John has literally decided to embody the moment in formlessness. No past, no future, no mind, just a return to centre, stillness, this is Spiritual practice in motion.
"Virtually all talk is an exchange of ego." Brilliant. Thank you John and Phil for this insightful and helpful exchange. Phil's questions are very good because they raise questions that speak for many of us, and they get John to further articulate his meditations for the rest of us who struggle with these things. Worth listening to several times.
unfortunately I feel this to be so true nowadays. Before it was easier lol now its harder. But I suppose all for a better reason of evolving, and perhaps something discovered in this lifetime may well be brought to the next
Video idea: John reading out loud the first chapter or two of each of his books. It would be incredibly relaxing to hear it from him, plus a free advertisement for them.
I stumbled upon John Butler videos about a month or so ago. I'm so glad I found his great work. Thank you John Butler for all you do 🙏 Also, am I the only one who wishes Mr. Butler is my Grandpa? Anyway, God bless you John Butler and God bless everyone who watches these videos.
Thank you guys for making these videos. You could never make enough of them. I'm going through a tough divorce, and it's been hard. Your videos have brought me such comfort and peace. Please keep them coming. :)
Spot on. I am now 60 and see the hustle society l was programmed to run with - how lost and depressed l was cause it was not my souls path. I have so many qualifications, and they mean nothing. I retired early and went in and questioned everything. My need for approval, validation, to look special, important- cause inside l felt worthless and not enough. When l investigated that and retreved my wounded Inner child who just wanted me to love/accept her unconditionally exactly as l am. Then a cry came from my depths. I let go of all the phychological needs for others validation cause l was now capable of giving it to myself. Dependencies on externals gradually dissolved. Now l live my way, my path, present to the simple things of my life. A peace is keeping me company, an intimacy within. The success l strived for was within me. Home. This video is true. Ireland.
This is one of my favourites in your beautiful collection of videos/messages. John's solemnity, commiseration and admonitions are riveting and compelling.
Wow just listening to this man puts my soul at such a cozy place....he should start an asmr channel...he will be the spiritual Bob Ross version...bless this man, I can feel the kindness and positivity in his voice it's so amazing🍀🍀😇✌👍
I've just received your book "wonders of spiritual unfoldment". The poetry written on the back is so beautiful it's a book in itself. So happy to have this book!
I really enjoy Eckhart Tolle. John Butler is delivering the message of Tolle's "The Power of Now" in this talk. To me, it is a Truth, which are few in this world.
Its very true that all talk is ego. I had an enlightening experience once and I was sitting on my bed with such silence, all the world was absolutely perfect. This experience came to me after hours of torturous mental fighting in me, I was trying to find truth and I was trying to do it through the mind and through thoughts, but i was always going in circles, "the truth" always changed and became untrue, and I broke down, I cried, I got angry, and I said, there is a God that much I do know, but if this is true then it means that God can hear me right now, and if God is God and he is able to hear me, it means he has to answer me. So I started praying to God to please save me, to show me the truth. After my prayer I gave up and was on lying on my bed face down, pretending I was dead. Then suddenly I began to notice a silence, the birds were chirping outside, the wind was making a sound against my window, it all sounded so peaceful, it made a huge contrast with my previous hellish state of mind and I just kept listening, and then I started to notice how beautiful life was, how utterly perfect it was, I sat up on my bed in a meditative pose and just sat there, totally unmoving. It felt like I could sit there forever. I knew this experience would fade, so i tried to think of ways to communicate it. The most accurate way I could communicate that state was ISNESS. Its an awkward word, but it is the only word that truly encapsulated the experience. I also realised that as soon as I tried to say anynthing more about it that I was deforming it into something it was not. Thats when I said "those who know do not talk, those who talk do not know". I imagined if someone where to ask me how to reach it what I would say? And nothing came to mind, just watching them from the space was the answer. Not answering questions about this or that mentally created concept, just sitting and looking at them. I later learned that that is exactly what Ramana Maharshi did for the first few months of his enlightenment and I completely understand why, he also knew that opening his mouth would destroy it. Only later did he start to talk to try to at least synthesize a small part of that experience and bring it to earth, but that day I realized that some things are beyond the grasp of the material, it is beyond everything, IT JUST IS. How many people would be content to hear that when they've searched their whole lives? People simply don't understand it if they haven't experienced it, so some traditions tell the seeker to go far and wide, to go deep and seek very hard just like I did, so that they would burn up and completely give up their thoughts to that which IS. Its very painful, I thought I would go crazy. I didn't stay "enlightened" I came back down and it took me years to assimilate that experience, a few years afterwards I was depressed, because all I saw was people playing out their ego games, when I was sitting at the table with my own parents and heard them talk I became nauseous at their stupid empty conversations about nothing. The world looked very dark, I had seen the darkest place but I was also blessed by God who showed me that most tranquil of places. I'm more positive now and not depressed at all, but to this day I'm still a bit awkward around people, I don't feel the need to talk a lot and I don't have the same interests as most. I must say that I was bitten by the self improvement bug, and I go to the gym 3 times a week without fault, I'm still young and I consider my body to be a gift of God, and It would feel like a waste to not discover the strength and mastery it can produce. I live alone now and I sit in silence every day, it is beginning to mature, and with steady practice I will go deeper and deeper until one day I will find myself back in that ISNESS and I will be able to take it with me off the cushion and into the world. John Butler and Thich Nhat Hanh are the real deal, the true masters are those whose teachings are extremely simple, that should be the job of the master, to unwind the complicated mind and bring it into simplicity not create even more concepts and stories for the mind to occupy itself with like many do. Thank you John!
