The Awakening to Reality Practice Guide and AtR Guide - abridged version

Hello! Welcome to the Awakening to Reality blog.

For all new to Awakening to Reality blog, I highly recommend reading the 'Must Read' articles on the right panel, such as 


If you are interested in realizing and actualizing these insights, do read the following (free) e-books:

1) The Awakening to Reality Practice Guide by Nafis Rahman:

  • Update: Portuguese translation now available here

2) The Awakening to Reality Guide - Web Abridged Version by Pablo Pintabona and Nafis Rahman:

Special thanks to these individuals for their efforts in making these compilations. I trust they will greatly benefit spiritual aspirants.

3) The Awakening to Reality Guide - Original Version compiled by Soh:

  • Feedback:  "I also want to say, actually the main ATR document >1200 pages helped me the most with insight. I am not sure how many have the patience to read it. I did it twice 😂 it was so helpful and these Mahamudra books supported ATR insights. Just thought to share.", "To be honest, the document is ok [in length], because it’s by insight level. Each insight is like 100 plus pages except anatta [was] exceptionally long [if] I remember lol. If someone read and contemplate at the same time it’s good because the same point will repeat again and again like in the nikayas [traditional Buddhist scriptures in the Pali canon] and insight should arise by the end of it imo.", "A 1000 plus pages ebook written by a serious practitioner Soh Wei Yu that took me a month to read each time and I am so grateful for it. It’s a huge undertaking and I have benefitted from it more that I can ever imagine. Please read patiently."  - Yin Ling


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Transcript of AtR (Awakening to Reality) Meeting, March 2021

 Also see: Transcript of Lankavatara Sutra with Thusness 2007

Transcript with Thusness - Heart of Mahakashyapa, +A and -A Emptiness
Transcript with Thusness - 2012 Self-Releasing
Transcript with Thusness 2013 - Dharmakaya 
Transcript with Thusness 2012 - Group Gathering


Second transcription done! Read at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MYAVGmj8JD8IAU8rQ7krwFvtGN1PNmaoDNLOCRcCTAw/edit ChatGPT's summary: Synopsis and Timeline of AtR Meeting, March 2021

Introduction and Initial Discussions (00:00 - 17:00)

  • John Tan reflects on a young practitioner's understanding of emptiness and the concept of inherent existence​​.

Phases of Insight and Emptiness (17:00 - 45:00)

  • Discussion on the phases of insight, emphasizing the difficulty in articulating advanced Buddhist concepts.
  • John Tan explains the different schools of thought in Mahayana Buddhism, particularly Yogacara and Nagarjuna's emptiness, and how they approach the understanding of constructs and inherent existence​​.

Experience and Interpretation of Anatta (45:00 - 1:15:00)

  • John Tan elaborates on the experience of anatta (no-self) and how it is understood through seeing the emptiness of constructs and the dependent nature of phenomena​​.
  • He contrasts the non-dual experience in Buddhism with Advaita Vedanta, explaining the pitfalls of solipsism and the importance of understanding inherent existence and non-duality​​.

Detailed Analysis of Consciousness and Awareness (1:15:00 - 1:45:00)

  • John Tan discusses the differences between awareness, consciousness, and self in Buddhist philosophy compared to Western interpretations​​.
  • Exploration of the concept of "presence" and how it differs in various spiritual traditions​​.

Practice and Insight (1:45:00 - 2:15:00)

  • The conversation shifts to the practical aspects of meditative practice, specifically the use of Vipassana and the development of wisdom through seeing constructs​​.
  • John Tan shares personal experiences and insights on integrating practice into daily life and the role of continuous practice in refining one's understanding​​.

Discussion on Yogacara and Its Philosophical Nuances (2:15:00 - 2:45:00)

  • John Tan provides a detailed explanation of Yogacara, including the three natures (imagined, dependent, and perfect) and their significance in understanding the nature of experience and emptiness​​.
  • The challenges in interpreting Yogacara's teachings and the varying interpretations across different schools and stages of development​​.

Reflections on Different Spiritual Traditions (2:45:00 - 3:15:00)

  • Comparison between Buddhism, Taoism, and Advaita Vedanta, highlighting the unique aspects and commonalities in their approaches to spirituality and practice​​.
  • Discussion on the role of cultural context in shaping the interpretation and practice of these traditions​​.

Advanced Meditative and Dream Practices (3:15:00 - 3:45:00)

  • John Tan shares personal anecdotes about experiences in meditation and dreams that contributed to deeper insights and understanding, such as spontaneous clarity and experiences of non-dual presence​​.
  • The importance of recognizing and integrating these experiences into one's practice and understanding​​.

