.

405
00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:25,480
The question that I have is this type of meditation, could it lead to some sort of progression

406
00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:27,480
of your spiritual enlightenment?

407
00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:28,480
Definitely.

408
00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:29,480
Definitely, definitely.

409
00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:31,880
But not to have it as a goal.

410
00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:35,880
Goals get in the way because you have that expectation again.

411
00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:38,200
And different things will happen to different people.

412
00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:42,540
So if one person has this experience, you think, oh, I'm going to, they describe their

413
00:18:42,540 --> 00:18:46,000
samadhi or whatever it is, you think, oh, that's what's going to happen to me.

414
00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:51,160
But maybe you have a very different sort of awakening that happens in your meditation.

415
00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:55,360
So that's another reason for not setting up goals or expectations.

416
00:18:55,360 --> 00:18:59,360
These things will happen.

417
00:18:59,360 --> 00:19:02,520
Sometimes it is come by surprise, sometimes they gradually develop.

418
00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:08,960
You do the practice and just allow it to lead you wherever it's going to lead you.

419
00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:09,960
That sounds great.

420
00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:11,360
If only the rest of life was like that.

421
00:19:11,360 --> 00:19:13,760
Like, I have my goal amounted my savings account.

422
00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:20,760
No matter what I don't do, it doesn't increase.

423
00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:26,680
So Peter, you, I can mention the book is wonderful, but I want to dive a little deeper because,

424
00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:34,680
I mean, it's very seldom that we have one of the preeminent physicists that really focuses

425
00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:37,480
on consciousness on the show.

426
00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:45,840
So the big question that I've been dying to ask a physicist, it is the big question, but

427
00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:47,240
it's got to be asked.

428
00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:56,320
At the end of the day, I identify myself as this body, as will.

429
00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:59,000
In essence, we're much more than that, right?

430
00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:02,200
So in your estimation, who are we exactly?

431
00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:03,680
Who am I?

432
00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:09,440
That's the great question, the turtle question and fundamental question.

433
00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:12,360
Fundamental, which is why we have you on the show now.

434
00:20:12,360 --> 00:20:13,360
Yay!

435
00:20:13,360 --> 00:20:17,320
You see, when you ask someone, who am I?

436
00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:21,360
You just ask personal street, who am I to say, well, you know, I'm Peter, you know, and

437
00:20:21,360 --> 00:20:22,360
what am I?

438
00:20:22,360 --> 00:20:27,320
I'm British, I'm a writer, I'm trained in physics.

439
00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:31,920
We have all these things, which are just like clothes, clothes that we wear.

440
00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:33,600
They're just like, this is who I am.

441
00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:35,280
This is how I present myself.

442
00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:36,280
This is what I've done.

443
00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:37,280
This is what I feel.

444
00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:39,360
This is my history, all of that stuff.

445
00:20:39,360 --> 00:20:43,920
And then who is the eye that wears these clothes?

446
00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:47,120
Who is the eye that says, my name is Peter Russell, my name.

447
00:20:47,120 --> 00:20:49,080
Who is the eye who has a name?

448
00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:53,200
Who is the eye that, you know, identifies with being British or an author?

449
00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:59,320
There's a sense of eye, which doesn't identify with anything we've done.

450
00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:04,280
It doesn't identify with this body because a lot of that ego stuff is identifying with

451
00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:08,680
me, hear the body, what the body's done, and how people see me.

452
00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:14,400
There's a sense of eye, which is always there, which we don't notice, which is the eye

453
00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:16,400
that is here right now.

454
00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:19,400
I mean, it's the eye that is aware that I'm talking to you.

455
00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:21,840
I'm aware of the screen in front of me.

456
00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:25,400
That sense of eye never changes.

457
00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:26,400
It's always there.

458
00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:29,560
I mean, it was there yesterday or year back.

459
00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:36,800
As far back as we can remember in our life, that sense of being me, me, has always been

460
00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:37,800
there.

461
00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:39,840
It's about it that is personally me.

462
00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:41,680
It's just like, this is me.

463
00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:42,680
This is me.

464
00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:45,040
And I've lived this life and done all this stuff.

465
00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:51,560
But is that sense of hit me and in meditation as the mindset was down, we don't get carried

466
00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:52,560
off on thoughts so much.

467
00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:55,840
It's like, we can just say, ah, here I am.

468
00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:56,840
This is me.

469
00:21:56,840 --> 00:21:58,200
You talk about being.

470
00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:00,200
This is the first person being.

471
00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:01,200
It's just I am.

472
00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:03,960
And it's not I am anything or anybody or whatever.

473
00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:07,200
It's just that sense of I am just consciousness.

474
00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:10,720
It's consciousness that has always been there.

475
00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:14,800
And but we don't notice it so much because in life, we're busy doing what we're doing or

476
00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:20,200
we're talking to people and a lot of time we're presenting who we are to people that sort

477
00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:22,480
of ego identity, which is fine.

478
00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:24,560
We, you know, nothing wrong with that at all.

479
00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:31,280
But we miss this deeper sense of being, which is, it's a still sense of I.

480
00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:36,760
And it's very, it's a very comfortable stage.

481
00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:38,080
This is me.

482
00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:39,080
This is me.

483
00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:40,080
Here I am.

484
00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:42,360
The one that is, it's basically here I am.

485
00:22:42,360 --> 00:22:44,120
The one that is experiencing all this.

486
00:22:44,120 --> 00:22:46,760
But I'm normally so tied up in the experience.

487
00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:49,840
I don't notice the me that is experiencing it.

488
00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:55,160
So would you say that's the goal of this type of meditation is to reach the I am.

489
00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:56,160
No, no goal.

490
00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:57,160
No goal.

491
00:22:57,160 --> 00:22:58,160
No goal.

492
00:22:58,160 --> 00:22:59,160
No goal.

493
00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:00,160
I fell to the trap.

494
00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:02,160
You did.

495
00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:09,640
What will happen, and I touch on this in the book is it's not a goal.

496
00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:15,800
It's when you're quiet in the meditation, you can just, you notice that.

497
00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:19,560
You can just pause and notice here I am.

498
00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:20,560
Here I am.

499
00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:22,160
Now experiencing a quiet estate and mice.

500
00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:23,400
It's not a goal.

501
00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:26,560
It's something you can actually notice in the meditation.

502
00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:30,120
So it's not, it's not becoming somebody else or getting anywhere.

503
00:23:30,120 --> 00:23:35,840
It's already there, but as the mind quarkens, you can just begin to notice that quality of

504
00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:39,600
presence, personal presence that's always there.

505
00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:40,600
Never changes.

506
00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:42,760
It's like, ah, yes, here I am.

507
00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:43,880
Here I am.

508
00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:50,000
So maybe like an onion where you peel away the thoughts, you peel away the layers to reveal

509
00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:52,000
the who I am.

510
00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:53,000
Yes.

511
00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:54,000
Yes.

512
00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:55,000
Yes.

513
00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:56,000
Nice.

514
00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:57,000
I'm going to lay it inside.

515
00:23:57,000 --> 00:23:58,000
What's that?

516
00:23:58,000 --> 00:23:59,000
What happens when you get all the way peeled away?

517
00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:00,000
It's just consciousness.

518
00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:01,000
Yes.

519
00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:03,000
It's just you being conscious.

520
00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:05,800
It's like here am I being aware.

521
00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:09,640
And then there's all the things I'm aware of, which is continually changing all through

522
00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:13,960
the day or through our life, but the eye that is being aware of them, the eye that is

523
00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:16,880
basically, as you say, it's the eye that is conscious.

524
00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:17,880
It's our consciousness.

525
00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:25,200
And in a way, I is the name we give to being conscious.

526
00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:27,680
So I have a question that I've never asked anyone before.

527
00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:28,680
Oh boy.

528
00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:30,480
I was like, all these thoughts are just coming to my head.

529
00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:34,280
So this is, I guess that's like an opinion or a belief.

530
00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:42,160
How in your mind or your opinion, how do you think that our consciousness attaches to our

531
00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:43,640
body?

532
00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:47,040
Because it's not, you know, how does it stay within our mind?

