Opening Logistics and Welcome

Adam Wes: Namaste, everybody.

We are missing Ariella. If someone could text her—and Andrea as well.

Colleen: Hi, I will.

Adam Wes: So, take a moment and settle in. We will begin in a minute or two.

Ariella: Door open, door closed.

Right.

All right, welcome, everyone. Namaste.

We just listened to a beautiful song from the Braveheart soundtrack. That film is actually centered on the theme of today’s sermon. If you ever have an opportunity to revisit the movie, I highly recommend it.

Inner Freedom as Integrity and Enlightenment

Today's topic is freedom. Freedom is paramount. In a sense, freedom is synonymous with enlightenment, because enlightenment is the ultimate freedom.

We can stand exposed before the world and yoke ourselves to the eternal aspect of existence within us. At the same time, freedom also has more worldly benefits.

So I would like to talk about freedom today, and what that truly means. There is outer freedom—the freedom to vote, to travel, to do the more exoteric, everyday things. But today, we are really focusing on inner freedom, which is perhaps even more powerful.

You may be a very wealthy king and have very little inner freedom. And you may be an ascetic, walking with a begging bowl in Japan, and possess an immensity of freedom.

Welcome, Morgan. It is nice to see you. Yay!

This is very much about enlightenment, so if you value enlightenment, this is likely the aspect you appreciate most about it.

Let me see. I have a large outline here. All right, I am not even going to look at the outline.

Freedom must be a choice. We can choose security, we can choose to be liked, we can try to control our circumstances, or we can stand completely vulnerable to what happens within the light of our integrity. Freedom means we are beyond influence.

I am not going to be influenced by whether Praveen likes what I am saying. I am sure he does, but I would not be influenced, and I think that is part of the reason why my words matter more—because they are not being bent away from truth.

So freedom and truth go together. To be completely honest about who I am, and what matters to me—that is the way of the artist. To express myself with complete honesty is a very difficult thing to do.

Bruce Lee actually spoke about this. It is very difficult to be completely transparent, completely honest, and to hear the subtle intimations of your own heart.

You are the path. Inspiration is that task.

So, how do we hear these subtle intimations within us? How do we live by them? And what is the mechanism?

The key is that we must be beyond influence. I think this is about our actions.

Right? So… oh. Am I cutting out?

Andrea P: Yes.

Oh, no. Give it a moment. Hmm. Can you hear me now? Okay.

So how can we live with a profound degree of integrity where we are untouchable, where we listen to the subtle intimations of our heart, and live in complete freedom from all those influences that pull us in different directions?

Just take a moment and consider: in what ways am I being completely honest with myself throughout my life?

There is a profound sense of dignity when we are uncorrupted by our own choice. It is always a choice within. We either choose to play it safe, or we choose to be true to ourselves. We choose to be free.

And when you choose freedom, and when you experience the—well, why would one choose freedom? There must be a recognition that it is a more valuable path. I think that is the key.

Desire can feel more valuable than being honest and true to yourself, but when you practice this, you get in touch with the feeling of what is the benefit of being a whole human being—being honest with yourself, being who you are, not walking around with a level of pretense or performance, or hiding the things that matter to you.

Another film is Moulin Rouge. A good film. In the song, something along those lines.

So this is a future part of enlightenment: reconditioning oneself so that you are completely true. Integral honor. Aligned with who you are.

There are a few ways to do this. One is meditation. In meditation, we feel—

Colleen: You still keep cutting out, Adam.

Really? Oh, great. All right, let me check my internet speed. Are you all hearing much of what I am saying?

Kira: Healthy portions of it. But sometimes we will miss, like, a sentence.

Yes. All right, give me a moment here. Oh, it is very, very fast. Okay.

Morgann: I was going to say, we can, like, drop a rose or something in the chat when it starts breaking up badly, just so you have a cue as to when it is happening. That way, you have a signal.