Concluding Remarks and Final Thoughts (3:45:00 - 4:00:00)

  • Reflections on the importance of continuous practice, the challenges of integrating insights into daily life, and the necessity of maintaining an open and inquisitive mind in spiritual practice​​.
  • John Tan emphasizes the need to avoid dogmatism and cult-like tendencies in spiritual communities, advocating for a balanced and practical approach to learning and teaching​​.

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Transcript of AtR (Awakening to Reality) Meeting on 28 October 2020
Also see: Transcript of Lankavatara Sutra with Thusness 2007
Transcript with Thusness - Heart of Mahakashyapa, +A and -A Emptiness
Transcript with Thusness - 2012 Self-Releasing
Transcript with Thusness 2013 - Dharmakaya 
Transcript with Thusness 2012 - Group Gathering
Transcript of AtR (Awakening to Reality) Meeting, March 2021



Finally, with the help of AI's automated transcription of videos, I have finished my transcription of this 3.5 hours long meeting! You can read it here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16QGwYIP_EPwDX4ZUMUQRA30lpFx40ICpVr7u9n0klkY/edit ChatGPT's Synopsis and Timeline of ATR Meeting on 28 October 2020

INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT (00:00 - 17:00)

  • Discussion about the pandemic's impact on businesses and related moral dilemmas in investments​​.

SPIRITUAL AWAKENING DISCUSSION (17:00 - 30:00)

  • Kenneth Bok asks about the start of John Tan's spiritual journey.
  • John Tan shares his journey began at age 15 with the "I Am" experience, describing it as a direct experience of self-awareness, linking it to Buddhism and Hinduism​​.

THE NATURE OF EXPERIENCE AND NON-DUALITY (30:00 - 1:00:00)

  • John Tan elaborates on the difference between experience and insight, emphasizing non-duality and the phases of realizing no-self​​.
  • Discussion on how the concept of self is a mental construct and the phases of realizing no-self, including insights on reification and Madhyamaka​​.

ANATTA AND TOTAL EXERTION (1:00:00 - 1:20:00)

  • Detailed discussion on the experience of anatta (no-self) and total exertion.
  • John Tan explains anatta involves experiencing things directly without the conceptual overlay of self, and how total exertion involves seamless integration with all experiences​​.
  • Practical methods mentioned include Vipashyana (insight meditation), mindfulness, and the importance of direct, non-dual experiences​​.

INTEGRATING INSIGHTS AND PRACTICAL APPLICATION (1:20:00 - 1:40:00)

  • Conversation shifts to practical applications of spiritual insights in daily life, including the continuous process of deconstructing concepts and the importance of sincerity in self-inquiry​​.

SOMATIC PRACTICES AND YOGA (1:40:00 - 2:00:00)

  • John Tan and William Lam discuss various somatic practices and yoga.
  • Mention of Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Yoga, and other somatic exercises as methods to facilitate spiritual insights and bodily awareness​​.
  • Discussion on how these practices help in managing stress, fear, and enhancing bodily awareness through exercises like deep breathing and rhythmic movements​​.

TAOISM AND OTHER SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS (2:00:00 - 2:20:00)

  • John Tan discusses his experiences and insights from Taoism, comparing it to Buddhism.
  • Explanation of key Taoist concepts like Wu Wei (Actionless Action) and the interconnectedness emphasized in the I Ching​​.
  • Discussion on Taoist practices focusing on the transformation of Qi (vital energy) and the cultivation of Shen (spirit)​​.

ADVANCED SOMATIC AND MEDITATIVE PRACTICES (2:20:00 - 2:40:00)

  • Discussion on advanced practices such as the microcosmic orbit in Taoist alchemy, involving the circulation of energy through the body.
  • Mention of Kundalini practices and their parallels in Taoism and Yoga​​.
  • John Tan explains how these practices aim to balance and enhance energy flow, contributing to spiritual development​​.

CONCLUDING REMARKS AND FINAL THOUGHTS (2:40:00 - END)

  • Reflections on the journey of spiritual practice, the importance of understanding and deconstructing concepts, and maintaining a connection with teachings and experiences across different spiritual traditions.
  • Emphasis on the continuous nature of spiritual practice and the integration of insights into daily life​​.

TOA PAYOH MEETING ENDING

OVERCOMING ATTACHMENT AND CONCEPTUAL DECONSTRUCTION

  • John Tan elaborates on overcoming attachment and the nature of attributes and objects.
  • He discusses how attributes like color are not inherent in objects but are dependent on consciousness and the whole exertion of consciousness​​.
  • Emphasizes the gradual process of deconstructing concepts such as cause and effect and attributes over years, leading to a deeper understanding of dependent origination​​.
This synopsis captures the flow of the conversation and key points discussed during the meetings, providing a structured timeline for easy reference. It includes mentions of various somatic practices and yoga, emphasizing their role in spiritual development, and incorporates the discussion from the Toa Payoh Meeting Ending.
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