533
00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:51,040
Because people have out of body experiences or when you die, the consciousness leaves and

534
00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:52,040
it's connected, but somehow.

535
00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:53,040
Does it?

536
00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:54,040
Do you know that for sure?

537
00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:55,040
Well, no, I don't.

538
00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:56,040
I don't need this.

539
00:24:56,040 --> 00:24:59,600
But you know what I mean, but it's like, it's always like I'm always feeling like I'm

540
00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:01,800
mean in this body, this face.

541
00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:04,200
You know, I'm just not just floating around everywhere.

542
00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:05,200
Maybe you are.

543
00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:06,200
Yeah.

544
00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:09,440
It's, it's, it's questions often comes up.

545
00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:15,280
I don't think the consciousness attaches, it doesn't become attached to a body.

546
00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:18,880
It's like, I believe consciousness is fundamental to all life.

547
00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:20,680
It's part, it's part of our being.

548
00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:24,480
We are conscious creatures, dogs are conscious creatures.

549
00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:30,160
Dogs, rats, spiders, they make not be as conscious as we are, but well, every being is conscious.

550
00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:34,000
So it's a natural part of being alive.

551
00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:39,160
And I think the way we've developed, we are able to reflect upon the fact and notice

552
00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:40,440
we are conscious.

553
00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:41,440
So it's always there.

554
00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:43,480
It doesn't come attached to the body.

555
00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:45,840
It's part of who we are.

556
00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:50,720
And we tend to feel our consciousness is in the body.

557
00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:53,800
Sometimes we feel it's in the heart, some people feel it's in the head.

558
00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:56,880
We tend to identify the center of our consciousness.

559
00:25:56,880 --> 00:25:58,600
If you ask people, where are you?

560
00:25:58,600 --> 00:25:59,600
Where are you located?

561
00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:02,960
They say, Oh, I'm in my head or in my chest or something.

562
00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:05,800
That's just how we see it.

563
00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:10,440
And you know, and these, these experiences, which I will not try to explain, where you know,

564
00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:13,600
it seems you're out there above your body looking at it.

565
00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:14,600
That sort of thing.

566
00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:17,600
Yeah, that happens and I have no idea what's going on.

567
00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:18,600
So don't know.

568
00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:21,480
But that's why we have you on the show, Peter.

569
00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:23,280
You have all the answers.

570
00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:27,680
I do know that my consciousness, when I'm hungry, relies, it lives in my stomach.

571
00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:28,680
For sure.

572
00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:30,480
All right.

573
00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:36,480
So the going back to the whole point of this type of meditation, being fully present in

574
00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:38,280
the moment.

575
00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:40,480
Why is that so hard for us?

576
00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:44,760
Why is it so difficult to be so, to be completely anchored and not be carried away with

577
00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:45,760
thought?

578
00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:47,800
Well, we will be carried away by thought.

579
00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:51,320
So I'm not saying we have to try and keep present.

580
00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:53,920
This is a important point.

581
00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:57,680
It's not about staying present or trying to be present.

582
00:26:57,680 --> 00:27:03,400
It's just returning to the ease of the present moment and like almost soaking in it.

583
00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:06,760
Just for short while and then the thoughts come back in again.

584
00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:07,760
This is important.

585
00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:09,600
It's not about trying to stop them.

586
00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:15,240
So it's about rather than learning how to be present, it's like, or stay present.

587
00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:17,880
It's like, how do we return to being present?

588
00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:20,000
How do we return to being present?

589
00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:26,520
It's just like being present is just experiencing the world without all those distracting thoughts.

590
00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:28,120
That's what it is.

591
00:27:28,120 --> 00:27:32,200
So don't think of it as, I've got to say, you're present.

592
00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:33,600
When I'm present, I've got it.

593
00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:34,600
You won't.

594
00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:35,600
You won't.

595
00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:36,600
You won't.

596
00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:37,920
I'll show you, Peter.

597
00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:38,920
No, no, no, no.

598
00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:39,920
Okay.

599
00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:41,920
Let's do it for one minute.

600
00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:43,920
No, I already lost.

601
00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:48,160
I think society breeds that out of us.

602
00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:51,040
You know, because you got a plan for tomorrow and you got to pay the rent.

603
00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:52,040
What am I going to do now?

604
00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:53,760
What did I put that thing yesterday?

605
00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:56,680
And it's like, you're constantly just going.

606
00:27:56,680 --> 00:27:58,080
So it's like dipping into the present.

607
00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:03,080
I see meditation as dipping back into just being here and the thoughts will take you out.

608
00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:04,960
It's like, okay, thank you.

609
00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:05,960
Coming back.

610
00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:10,480
When you let go of the thought, the present just re-emerges.

611
00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:13,320
You don't have to do anything to be present.

612
00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:16,880
Just stopping is the thought that was taking you away from the present.

613
00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:20,000
The thought is nearly always about the past and the future.

614
00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:24,080
So they're taking your attention out of the present moment.

615
00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:26,120
I mean, we are always in the present.

616
00:28:26,120 --> 00:28:28,200
Once we're always here and out.

617
00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:31,080
But our attention, let me say we're not present.

618
00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:33,920
Our attention has gone off somewhere else.

619
00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:36,120
That's the thoughts taken somewhere else.

620
00:28:36,120 --> 00:28:37,120
Right.

621
00:28:37,120 --> 00:28:38,640
So it's not about being present.

622
00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:41,160
It's noticing that you are present.

623
00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:42,160
Right.

624
00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:43,680
Yes, I am.

625
00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:47,160
Or even just noticing you are present.

626
00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:51,280
Just noticing your present experience.

627
00:28:51,280 --> 00:28:52,280
Right it is.

628
00:28:52,280 --> 00:28:53,280
Right.

629
00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:54,280
Yeah.

630
00:28:54,280 --> 00:28:55,280
And it's a world for things.

631
00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:59,480
And just your attention will always be on one thing in the present moment.

632
00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:00,480
Whatever it is.

633
00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:01,920
It will naturally go to something.

634
00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:02,920
Right.

635
00:29:02,920 --> 00:29:03,920
So the term comes to mind.

636
00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:07,480
A lot of people that have been throwing around this term or left or right in the meditation

637
00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:10,680
circle, it's equanimity.

638
00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:16,000
Is that kind of what we're talking about here that maybe you just aren't attached to anything,

639
00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:18,120
but you don't care.

640
00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:22,760
Thoughts come through or don't come through or if you're comfortable or if you're hot,

641
00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:25,240
you just equanimous equanimous.

642
00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:27,240
I don't know.

643
00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:30,280
I always, I always get excited.

644
00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:31,280
How do you pronounce it?

645
00:29:31,280 --> 00:29:37,280
Anyway, we don't want to be practicing equanimity.

646
00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:42,480
I think that comes more with the practice of meditation, the more you meditate.

647
00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:45,480
It is, I don't call it, I would say it's part of the actual practice.

648
00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:51,200
It's a state that develops as you become more aware of yourself and are happier just

649
00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:54,480
like sitting in yourself in daily life.

650
00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:58,920
What happens is you're not so caught up in things.

651
00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:01,680
It's the mind that disturbs the equanimity.

652
00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:04,880
It's like taking you off here, taking you off there.

653
00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:09,440
But it isn't meditation, it isn't about not caring and just letting the thoughts come

654
00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:10,440
over.

655
00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:11,440
It's not passive.

656
00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:12,440
I should make this clear.

657
00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:13,440
It's not actually passive.

658
00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:16,680
It's not just sitting there and whatever happens happens.

659
00:30:16,680 --> 00:30:17,680
Oh, okay.

660
00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:19,880
Well, I think that I see that as equanimity.

661
00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:21,880
So this is different than that then.

662
00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:22,880
Yeah.

663
00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:23,880
Equanimity is more in life.

664
00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:28,880
It's like being balanced, being calm, not being disturbed by what goes on.

665
00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:32,120
So you're equanimating yourself.

666
00:30:32,120 --> 00:30:33,120
Whatever.

667
00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:34,120
Right.

668
00:30:34,120 --> 00:30:39,000
But meditation, it isn't just being passive and letting whatever.

669
00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:40,000
That's just daydreaming.