I love it. Let us do that. Please drop roses for me. I will gladly accept many dozens of roses. All right, so, how do we cultivate…

Kira: This might not be ideal. It is a mess. Kira: But sometimes, if you turn your camera off, or if some of us do, we might actually be able to hear better. Morgann: Okay, what if we all turn our cameras off for a moment and see if that helps? Yes, let us try that for a moment. I do not think it will help, but… oh, this is so odd. Oh, okay. All right, can everyone hear me? Kira: So far, yes. Okay.

So in meditation, we become dissolved in the essence of what we are. We go into the light, the Atman of our spirit. And this dissolves all the limitations to freedom—all those subtle influences. Jacob, is it better? Okay. Would everyone like to come back and spend time with me again? You look very nice today, Mom. All right.

One way to practice freedom—my goal today is to bring awareness to what freedom is, to outline some of the ways we limit our freedom, to highlight some of the benefits, and then also to find a practical way to cultivate freedom within.

Meditation—when we move into the light, when we move into being—we are practicing and expressing a level of freedom.

Technical Disruptions and Group Adaptation

Colleen: Should we sign out and then come back in again?

Kira: I think usually if this happens, it is better to stay on. That way Adam can just rejoin, since Colleen is the host. Okay, we can wait a few minutes and see if Adam is able to get back on. I can text him and check.

Colleen: Thanks.

Rafael Franco: In the meantime, we can talk about anything, though.

What was he talking about? Greetings, Heather Glenn, it is an honor.

Kira: Yes, no freedom.

Rafael Franco: I do not think I have enough light to even have my camera on. Can anyone see me? I do not think so.

Andrea P: No, you are too dark.

Adam Wes: Everybody is still here? Wonderful!

Did everyone get to meet each other?

Morgann: A little bit.

Nice.

I am on my hotspot right now, so, ironically, my super powerful LA internet is not as powerful as my phone. So, all good.

Would everyone like to join with cameras? Who… Okay.

This is actually an interesting example of freedom. If I were deeply attached to this going perfectly, I would be bothered. In freedom, we need to have some detachment from the idea of how things should be, and allow the actuality to create an unfolding of destiny.

What we are matters most. I am this, this is who I am, this is what it means to be true to myself, come what may—adversity, gifts, treasures, pain, whatever may come—valuing freedom first and foremost.

Formula.

Drinking… an energetic quality.

That is unmatchable.

Mostly the heart. It feels like… I mean, everybody?

Hello? Can people hear?

Colleen: Weak.

Okay, Kira, did you want to say something?

Colleen: You cut out again. A lot.

Oh.

Rafael Franco: Yes, really.

Kira: I was signaling.

Okay, this is a problem. We will have to redo Freedom next time, too. Oh, let us see, give me a second.

I am on… hotspot. Can anybody hear me?

Okay.

Rafael Franco: Affirmative.

Alright. Hi, Manu!

Thanks for being here.

Nice to meet you.

Alright.

So, freedom is also—so, we might have to redo this one next time, a little bit smoother with the connection, but this will be a two-week sermon, extra special. Freedom is also required for listening.

If we listen with emptiness, without reaction, without the created self and all the impressions of the past, that listening without response from emptiness requires that same freedom.

When we love, we love with respect for another's freedom. Our own freedom means I do not want to exploit someone; I want them to be here of their own volition, of their own freedom. Loyalty grows from freedom. It is an expression of our freedom.

A married couple who wants to be married renews their vows every day as an expression of their freedom, not as an imposition upon their freedom. That is true monogamy. It is interesting to think about freedom in the realm of monogamy.

So, freedom… freedom is just so paramount. This is something I would encourage everyone to take some time and really contemplate. Am I free? In what ways am I not free? What are the impediments to my freedom? How can I cultivate freedom?

Think of it as a long-term development. You may have instant transformations around freedom. You may grow in freedom over many years.

Freedom is a very subtle thing. When you can stand to total dissolution in enlightenment, that is the acme of freedom. We are moving toward a point where what I am, in the most quintessential aspect, is enough.

Freedom… The gradients of freedom include how…

That ex…

Rafael Franco: Oh my, it is happening again.