670
00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:41,760
We can all do that.

671
00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:45,960
With meditation, the difference is there is an intention.

672
00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:47,760
There is an intention.

673
00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:49,440
And that is the essence of the practice.

674
00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:56,800
And the intention is simply what I say, the intention is when you realize you've wandered

675
00:30:56,800 --> 00:31:01,400
off on a thought just to leave it behind, just to not follow it anymore.

676
00:31:01,400 --> 00:31:02,400
Just let it go.

677
00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:06,440
It's like withdrawing our attention from it.

678
00:31:06,440 --> 00:31:08,280
And there's the present again.

679
00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:13,800
So it's sitting down with that intention not to follow thoughts when they come in, when

680
00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:14,800
you notice them.

681
00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:15,800
You can't stop them.

682
00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:16,800
You can't stop them.

683
00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:19,480
But not to follow them.

684
00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:22,240
And that will just let you sink back into the present.

685
00:31:22,240 --> 00:31:23,240
Okay.

686
00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:24,240
Again and again and again.

687
00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:25,240
Right.

688
00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:29,840
With a lot of mindfulness practices, you follow your focus is hyper focus on your breath,

689
00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:33,400
for example, or some sort of home base.

690
00:31:33,400 --> 00:31:38,640
And that is not passive because you're actively following the breath.

691
00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:45,360
With this meditation, the active part of what you're doing is actively experiencing the

692
00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:46,360
present moment.

693
00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:47,880
Is that fair to say?

694
00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:48,880
Yes.

695
00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:49,880
Whatever it is.

696
00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:50,880
Whatever it is.

697
00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:51,880
Yeah.

698
00:31:51,880 --> 00:31:55,920
You're just noticing the present as it is.

699
00:31:55,920 --> 00:31:57,600
And you're not trying to hold the attention.

700
00:31:57,600 --> 00:31:59,440
They're all experienced part of it.

701
00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:00,440
And here it is.

702
00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:02,800
It's like, ah, and I notice it's just feeling in my body.

703
00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:03,800
Oh yes, that's there.

704
00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:05,880
Oh, and then I hear the fridge coming on.

705
00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:11,800
That's just, you just notice, just noticing what's there without trying to hold the attention

706
00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:13,120
20 part of it.

707
00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:17,920
And I'm sorry to keep asking these dumb questions, but it just seems too simple to be true.

708
00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:22,880
Like, there's got to be more to it than we're talking about here.

709
00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:26,320
That's what everybody thinks.

710
00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:27,320
It's got to be more complex.

711
00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:28,320
It's going to be more.

712
00:32:28,320 --> 00:32:32,040
And this is what I've learned over the years, just to my own practice.

713
00:32:32,040 --> 00:32:37,960
This really simple thing takes me where I want to go in meditation.

714
00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:40,000
It's so simple and it's so beautiful.

715
00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:41,000
It works.

716
00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:42,000
But we complexify it.

717
00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:44,040
We like to make things complicated.

718
00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:48,920
And we hear all these things about meditation, which you know, a lot of what we hear about

719
00:32:48,920 --> 00:32:52,120
meditation comes from monastic traditions.

720
00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:55,560
They're from Zen monks or Tibetan lamas.

721
00:32:55,560 --> 00:33:00,680
And they're doing incredibly complex, monastic meditation, which is absolutely fine.

722
00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:05,560
If you're in a monastery for three years, these practices will have great benefit and take

723
00:33:05,560 --> 00:33:06,560
you somewhere.

724
00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:11,200
I'm just talking about everyday meditation, but we tend to think we've got to bring these

725
00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:14,200
monastic practices into everyday life.

726
00:33:14,200 --> 00:33:19,040
And I think that's that's for we make a mistake and that's where we make it much more complicated.

727
00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:23,600
And that's where the idea comes that meditation is difficult and you try it.

728
00:33:23,600 --> 00:33:24,600
That's what work.

729
00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:27,920
So, you know, your friends, when I told you it was difficult, you've got to try harder.

730
00:33:27,920 --> 00:33:28,920
I'm trying harder.

731
00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:31,360
It's just like, it gets more difficult.

732
00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:32,360
Right.

733
00:33:32,360 --> 00:33:33,360
Right.

734
00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:41,600
So then, you do you recommend if you want to do some of those monastic practices, Buddhist

735
00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:47,480
or whatever, where you transcend or something like that, you recommend you do that separately.

736
00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:50,280
So maybe you do two different meditation, one meditation, which is what you're talking

737
00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:56,480
about in the mornings and your practice is more pointed in that sense on if you're following

738
00:33:56,480 --> 00:33:57,880
a certain tradition.

739
00:33:57,880 --> 00:34:02,720
If you're one of those folks that's waking up to something bigger than what the mainstream

740
00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:08,160
media keeps trying to shout down our throats, you might feel like you're the only one who

741
00:34:08,160 --> 00:34:09,160
sees it.

742
00:34:09,160 --> 00:34:11,000
I'm here to tell you, you're not alone.

743
00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:17,720
See, new reality TV is where seekers, skeptics, truth chasers, that's where we all come

744
00:34:17,720 --> 00:34:18,720
together.

745
00:34:18,720 --> 00:34:25,440
We're free on Roku, on Fire TV, on the web, on iOS, or on Android.

746
00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:26,760
There's no subscription.

747
00:34:26,760 --> 00:34:32,680
There's no gatekeeping, just real conversations about consciousness, spirituality, and the

748
00:34:32,680 --> 00:34:36,560
questions that nobody else is brave enough to ask.

749
00:34:36,560 --> 00:34:42,960
Better than anything else, no fear response, no content that's meant to enlist at this fear

750
00:34:42,960 --> 00:34:47,520
response that seems to be so pervasive in our world these days.

751
00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:50,120
I'm not talking about background noise.

752
00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:53,720
This is a network that you tell your friends about at two o'clock in the morning.

753
00:34:53,720 --> 00:34:54,920
Do yourself a favor?

754
00:34:54,920 --> 00:34:59,200
Search new reality TV on Roku or Fire TV or on the web right now.

755
00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:04,080
You can find it at newrealitytv.com and you will thank me later.

756
00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:09,440
This is a network that gives us the kind of programming that we need.

757
00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:14,760
That's going to raise our consciousness, not try to divide us or try to keep us wallowing

758
00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:16,480
in fear.

759
00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:21,280
New reality, if you accept it, just got a whole lot bigger.

760
00:35:21,280 --> 00:35:26,560
So, I mean, you could do that, you could well do that.

761
00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:33,120
You could also take this practice of just like the letting go of thought into some other

762
00:35:33,120 --> 00:35:34,120
practice.

763
00:35:34,120 --> 00:35:38,840
So, I see what I'm talking about is basically an essential practice that can actually be

764
00:35:38,840 --> 00:35:41,040
included in other practices.

765
00:35:41,040 --> 00:35:46,440
So, coming back to just mindfulness, when we started mindfulness of the breath.

766
00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:52,800
But you know, really dumb populist is a monastic practice you do it on retreats.

767
00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:58,000
But just being mindful of it is...

768
00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:02,840
So, I've got what we used to have lost my thread, what we were saying.

769
00:36:02,840 --> 00:36:05,240
You're just about practicing a different modernality.

770
00:36:05,240 --> 00:36:06,240
Yeah, yeah, so.

771
00:36:06,240 --> 00:36:07,240
So, thank you.

772
00:36:07,240 --> 00:36:08,240
Thank you.

773
00:36:08,240 --> 00:36:13,640
So, if you're just being mindful of the breath, you can do that with that sense of relaxation

774
00:36:13,640 --> 00:36:16,640
and ease.

775
00:36:16,640 --> 00:36:17,640
You can do it as a focusing on the breath.

776
00:36:17,640 --> 00:36:18,640
But you can also just be mindful of the breath.

777
00:36:18,640 --> 00:36:23,840
So, just noticing it, noticing it, how it feels, what it's like.

778
00:36:23,840 --> 00:36:28,200
That sort of thing, just being interested in how the breath is, you go off on a thought

779
00:36:28,200 --> 00:36:32,280
and you do this thing of just letting not following the thought anymore and you come back

780
00:36:32,280 --> 00:36:33,520
to the breath.

781
00:36:33,520 --> 00:36:34,520
And just...

782
00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:36,200
There it is.

783
00:36:36,200 --> 00:36:37,200
Not trying to focus.

784
00:36:37,200 --> 00:36:43,160
So, I would say you can bring this approach of just letting the mind relax, not following

785
00:36:43,160 --> 00:36:46,560
with what you can bring that into other meditations.

786
00:36:46,560 --> 00:36:47,560
You can work experiment.

787
00:36:47,560 --> 00:36:51,560
And all, you know, experiment for me is what led me to where I am.

788
00:36:51,560 --> 00:36:55,800
I've experimented with different techniques, experimented with myself.

789
00:36:55,800 --> 00:37:00,760
And I always suggest to be well, don't stick to doing something that somebody else told you.

790
00:37:00,760 --> 00:37:01,760
Experiment.

791
00:37:01,760 --> 00:37:05,560
See what's right, you know, if it feels right to integrate this with another practice,

792
00:37:05,560 --> 00:37:06,560
great.

793
00:37:06,560 --> 00:37:08,560
It doesn't feel right, great.

794
00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:09,560
Right.

795
00:37:09,560 --> 00:37:13,080
So, as a scientist, a physicist, and I guess my question really is,

796
00:37:13,080 --> 00:37:17,200
it's more biological, but you might know.

797
00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:18,200
Have you...

798
00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:24,520
Can you explain some of the actual physical benefits maybe on your brain or something from

799
00:37:24,520 --> 00:37:26,840
meditation that you have learned about?

800
00:37:26,840 --> 00:37:27,840
Yes.

801
00:37:27,840 --> 00:37:28,840
Yes.

802
00:37:28,840 --> 00:37:29,840
Yes.

803
00:37:29,840 --> 00:37:32,560
The first thing is that the brain goes into a relaxed state.

804
00:37:32,560 --> 00:37:37,680
It goes into what's called alpha rhythms, which always there when we relax, alpha rhythms,

805
00:37:37,680 --> 00:37:42,240
and it can go slower into what's called delta, very slow rhythms, which shows that the

806
00:37:42,240 --> 00:37:46,200
brain is basically relaxing, quietly down.

807
00:37:46,200 --> 00:37:50,640
And there's a lot of work done on the body as well that there's how the heart rate will decrease,

808
00:37:50,640 --> 00:37:53,880
the blood pressure will go down, you're breathing will soften and go down.

809
00:37:53,880 --> 00:37:58,040
Lots of these parameters, skin resistance will go down.

810
00:37:58,040 --> 00:38:00,320
These things are all indicators of stress.

811
00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:05,080
When we get stressed, blood pressure goes up, heart rate goes up, how I focus more.

812
00:38:05,080 --> 00:38:11,920
It seems that what meditation is doing is inducing the exact opposite to the stress

813
00:38:11,920 --> 00:38:12,920
response.

814
00:38:12,920 --> 00:38:15,240
It's sometimes called the relaxation response.

815
00:38:15,240 --> 00:38:16,880
So it's doing the opposite.

816
00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:21,400
And I think this is one of the reasons it's so valuable because we wind ourselves up in

817
00:38:21,400 --> 00:38:23,160
the day and we sit to meditate.

818
00:38:23,160 --> 00:38:27,160
It's like, "I'm actually letting go of that stress response."

819
00:38:27,160 --> 00:38:31,120
Not otherwise it just keeps it there on the background.

820
00:38:31,120 --> 00:38:33,520
So that's been well documented.

821
00:38:33,520 --> 00:38:37,400
Also in terms of the brain, there's been some studies that have shown the two sides of

822
00:38:37,400 --> 00:38:42,840
the brain seem to be more integrated in terms of the synergy between them.

823
00:38:42,840 --> 00:38:43,840
Wow.

824
00:38:43,840 --> 00:38:44,840
Yeah.

825
00:38:44,840 --> 00:38:49,200
You know, Peter, every time you go, "It just washes over me.

826
00:38:49,200 --> 00:38:51,640
It just makes me want to be there."

827
00:38:51,640 --> 00:38:53,560
Just try it.

828
00:38:53,560 --> 00:38:59,240
Just go, "Ah, for God's sake."

829
00:38:59,240 --> 00:39:03,080
Notice how it feels to let go of everything, what we're going to talk about, what you're

830
00:39:03,080 --> 00:39:08,880
thinking about this conversation, just go, "Ah, here I am."

831
00:39:08,880 --> 00:39:10,520
It just sounds better when he does it, though.

832
00:39:10,520 --> 00:39:11,520
It does.

833
00:39:11,520 --> 00:39:13,280
It sounds better with a British accent.

834
00:39:13,280 --> 00:39:14,280
Ding.

835
00:39:14,280 --> 00:39:17,880
I don't know that one.

836
00:39:17,880 --> 00:39:20,120
I can't do it to the American accent.

837
00:39:20,120 --> 00:39:21,120
Sorry.

838
00:39:21,120 --> 00:39:24,520
We have so long, but I still can't do it better.

839
00:39:24,520 --> 00:39:28,040
Well, then, Peter, you've been doing this for quite a few years.

840
00:39:28,040 --> 00:39:33,480
And has there ever been other times where your mind still becomes a monkey mind or have you

841
00:39:33,480 --> 00:39:34,480
concocted?

842
00:39:34,480 --> 00:39:35,480
Oh, yes.

843
00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:36,480
No, I haven't.

844
00:39:36,480 --> 00:39:37,480
Not to be concocted.

845
00:39:37,480 --> 00:39:38,480
No, I haven't.

846
00:39:38,480 --> 00:39:39,480
No, I haven't.

847
00:39:39,480 --> 00:39:45,760
Well, I actually was hoping you could say you had, because I had hoped that after doing it

848
00:39:45,760 --> 00:39:48,880
for some of my time, I was like, "Yes, no goals."

849
00:39:48,880 --> 00:39:50,480
No, it would happen.

850
00:39:50,480 --> 00:39:54,880
Particularly when I had a busy day, and it takes a while, it may be three, four, five

851
00:39:54,880 --> 00:39:56,840
minutes to settle into the meditation.

852
00:39:56,840 --> 00:40:01,800
The monkey mind's there, but just with this practice, it's just coming back, just not following

853
00:40:01,800 --> 00:40:02,800
the thoughts.

854
00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:04,680
The monkey mind, you're not fueling it.

855
00:40:04,680 --> 00:40:05,680
It gradually settles down.

856
00:40:05,680 --> 00:40:11,280
But again, there's interesting studies here in terms of meditation and the brain, because

857
00:40:11,280 --> 00:40:13,880
normally, we're focused on something.

858
00:40:13,880 --> 00:40:18,440
The brain is focused on what it's thinking, what it's doing, whatever it is.

859
00:40:18,440 --> 00:40:23,920
When you stop the thinking, the brain goes into what's called default network mode.

860
00:40:23,920 --> 00:40:28,440
The default network is like the brain beginning to relax.

861
00:40:28,440 --> 00:40:31,720
When it does, it starts coming up with all these thoughts.

862
00:40:31,720 --> 00:40:36,000
The monkey mind is a completely natural process in the brain.

863
00:40:36,000 --> 00:40:37,000
It happens to everybody.

864
00:40:37,000 --> 00:40:40,920
When you stop focusing, it comes up with this thought, and it's a lot of value for it.

865
00:40:40,920 --> 00:40:45,680
It's like integrating thoughts, consolidating a set of self.

866
00:40:45,680 --> 00:40:50,240
We now understand this mode, but what it is, is lots of little thoughts popping into

867
00:40:50,240 --> 00:40:51,240
the mind.

868
00:40:51,240 --> 00:40:54,920
It's actually a natural function of the brain.

869
00:40:54,920 --> 00:41:01,000
What we're doing by stepping back from it is that thing, and you find studies have shown

870
00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:04,880
that the default mode network, this thing that comes up with lots of thoughts, actually

871
00:41:04,880 --> 00:41:07,360
quietens down in meditation.