M. A.

I just cannot believe it today. We have such a nice group, and it is just…

Did you all get to know each other a little bit better? Next time I drop off, I want everyone to go in a nice circle, meeting each other.

Okay, can you hear me at all? Is it okay?

Alright.

So maybe…

Really looking at the essence of freedom—it is that I am free from my own attachments. Essentially, they are my attachments. We give away our power when we want something from another.

When we are exploiting another, when we are not allowing what we are to be enough, then we receive…

We do not take, but we receive as an expression of what we are. We give and we receive as a natural expression of what we are, and it is a precarious state.

Freedom and security are somewhat…

Anti-polar. There is a…

A mutually exclusive quality to them.

And…

So, to go through…

You know why I was actually thinking of this topic today? I was talking to someone yesterday who is a…

She creates films, and she was asking…

Colleen: What do we do now?

Rafael Franco: We can talk about anything, like he said. We can follow his orders, or we can make our own.

Vote.

Cheers. How much time do we have?

Andrea P: Maybe we can just meditate.

Does someone have music? There is something.

Rafael Franco: There you go, someone can put on music, we can just meditate.

Whatever, everyone.

Andrea P: Kira, do you have music?

Hello. I think you are… Hi.

Colleen: bank.

Adam Wes: Alright, perhaps I should... Why do you not all just take a moment? Please give me a moment to reboot my computer, as this is a little unusual. It says I have fast internet, so maybe I just need to restart. Will everyone hang on for a moment?

Alright, see you in a minute or so.

Colleen: Maybe Adam is being tested to see if he really... He is not bothered by this.

Kira: So far, he is doing amazing.

Rafael Franco: Yo.

Kira: We can meditate if anyone would like. I could pull up some music.

Mr. Jacob: Yes, please.

Rafael Franco: Roll it, DJ.

Kira: I cannot share music officially, but I can...

Play it through your speakers.

I will share it through my speakers. Let me see...

Yes, we can hear it. Perfect. Perfect. Is the level alright? So, for light meditation, you just want to—can you hear me clearly? Just focus on your heart center, and soften your gaze.

Instead of focusing on one area, you are going to focus on everything, including the periphery. Allow your vision to blur a little, and light will naturally begin to be emphasized in your vision. Just allow it, and tune in to the light further.

Hey Adam, we are in the middle of a light meditation, but you can take it from here. We just put some music on and dropped into our heart center. We are tuning in now to peripheral vision and light, so if you want to take us from here, feel free. I love it. I really do.

Okay, sure. So the light allows us to be more free. It naturally dissolves limitations that may appear in the form of thoughts.

Just let the natural luminosity that already exists permeate your vision, permeate your entire being. And if you do not see anything luminous yet, do not worry—just relax and allow it to come naturally.

You can concentrate your focus on the heart center, on the third eye. Let the light liberate you.

You can use the music to expand your energy field. Expand your perception and awareness.

Can I say something, please?

Yes, of course, Mark.

Morgann: I just wanted to say that was so beautiful, and it felt as though we were all able to embody the very message you came to deliver tonight—the freedom of allowing the flow to carry us together as a group, into a shared experience where we bring more light together.

And even though it felt like an interruption, and the flow seemed intermittent, it was actually a precise flow into unity in this moment. I think that was beautiful.

I love it. Thank you for that reflection.

You know, it is interesting—this never happens. I do not remember the last time something like this occurred.

Probably never, and the universe...

The universe is our teacher, and if we listen—if we are open to it—we can learn these principles and undergo the transformations being shared with us. It actually becomes quite uncanny, the degree of alignment with circumstantial situations that can unlock new levels of consciousness and understanding around whatever it is.

So, for whatever reason, we have chosen freedom today, and we are practicing it.

It is not enough for it to simply be something you read or hear someone else say. It has to be interwoven into your life experience and practiced.

So, if you have a noisy neighbor, or someone interfering with your internal state, ask yourself, "Okay, where am I—why am I not free here? What am I doing?"

The world does not change; we change in freedom. Freedom comes from within, from our inner orientation.