872
00:41:07,360 --> 00:41:11,680
Just gently quietens down, because we're not fueling it.

873
00:41:11,680 --> 00:41:13,400
The monkey mind will happen.

874
00:41:13,400 --> 00:41:15,200
It will happen.

875
00:41:15,200 --> 00:41:18,920
Is it more quiet when you're in that really good state of meditation?

876
00:41:18,920 --> 00:41:24,880
Is your brain more, I guess, in a quiet mode for better terms than it is when you're sleeping?

877
00:41:24,880 --> 00:41:25,880
I have some crazy dreams.

878
00:41:25,880 --> 00:41:28,080
I can't imagine my brain is real active.

879
00:41:28,080 --> 00:41:31,520
I think we think our brains are very active.

880
00:41:31,520 --> 00:41:35,400
It's processing that is.

881
00:41:35,400 --> 00:41:37,480
When you're dreaming, the brain becomes much more active.

882
00:41:37,480 --> 00:41:38,720
The brain rhythm is increased.

883
00:41:38,720 --> 00:41:43,200
You go into delta modes, other modes.

884
00:41:43,200 --> 00:41:47,440
When you're in deep sleep, it probably is similar, but we're not aware much when we're

885
00:41:47,440 --> 00:41:48,440
in deep sleep.

886
00:41:48,440 --> 00:41:53,960
When we're dreaming, the brain is certainly active because it's probably all these images

887
00:41:53,960 --> 00:41:55,360
together making things happen.

888
00:41:55,360 --> 00:41:56,360
You're involved in it.

889
00:41:56,360 --> 00:42:01,680
You get excited, whatever it is, angry, pissed off, scared.

890
00:42:01,680 --> 00:42:02,680
This is all happening.

891
00:42:02,680 --> 00:42:05,840
The brain is active when you're dreaming.

892
00:42:05,840 --> 00:42:12,560
Meditation is more like being that sort of stillness of deep sleep, but you'll conscious

893
00:42:12,560 --> 00:42:13,560
of it.

894
00:42:13,560 --> 00:42:18,840
You'll awake and alert and more conscious of the stillness that can lead there.

895
00:42:18,840 --> 00:42:23,240
That might be why it's so important to meditate because at night, during the day, our brain

896
00:42:23,240 --> 00:42:25,040
is like a muscle.

897
00:42:25,040 --> 00:42:27,160
You're constantly actually right.

898
00:42:27,160 --> 00:42:29,680
Meditation helps you to just relax.

899
00:42:29,680 --> 00:42:34,960
It's the one time your brain can actually relax and do nothing and recover.

900
00:42:34,960 --> 00:42:35,960
Yeah.

901
00:42:35,960 --> 00:42:38,960
I say it's giving the brain a vacation.

902
00:42:38,960 --> 00:42:43,560
It's giving yourself a vacation.

903
00:42:43,560 --> 00:42:46,680
How about having 15, 20 minute vacation every day?

904
00:42:46,680 --> 00:42:47,680
It's like, "Oh, please.

905
00:42:47,680 --> 00:42:48,680
Where do I have to go?"

906
00:42:48,680 --> 00:42:49,680
Yes.

907
00:42:49,680 --> 00:42:52,480
Just come back to being here.

908
00:42:52,480 --> 00:42:55,880
What would you say the people that say they get bored when they're meditating?

909
00:42:55,880 --> 00:42:57,080
Just sit there and just...

910
00:42:57,080 --> 00:43:03,640
And I'm asking for a friend.

911
00:43:03,640 --> 00:43:04,640
Two things.

912
00:43:04,640 --> 00:43:08,560
Boredom is just another thought.

913
00:43:08,560 --> 00:43:14,760
You're telling yourself you're bored, which means you're telling yourself, "I want something

914
00:43:14,760 --> 00:43:16,640
more to happen."

915
00:43:16,640 --> 00:43:17,640
Nothing's happening.

916
00:43:17,640 --> 00:43:19,120
You're expecting something to happen.

917
00:43:19,120 --> 00:43:22,800
So it's a story you're telling yourself, "Boredom, that's all it is."

918
00:43:22,800 --> 00:43:25,440
And it's because you're used to things going, "You want something to happen?

919
00:43:25,440 --> 00:43:26,440
You know, I'm bored in life.

920
00:43:26,440 --> 00:43:27,440
I switch on the television.

921
00:43:27,440 --> 00:43:28,440
I do this.

922
00:43:28,440 --> 00:43:29,440
Whatever it is I'm bored.

923
00:43:29,440 --> 00:43:30,440
We want something to do.

924
00:43:30,440 --> 00:43:31,840
It's that packing.

925
00:43:31,840 --> 00:43:34,440
We expect it to be more interesting.

926
00:43:34,440 --> 00:43:35,440
Right.

927
00:43:35,440 --> 00:43:36,440
Something to happen.

928
00:43:36,440 --> 00:43:41,800
Just be interested in the moment.

929
00:43:41,800 --> 00:43:43,880
Just be interested in that.

930
00:43:43,880 --> 00:43:45,760
And you won't make yourself bored.

931
00:43:45,760 --> 00:43:48,960
The boredom, as I say, is a thought that comes in.

932
00:43:48,960 --> 00:43:52,720
But I guess it takes some discipline though, because I would say a lot of people that I

933
00:43:52,720 --> 00:43:56,920
know that stop meditating because they're bored.

934
00:43:56,920 --> 00:44:01,920
It's difficult for them because they're so bored they just can't sit there.

935
00:44:01,920 --> 00:44:02,920
Right.

936
00:44:02,920 --> 00:44:07,240
They're probably not doing what I like the sort of meditation I advise.

937
00:44:07,240 --> 00:44:09,920
Because they're probably doing something which is boring.

938
00:44:09,920 --> 00:44:10,920
Right.

939
00:44:10,920 --> 00:44:11,920
Right.

940
00:44:11,920 --> 00:44:12,920
Right.

941
00:44:12,920 --> 00:44:16,160
They can be boring just following the breath.

942
00:44:16,160 --> 00:44:18,440
Continually following the breath coming back to the breath.

943
00:44:18,440 --> 00:44:19,960
That can be pretty boring.

944
00:44:19,960 --> 00:44:20,960
Yeah.

945
00:44:20,960 --> 00:44:21,960
Yeah.

946
00:44:21,960 --> 00:44:22,960
It can be.

947
00:44:22,960 --> 00:44:24,960
I never thought of meditation being boring.

948
00:44:24,960 --> 00:44:25,960
Really?

949
00:44:25,960 --> 00:44:26,960
Really?

950
00:44:26,960 --> 00:44:27,960
Really?

951
00:44:27,960 --> 00:44:28,960
Oh my God.

952
00:44:28,960 --> 00:44:29,960
But I kind of sit and silence a lot.

953
00:44:29,960 --> 00:44:30,960
You need to have something on.

954
00:44:30,960 --> 00:44:32,960
I'm constantly moving.

955
00:44:32,960 --> 00:44:33,960
I'm constantly going on.

956
00:44:33,960 --> 00:44:35,960
Now, don't give me wrong Peter.

957
00:44:35,960 --> 00:44:36,960
I meditate every day.

958
00:44:36,960 --> 00:44:37,960
He does.

959
00:44:37,960 --> 00:44:38,960
I do.

960
00:44:38,960 --> 00:44:39,960
For like half an hour.

961
00:44:39,960 --> 00:44:40,960
I'm a big meditator.

962
00:44:40,960 --> 00:44:44,960
Until I read your book, I didn't do it the way that you said it.

963
00:44:44,960 --> 00:44:48,560
And I had very, like, I have this plan, I have this path.

964
00:44:48,560 --> 00:44:50,200
I have to do this.

965
00:44:50,200 --> 00:44:53,400
Now, when I'm meditating, I try to do what you say.

966
00:44:53,400 --> 00:44:55,520
And it's just, I'm just being.

967
00:44:55,520 --> 00:44:59,120
And I do find it much, much easier.

968
00:44:59,120 --> 00:45:02,360
So easy that I think I'm doing it wrong, right?

969
00:45:02,360 --> 00:45:09,960
Because I will say, I don't know that I hit the extremes that I have in the past because

970
00:45:09,960 --> 00:45:11,920
I'm not focused on the extremes.

971
00:45:11,920 --> 00:45:13,080
I'm just being.

972
00:45:13,080 --> 00:45:14,840
And that's a different experience for me.

973
00:45:14,840 --> 00:45:15,840
Yeah.

974
00:45:15,840 --> 00:45:16,840
Yeah, you're just relaxing.

975
00:45:16,840 --> 00:45:21,320
You're letting the mind relax into, as Ram Das would say, just being here now.

976
00:45:21,320 --> 00:45:22,320
Yes.

977
00:45:22,320 --> 00:45:24,320
That's where it's just be here now.

978
00:45:24,320 --> 00:45:25,320
That's simple.

979
00:45:25,320 --> 00:45:26,320
Right.

980
00:45:26,320 --> 00:45:28,560
Well, and don't just close the book.

981
00:45:28,560 --> 00:45:29,560
I hadn't really to go.

982
00:45:29,560 --> 00:45:33,240
So in the book, you talk about self-created discontent.

983
00:45:33,240 --> 00:45:34,680
Can you tell us a little bit about that?

984
00:45:34,680 --> 00:45:38,120
Because I found that very fascinating.

985
00:45:38,120 --> 00:45:39,680
Yeah.

986
00:45:39,680 --> 00:45:41,960
And most of our thoughts are discontent.

987
00:45:41,960 --> 00:45:43,400
We're trying to make the world better.

988
00:45:43,400 --> 00:45:46,120
We don't like this or what somebody said or what I did.

989
00:45:46,120 --> 00:45:51,600
So, but most of this discontent is just thoughts about things.

990
00:45:51,600 --> 00:45:54,440
I mean, at times, discontent is very useful.

991
00:45:54,440 --> 00:45:57,520
If it's cold, I want to put more clothes on.

992
00:45:57,520 --> 00:45:58,520
There's a discontent.

993
00:45:58,520 --> 00:45:59,760
You don't like being cold.

994
00:45:59,760 --> 00:46:00,760
You put more clothes on.

995
00:46:00,760 --> 00:46:01,760
That's completely natural.

996
00:46:01,760 --> 00:46:08,240
But most of our discontent is, you know, I, well, we can be discontent with what's happening

997
00:46:08,240 --> 00:46:09,240
in the world.

998
00:46:09,240 --> 00:46:11,000
But, you know, why we create that?

999
00:46:11,000 --> 00:46:15,960
If we had watched the news, we wouldn't have created that particular discontent in ourselves.

1000
00:46:15,960 --> 00:46:20,240
But a lot of it is imagining what might happen in the future.

1001
00:46:20,240 --> 00:46:23,480
How we get caught up in, okay, what if that would happen?

1002
00:46:23,480 --> 00:46:24,800
What would I do if that would happen?

1003
00:46:24,800 --> 00:46:31,400
Oh, dear, we get into planning, we get into worrying and worrying is form of discontent.

1004
00:46:31,400 --> 00:46:33,120
So we're creating all the time.

1005
00:46:33,120 --> 00:46:38,320
We're creating this worry, this discontent for ourselves.

1006
00:46:38,320 --> 00:46:42,920
And most many of the thoughts that will come in meditation, when you look at them in one

1007
00:46:42,920 --> 00:46:46,520
way or another, they're about discontent in some form of others.

1008
00:46:46,520 --> 00:46:50,640
Hey, worry or something, trying to make the world right.

1009
00:46:50,640 --> 00:46:52,520
All of this is our own creation.

1010
00:46:52,520 --> 00:46:57,880
I remember there's a famous quote by Mark Twain, I think it was, he said, "My life has been

1011
00:46:57,880 --> 00:47:01,680
full of disasters, most of which never happened."

1012
00:47:01,680 --> 00:47:02,680
I love that.

1013
00:47:02,680 --> 00:47:03,680
Yes.

1014
00:47:03,680 --> 00:47:04,680
Oh my gosh, that's so true.

1015
00:47:04,680 --> 00:47:05,680
Never never for you.

1016
00:47:05,680 --> 00:47:06,680
And that's the thing.

1017
00:47:06,680 --> 00:47:12,760
So we create these disasters in our mind and then work out how to solve them.

1018
00:47:12,760 --> 00:47:18,720
It's like, if a disaster happens to you, that's the time to work out how to solve them.

1019
00:47:18,720 --> 00:47:19,720
What?

1020
00:47:19,720 --> 00:47:21,200
Three years ahead of where it might happen.

1021
00:47:21,200 --> 00:47:22,200
Right.

1022
00:47:22,200 --> 00:47:27,520
And then we end up living in fear for that potential disaster that may or may not happen.

1023
00:47:27,520 --> 00:47:28,520
Yes.

1024
00:47:28,520 --> 00:47:31,320
So most of our fear is self-created.

1025
00:47:31,320 --> 00:47:33,640
Occasionally, it's there and valid.

1026
00:47:33,640 --> 00:47:37,640
But again, it's our thoughts, our thoughts are creating the fear.

1027
00:47:37,640 --> 00:47:42,120
So as we learn to step back from the thoughts, we can learn to step back from the fear when

1028
00:47:42,120 --> 00:47:44,160
it comes back, when it comes out.

1029
00:47:44,160 --> 00:47:49,640
All that fear is just, it's just the thought that's triggering that feeling of fear.

1030
00:47:49,640 --> 00:47:54,040
But the thing is, the brain doesn't, the body doesn't distinguish.

1031
00:47:54,040 --> 00:47:56,160
You're creating the feeling of fear.

1032
00:47:56,160 --> 00:47:57,400
The body says, "Fair, right.

1033
00:47:57,400 --> 00:47:59,760
Okay, need to do something about him."

1034
00:47:59,760 --> 00:48:00,960
That's a cortisol.

1035
00:48:00,960 --> 00:48:03,160
You have an alarm on.

1036
00:48:03,160 --> 00:48:04,160
And stress.

1037
00:48:04,160 --> 00:48:05,760
You give it into fight.

1038
00:48:05,760 --> 00:48:06,760
Whatever it is, run away.

1039
00:48:06,760 --> 00:48:09,880
It's like, hey, you're just creating that thing.

1040
00:48:09,880 --> 00:48:14,840
But this is why I think meditation is so valuable in terms of I'm doing the stress response

1041
00:48:14,840 --> 00:48:20,080
because we create a lot of stress just through my ins and what we're thinking about.

1042
00:48:20,080 --> 00:48:24,680
And I think some people will take it a step forward and further and instead of saying,

1043
00:48:24,680 --> 00:48:27,320
well, it's the fear, it's I'm preparing myself.

1044
00:48:27,320 --> 00:48:28,720
You know, I'm being responsible.

1045
00:48:28,720 --> 00:48:29,720
That's what I do.

1046
00:48:29,720 --> 00:48:32,680
Like, getting ready for just in case, you know.

1047
00:48:32,680 --> 00:48:37,280
Well, you know, there is something to be said about being prepared for any eventuality.

1048
00:48:37,280 --> 00:48:40,400
Like always look at, you know, where's the exit when you go into a restaurant?

1049
00:48:40,400 --> 00:48:41,400
Always.

1050
00:48:41,400 --> 00:48:42,400
You're back to the wall.

1051
00:48:42,400 --> 00:48:43,400
So no one can sneak up on you.

1052
00:48:43,400 --> 00:48:44,400
You know, things like that.

1053
00:48:44,400 --> 00:48:45,400
It's the critical.

1054
00:48:45,400 --> 00:48:46,400
Yeah.

1055
00:48:46,400 --> 00:48:47,880
Or the sensible.

1056
00:48:47,880 --> 00:48:52,040
They're very good.

1057
00:48:52,040 --> 00:48:55,640
You can get by without looking for the exits, but they're sensible things.

1058
00:48:55,640 --> 00:48:56,640
Yes.

1059
00:48:56,640 --> 00:48:57,640
Yes.

1060
00:48:57,640 --> 00:49:01,600
But don't, you know, then we get into a wonder what's the other side of that exit?