But, it is 6:31, so let us dive into our meditation now. Perhaps that is the right approach in case the internet becomes a bit unstable again.

Maybe I will try to send a more complete sermon over email, or we will do it again next week, or something similar.

But I think the essence has been seeded and planted, and it should flower now.

So... Thank you, Kira, that was wonderful. Kira is a great meditation teacher, a yoga kundalini teacher, and someone I have been meditating with for about eight years now. Actually, seven years. Beautiful.

Alright. Are we recording and everything? Good.

Guided Meditation on Light and Aloofness

So, as we go into meditation today, let us really try to connect with aloofness. This word means not caring. Let the detachment of aloofness—there is a power in it. An austerity, the power of that austere sage who is aloof to the world, but whose eyes have conviction and whose words have truth. It is a feeling.

I am going to try to connect with that feeling. I am already connecting with it, but even more so as we meditate—just the essence of it. And then use the light.

When we meditate in this group, it is called the Love Light Sangha. Sangha means spiritual community. Love light, because we love light. There is a quality of light—a sacredness, a freedom, an honesty, a power that allows us to transform. It is like melting down a gold statue into its liquid form, so it can be shaped into something more true.

More real, more an expression of the spirit.

So... yes, we will go into the light, feel the heart, feel the aloofness, feel truth, and experience both aloofness and freedom.

And try to have an actual, direct, and vivid encounter with the luminosity. It is not an imagined light. In fact, there are many names for it across many ancient traditions. The inner fabric of consciousness is made of luminosity. Everything is actually inside of it.

The whole universe, subjectively, is inside of us, and we are made of a brightness that can be seen. There is a whole spectrum, a whole cosmology of colors that are indicators of different essentialities of the universe that we are making contact with.

So, any light is a very good thing, and it is all good. All light is good. It represents different aspects of the self, though.

Alright, so let us get started. We will do about 25 minutes, or 22 minutes or so, and then we will be done at 7, Pacific time.

Nice choice on the song. Tuesday. Can you all hear the music starting?

I wish for all of you to have a deep sense of freedom in your lives—within. And I am sure that, together, we can create a wave of that right now.

I am actually going to do open-eyed meditation today. You are welcome to join me, or you can close your eyes if that feels better. When we open our eyes, we hold a very broad visual field, and we wait for the light to reveal itself.

We hold everything in a very fluid state, including within our own bodies—you can see behind yourself, you can see in every direction. Let your field of attention, which is your seeing, release any density and allow for the fluidity of the light. Just try it.

Any mistiness or visual perturbation is the beginning of the light. While it has a visual quality, it is so much more. It is energetic—you can feel it, and sometimes you can even hear it.

If you have some degree of chakra awareness, you may feel your third eye or your heart chakra, both of which help you to perceive the light in different ways.

We are letting the ambient power of the universe dissolve resistance. Allow yourself to simply fall back into the ocean—the universe.

Moment by moment, we let go of the tethers. More. Illness.

And if you are not having any particular mystical experience, that is perfectly fine. Just bring your attention to what is. Allow yourself to be with what is, without reactivity. This is part of experiencing light, whether you are seeing it or moving toward it.

You have to look at everything at once.

Is the periphery of your... without exclusion. Allow yourself to really go deep right now. If not now, then when?

The universe is waiting.

Eternity.

Is always.

Only in some moments do we return to that place. Let go.

Be more of what you really are.

To have all responsibilities of being somebody or another—there is an ambient power. If not resisted, it returns us to the source.

Visually, it is light. There is a feeling involved. Magnetic, almost—but different. Come free of even the self-reflection. We need not carry around that baggage, which is just an idea. An idea of what we are. To be what we are. That name, reflecting it back. This is what freedom feels like—in your own self. Totally honest with yourself. What you are. With yourself. Namaste.

And in those last moments, I was recognizing how freedom largely comes from being complete unto yourself—the blissfulness of your own being, uncaused happiness.

So we are not reaching outside of ourselves and compromising our own integrity, but instead, we are full from within. Meditation gives us that nectar of bliss and joy for no reason whatsoever, other than that it is our essential nature.