1061
00:49:01,600 --> 00:49:02,600
Where does it lead?

1062
00:49:02,600 --> 00:49:03,600
What?

1063
00:49:03,600 --> 00:49:04,600
That's the time we get into it.

1064
00:49:04,600 --> 00:49:08,040
I wonder, did I really check what's behind it?

1065
00:49:08,040 --> 00:49:09,040
Whatever.

1066
00:49:09,040 --> 00:49:12,840
You know, the mind wanders off in its stories.

1067
00:49:12,840 --> 00:49:19,560
But the thing is, all of this, the mind is actually, the thinking is trying to keep you safe.

1068
00:49:19,560 --> 00:49:21,360
Is trying to keep you secure.

1069
00:49:21,360 --> 00:49:22,640
That's its job.

1070
00:49:22,640 --> 00:49:24,440
It's to make things okay for you.

1071
00:49:24,440 --> 00:49:28,640
It's just that 95% of the time it isn't needed.

1072
00:49:28,640 --> 00:49:30,000
Things are perfectly okay.

1073
00:49:30,000 --> 00:49:33,560
And it's dreaming up situations where things may not be okay.

1074
00:49:33,560 --> 00:49:35,400
So how can I make you safe here?

1075
00:49:35,400 --> 00:49:36,400
How can I do this?

1076
00:49:36,400 --> 00:49:37,400
How can I manage this?

1077
00:49:37,400 --> 00:49:38,400
It's in.

1078
00:49:38,400 --> 00:49:40,880
So all these thoughts in a way, they're an ally.

1079
00:49:40,880 --> 00:49:42,400
They're there to try and help you.

1080
00:49:42,400 --> 00:49:46,800
It's just most of the time they're getting in the way and are not necessary at all.

1081
00:49:46,800 --> 00:49:48,280
And it even goes further sometimes.

1082
00:49:48,280 --> 00:49:53,080
I mean, I would say, I think I heard somewhere that the majority of thoughts that we have in

1083
00:49:53,080 --> 00:49:55,960
a day are self-deprecating.

1084
00:49:55,960 --> 00:49:58,240
You are not doing things right.

1085
00:49:58,240 --> 00:50:00,160
You're missing something.

1086
00:50:00,160 --> 00:50:02,480
You are not looking your best.

1087
00:50:02,480 --> 00:50:03,880
You're not good at this.

1088
00:50:03,880 --> 00:50:05,400
That kind of thing.

1089
00:50:05,400 --> 00:50:11,400
So it's thoughts that help us to be discontent with ourselves.

1090
00:50:11,400 --> 00:50:18,200
And yes, in this way, we're able to let go of that and just be perfect for just for a

1091
00:50:18,200 --> 00:50:19,200
little while.

1092
00:50:19,200 --> 00:50:20,200
I like that.

1093
00:50:20,200 --> 00:50:21,200
No.

1094
00:50:21,200 --> 00:50:22,200
Yeah.

1095
00:50:22,200 --> 00:50:23,200
Just be as we are.

1096
00:50:23,200 --> 00:50:24,200
Just here I am.

1097
00:50:24,200 --> 00:50:25,200
And that's the other thing.

1098
00:50:25,200 --> 00:50:29,200
When you're just resting in the present, when you're just here, just noticing what is here

1099
00:50:29,200 --> 00:50:33,680
I am, there isn't any discontent because the thoughts are to create it.

1100
00:50:33,680 --> 00:50:39,200
So when you drop into this just being here in the present moment, it's actually a contented

1101
00:50:39,200 --> 00:50:40,200
state.

1102
00:50:40,200 --> 00:50:42,760
Feel content.

1103
00:50:42,760 --> 00:50:45,120
And that's why I think great.

1104
00:50:45,120 --> 00:50:50,760
One of the things that really save it as you as the mind becomes quiet, it's like, oh, yes,

1105
00:50:50,760 --> 00:50:51,760
I like this.

1106
00:50:51,760 --> 00:50:52,760
I am content here.

1107
00:50:52,760 --> 00:50:55,480
It's like, I don't want anything else.

1108
00:50:55,480 --> 00:50:56,600
This is okay.

1109
00:50:56,600 --> 00:50:57,600
This is okay.

1110
00:50:57,600 --> 00:51:04,760
But basically because we're not creating discontent unless you're saying your board.

1111
00:51:04,760 --> 00:51:12,200
If you're listening to this or you're watching this, do yourself a favor right now, just press

1112
00:51:12,200 --> 00:51:17,040
pause and do just five minutes of what Peter is talking about.

1113
00:51:17,040 --> 00:51:19,680
Just breathe and be present.

1114
00:51:19,680 --> 00:51:24,480
Just for five minutes and then come back to the conversation because when I read the book,

1115
00:51:24,480 --> 00:51:31,560
I actually had to put it down and immediately try it and I found it to be amazing.

1116
00:51:31,560 --> 00:51:32,920
I thought it was too simple.

1117
00:51:32,920 --> 00:51:33,920
It can't be true.

1118
00:51:33,920 --> 00:51:40,120
And yet just doing it helped me to just understand what we're talking about here.

1119
00:51:40,120 --> 00:51:46,120
So I invite you to just pause and try it and then come back because it is so beneficial.

1120
00:51:46,120 --> 00:51:47,720
Okay.

1121
00:51:47,720 --> 00:51:48,720
If you're back now.

1122
00:51:48,720 --> 00:51:49,720
That was a quick five minute.

1123
00:51:49,720 --> 00:51:53,280
That was a quick, yeah, by the power of television or audio, whatever.

1124
00:51:53,280 --> 00:52:00,800
So Peter, you are a highly trained, you went to Cambridge, in a scientist physics.

1125
00:52:00,800 --> 00:52:08,760
And from there, you went to India and almost never, like it's almost like it's like you never

1126
00:52:08,760 --> 00:52:10,800
came out of there, right?

1127
00:52:10,800 --> 00:52:19,040
How does a Cambridge physicist come to terms with Indian spirituality?

1128
00:52:19,040 --> 00:52:20,040
I love that.

1129
00:52:20,040 --> 00:52:21,040
I love that.

1130
00:52:21,040 --> 00:52:25,040
Just watch it over me.

1131
00:52:25,040 --> 00:52:27,240
I have this curiosity.

1132
00:52:27,240 --> 00:52:30,280
I love understanding the world.

1133
00:52:30,280 --> 00:52:33,200
And that's why I love physics and mathematics.

1134
00:52:33,200 --> 00:52:34,760
I was in mathematician as well.

1135
00:52:34,760 --> 00:52:35,960
I love it.

1136
00:52:35,960 --> 00:52:38,560
And I love understanding the mind.

1137
00:52:38,560 --> 00:52:41,040
Physics isn't going to tell me anything about the mind.

1138
00:52:41,040 --> 00:52:44,760
It can tell you know, biology, about the brain a bit.

1139
00:52:44,760 --> 00:52:46,920
It's not going to tell me anything about consciousness.

1140
00:52:46,920 --> 00:52:51,160
In fact, physics would be much happier if there weren't such a thing as consciousness because

1141
00:52:51,160 --> 00:52:52,400
it doesn't know what to do with it.

1142
00:52:52,400 --> 00:52:53,960
It doesn't fit in.

1143
00:52:53,960 --> 00:52:59,160
So my curiosity and interest is like, I'm as interested in consciousness as I am in

1144
00:52:59,160 --> 00:53:00,480
the physical world.

1145
00:53:00,480 --> 00:53:03,600
So for me, there are two parallel interests.

1146
00:53:03,600 --> 00:53:05,120
And I keep up my interest in physics.

1147
00:53:05,120 --> 00:53:10,400
I'm always reading about it, keeping up with what's happening because I love it.

1148
00:53:10,400 --> 00:53:16,720
And you know, meditation for me is also exploring mind, exploring my own consciousness, seeing

1149
00:53:16,720 --> 00:53:20,400
how I get stuck on things, seeing what's going on in my mind.

1150
00:53:20,400 --> 00:53:22,160
It's quite fascinating.

1151
00:53:22,160 --> 00:53:23,160
Right.

1152
00:53:23,160 --> 00:53:25,640
Do you ever delve into the quantum physics of things?