I wish for everyone to cultivate freedom.

Many of the great leaders in society were very free—Nelson Mandela, Steve Jobs, some great artists. These individuals did something against the grain because they knew the truth, and they also expressed their own truth. Their own truth in the sense that it is what they are—not just their version of the truth, but a part of the truth.

I am this. The tree is there. The sky is blue. That is the truth, including us.

Mom, would you like to share, just for a moment? I know you do not want me to call on you first.

Colleen: What about somebody else today?

Oh, come on, we have to hear about your colors.

Okay, well, the red light—the red color—came right away, and then something new, like a see-through blue, came waving in. Blue, but it was almost like water. Then the purpley-pink came in little moments, and just—a whole lot of interesting things. Yeah, and I also had a few dreams.

Beautiful.

Colleen: Thank you.

Thanks, sir.

Colleen: Thank you.

Wednesday, Mom. Yes, welcome.

Colleen: I am sick.

How about you, Morgan? I feel like Morgan is giving so much good energy in here. Thank you, Morgan! I am so glad you came.

Morgann: Thank you. So, for me, it was a moment where I was visualizing being light, but also envisioning my family and bringing their light in, my friends bringing their light in. I was listening to the cars pass by and feeling the extension of my light as them, and you made a comment about connecting with the light during the meditation right as I was having that visualization. So that was our inner light connection. I hear "light" a lot, so I listen to my atmosphere. I love to hear the creaks in the walls or whatnot, and I kind of received light in that way also, so I received that in my meditation as well.

Beautiful. Well, thank you for sharing. It sounds like you had a nice, deep experience.

Morgann: Yes, thank you.

Wonderful. How about Manu? Nice to meet you. Oh, Morgan, where are you from, by the way? Where are you located?

Morgann: I am in Fayetteville, Georgia.

Okay. Nice.

Morgann: Thank you. Welcome.

How about you, Manu?

Manu Benitez: Hi, Anna.

I said, hi, hi!

Manu Benitez: Sorry for my English. I am from Argentina, and English is not my native language.

That is fine, you sound great.

Manu Benitez: I want to thank you for creating this moment. I think it is necessary to have these types of moments today, because—as everyone here knows—we have so many things in our day, with our jobs and our personal objectives. It is very important to settle down a little bit and have this quality of time.

Personally, I am in a moment where I am transitioning with what I want to do with my life. I feel very fortunate to work, because I have been working as an artist—a digital artist, doing 3D and related work. I am very happy to be working with this, because it is what I enjoy. However, I am experiencing some difficulty with spending so much time on the computer, being inside my house, and not being able to see the sun. I take time to walk and to train and all that, but I am thinking about what I can do to merge these aspects, to live in greater coherence with who I want to be. I do not know if it is—

Beautiful. Beautiful. It sounds like this is a very important topic for you today, because freedom directs everything in life—who your friends are, what your career is, how you spend your time, how you feel, how you think about yourself. These are profound things, so I would definitely suggest including some time in nature in your routine. I spend a lot of time on the computer as well, but it becomes difficult if you do not mix that in with—

Manu Benitez: Yes. Yes.

You know, mountains, all the nature.

Let me know if there is anything I can do to support you. It sounds like you are in a beautiful phase of upward momentum.

Manu Benitez: This is more than enough for me. It was very beautiful to me, and I really appreciate it.

Oh, you are welcome, Manu. Namaste.

Hi, Dory! Hi, Praveen. Hi, Andrea! Hi, Jenna. Hi, Dad. Hi, Raphael. Hi, Kira. Hi, Jacob. Nice to see everybody.

Let us see, it is 7:02, so we have to get off now. I would love to hear from everyone, but my goal is to keep it to an hour so it is not too much of a burden on your schedule each week. Reliable consistency is better.

But if you want to send me an email, or come next week, we can continue all of this. I hope you had a beautiful experience. Thank you, namaste, everyone.

Practice freedom this week.

Goodbye.