1153
00:53:25,640 --> 00:53:26,640
Yes.

1154
00:53:26,640 --> 00:53:27,640
Oh yes.

1155
00:53:27,640 --> 00:53:30,520
We talk and that's how you merge the two together, right?

1156
00:53:30,520 --> 00:53:34,880
The quantum physics allows every door to be opened at that point.

1157
00:53:34,880 --> 00:53:35,880
Yes.

1158
00:53:35,880 --> 00:53:39,800
Nobody knows what's going on.

1159
00:53:39,800 --> 00:53:40,800
It's true.

1160
00:53:40,800 --> 00:53:41,800
Exactly.

1161
00:53:41,800 --> 00:53:46,720
We know the mathematics of quantum physics.

1162
00:53:46,720 --> 00:53:48,720
And it works perfectly.

1163
00:53:48,720 --> 00:53:55,440
The theory of quantum physics is probably the most proven theory that is the whole of

1164
00:53:55,440 --> 00:53:56,440
physics.

1165
00:53:56,440 --> 00:53:58,640
And the truth is, no doubting.

1166
00:53:58,640 --> 00:54:03,920
What it actually represents, what's going on underneath?

1167
00:54:03,920 --> 00:54:06,040
It's a hard one to wrap your head around.

1168
00:54:06,040 --> 00:54:11,920
Mathematics shows it is perfectly viable, but your brain goes, "No."

1169
00:54:11,920 --> 00:54:17,120
Something being in two places at once or that sort of thing or entanglement is like what

1170
00:54:17,120 --> 00:54:23,080
and waves appearing as particles as waves is like, you know, we find ways to do it.

1171
00:54:23,080 --> 00:54:28,720
You see, part of the problem is, I think our world is this world.

1172
00:54:28,720 --> 00:54:30,680
And in this world, we have particles.

1173
00:54:30,680 --> 00:54:31,680
We see waves.

1174
00:54:31,680 --> 00:54:37,200
And what we try to do is we take our experience of this world and try to understand the quantum

1175
00:54:37,200 --> 00:54:39,480
world in terms of this experience.

1176
00:54:39,480 --> 00:54:40,480
Right.

1177
00:54:40,480 --> 00:54:43,920
And I think this experience doesn't apply to the quantum world.

1178
00:54:43,920 --> 00:54:44,920
Right.

1179
00:54:44,920 --> 00:54:45,920
It's very materialistic.

1180
00:54:45,920 --> 00:54:46,920
Yes, it's tears.

1181
00:54:46,920 --> 00:54:47,920
It's something different.

1182
00:54:47,920 --> 00:54:48,920
It's not a material world.

1183
00:54:48,920 --> 00:54:49,920
And we know that now.

1184
00:54:49,920 --> 00:54:51,920
It's not a material world.

1185
00:54:51,920 --> 00:54:53,800
It's more energy and information.

1186
00:54:53,800 --> 00:54:56,960
Ultimately, physics said, all there is there is information.

1187
00:54:56,960 --> 00:54:57,960
Right.

1188
00:54:57,960 --> 00:55:03,000
The whole universe is just one vast field of information, which we experience as this.

1189
00:55:03,000 --> 00:55:04,000
Right.

1190
00:55:04,000 --> 00:55:05,000
Right now.

1191
00:55:05,000 --> 00:55:09,520
This experience, this information, you know, personally, I'm seeing a tree.

1192
00:55:09,520 --> 00:55:12,400
The information is taken by my eyes.

1193
00:55:12,400 --> 00:55:13,400
Just information.

1194
00:55:13,400 --> 00:55:16,120
You know, certain frequency of light is information.

1195
00:55:16,120 --> 00:55:21,680
And then the brain, and this is to me, the greatest miracle of all, the brain takes

1196
00:55:21,680 --> 00:55:26,280
all this information it's receiving through the senses and puts it all together.

1197
00:55:26,280 --> 00:55:36,480
And this incredible multidimensional surround sound, 3D touchy feeling experience arises in

1198
00:55:36,480 --> 00:55:37,480
my consciousness.

1199
00:55:37,480 --> 00:55:38,480
It's like, wow.

1200
00:55:38,480 --> 00:55:39,480
Yes.

1201
00:55:39,480 --> 00:55:40,480
That happened.

1202
00:55:40,480 --> 00:55:41,480
That happened.

1203
00:55:41,480 --> 00:55:42,480
Right.

1204
00:55:42,480 --> 00:55:44,760
And I think this is the real world.

1205
00:55:44,760 --> 00:55:47,440
But it's just this is the real world that I'm experiencing.

1206
00:55:47,440 --> 00:55:48,440
This is real.

1207
00:55:48,440 --> 00:55:52,360
What's actually happening out there underneath all this?

1208
00:55:52,360 --> 00:55:53,360
Totally different.

1209
00:55:53,360 --> 00:55:54,360
Yeah.

1210
00:55:54,360 --> 00:55:56,560
To your point, we have no idea what's happening.

1211
00:55:56,560 --> 00:55:58,120
What's actually going on.

1212
00:55:58,120 --> 00:56:02,360
We're just experiencing one dimension of a myriad of things happening.

1213
00:56:02,360 --> 00:56:03,360
Right.

1214
00:56:03,360 --> 00:56:09,360
We everyone's taught now the big, the big conversation now is our, our UAPs or UFOs multidimensional.

1215
00:56:09,360 --> 00:56:10,640
And what would that look like to us?

1216
00:56:10,640 --> 00:56:15,280
And then the whole thing of, of the balloon blowing up, and that's how you see what the

1217
00:56:15,280 --> 00:56:16,280
fourth dimension.

1218
00:56:16,280 --> 00:56:19,600
It just, it just, my, it blin bends your mind and so on.

1219
00:56:19,600 --> 00:56:22,400
I could talk about quantum physics all day long.

1220
00:56:22,400 --> 00:56:27,840
But Peter, this has been amazing conversation with you.

1221
00:56:27,840 --> 00:56:31,000
Your book is called How to Meditate Without Even Trying.

1222
00:56:31,000 --> 00:56:33,360
And the forward is by Eckhart Tolle.

1223
00:56:33,360 --> 00:56:36,960
So it comes with very strong pedigree.

1224
00:56:36,960 --> 00:56:39,680
And after reading it, you understand why.

1225
00:56:39,680 --> 00:56:45,600
So it's a small book, but it is packed full of powerful, powerful thoughts that will help

1226
00:56:45,600 --> 00:56:47,600
anyone to meditate.

1227
00:56:47,600 --> 00:56:50,520
So thank you so much for what you're doing for the world.

1228
00:56:50,520 --> 00:56:51,520
Yeah.

1229
00:56:51,520 --> 00:56:52,520
And thank you.

1230
00:56:52,520 --> 00:56:55,760
I mean, I've really enjoyed this conversation just talking about this and bringing it out and

1231
00:56:55,760 --> 00:56:56,920
sharing it with people.

1232
00:56:56,920 --> 00:56:57,920
Yeah.

1233
00:56:57,920 --> 00:57:02,240
Well, I urge everyone to go out, run and get How to Meditate Without Even Trying because

1234
00:57:02,240 --> 00:57:06,880
it's going to change your life, especially if you felt you were one of those that you can't

1235
00:57:06,880 --> 00:57:07,880
meditate.

1236
00:57:07,880 --> 00:57:10,680
This is proof that this is, that is not the case.

1237
00:57:10,680 --> 00:57:11,880
You can meditate too.

1238
00:57:11,880 --> 00:57:14,280
Peter, thank you so much for being on the show.

1239
00:57:14,280 --> 00:57:16,080
And I'm going to spend them absolute pleasure.

1240
00:57:16,080 --> 00:57:17,680
Hopefully we'll stay in touch.

1241
00:57:17,680 --> 00:57:18,680
Yes, definitely.

1242
00:57:18,680 --> 00:57:19,680
Lovely.

1243
00:57:19,680 --> 00:57:20,680
Thank you both.

1244
00:57:20,680 --> 00:57:21,680
Thank you.

1245
00:57:21,680 --> 00:57:31,680
[MUSIC]