We are born into an hypnotic trance. I find myself questioning the hypnosis; going in and out of the silence. It seems easy; simple, as John has conveyed, but it is difficult, as you have conveyed. It takes practice. Thank you.
I wish I felt like John he has reached such an understanding of what life is all about. He has been searching for a long time and meditating for many years. He deserves to have reached this level of knowing what matters now. I love listening to him, he gives me hope for myself
John Butler in top form ! And ... 28:33 ... _again_ the interviewer's _uncanny_ siddhi of inventing a question that JB had just answered _immediately prior_ ! Equally miraculous is how JB responds as if he hadn't, fresh as the morning, and uses the occasion for bringing up a whole new aspect !
Of all John's Unfoldments, this is perhaps most to be recommended, as a message needed by western society in its hubris, and by every individual ego. Thank you.
I found this video in particular to be very interesting to me, personally. I never used to crave success the way I do now, but the passing of my father 6 years ago now changed how I view the world. My father loved to read - he had a sort of obsession for written literature - and after his passing, a situation in which I felt both hopeless and powerless, I found an overwhelming urge to do something extraordinary with my life, in particular to become an author, as a way of (for want of a better phrasing) “making him proud.” I don’t want fame or success for myself, more so for him, to become successful on my fathers behalf. I’d be interested to hear what others think of this particular mindset. Thank you again John.
My father also died around six years ago. It hasn't made me crave worldly success to "make him proud" as you put it. It depends I guess in what your belief is about the afterlife, and where you believe your father's spirit is right now. My father was a believer in Jesus Christ but he was also a student of Theosophy and he believed in reincarnation. He would often say his spiritual goal was to reach the point of being able to escape the round of karma and reincarnation and not have to be reborn again in another body. But to join spiritually with the Absolute, as he would put it. I am agnostic about it, I'm not sure exactly what I believe. I have tried to look more into the Theosophical Society and especially about the Theosophical understanding of Jesus Christ and Christianity. Apparently early Christianity used to believe in the doctrine of reincarnation. As for worldly success as an author or an artist to make my father proud, I can't say I've had the same feeling. But I understand how one could. It has definitely had an effect on me in a powerful way when my father died, but I can't say in that direction. I could easily see how that energy could be turned that way though. Again, I guess a lot of it depends on what your exact feelings and beliefs about the afterlife are and where you feel like your father's spirit went to and where he is right now, and what his state of mind and being is.
Robert Roberts thank you for sharing your story, and I’m very sorry for your loss. I completely understand your agnostic views on the topic of reincarnation, and the associated beliefs. And I think this is a part of where my desires for my success stem from. I truly have no idea what happens to the human soul after one passes, and I have no strong beliefs surrounding the subject. I think it is because of this uncertainty that I cling to the idea of worldly success - it is something that I have a degree of control over, as opposed to simply ‘believing’ that it ‘could’ happen. As a 20 year old, there is (hopefully) much more of my life left to live, and I hope that during this time, my beliefs of what happens after death will strengthen, and perhaps then my desire for success will fade. Until that time, however, this is perhaps the strongest comfort i have.
@@jackbassindale4336 RUclips hasn't been notifying me of replies recently. I had to come back to this video and look for your comment to see if you replied. I know what you mean. It's hard to know what to think about spirituality and the afterlife. I am not sure, but I do think there's something. I think reincarnation might be true. There are a lot of people who report remembering their past life, and then it's found out that they know stuff from the past that there's no way they could have known. Also near death experiences are extremely interesting, and there's a lot of evidence that there really is something to it. Consciousness and Mind seem to be something more than just chemical reactions caused by our squishy brains inside our skulls. Look up proof of reincarnation and Near death experience stories. It's an extremely fascinating subject. Take care.
Robert Roberts thank you very much Robert. It has been a pleasure talking to you. I’ll happily research more into the subjects of spirituality and the afterlife - hopefully it will give me at least a minor insight into whatever lies beyond 😊
The vaseline on the lens was making my head hurt so I decided to download a 4K picture of nature, play some extra birdsong from somewhere else on YT, and minimise this video so I could just LISTEN. It's the best video i've discovered so far. Thank you John and Phil for all you are doing for people. NH
Thank you John I truly appreciate the piece of mind and comfort you offer! As I listen to your voice and the history you talk I'm able to stop my mind completely. ❤
It seems that John is helping people understand that the kingdom of God is present here and now and we can access it by being fully present with the stillness. This is John Butler’s way of sharing a knowledge and understanding that he has obtained through his meditations. It is a gift he is sharing. This is a kindness if not a form of life success. We all must live our lives, and like John, some get to live long lives. We are engaged in all of life’s phases and if we are fortunate we may at times feel satisfied that our work has benefited our families or maybe our skills were useful to society. It may be ego, but I have found joy helping my mother and mother-in-law in their elder years. I wouldn’t say this is success so much as using our bodies and minds in a helpful way. I suppose I too am old. I have discovered that old age gives one more time to ponder and pursue answers to questions. John’s discussions have helped me become more meditative and to connect with the stillness. I have been able to see that a sort of unifying transformation occurs at the time of ones death. We become unified with God and with all who have lived before. It is like we will become one literally with God and all of the creation. I am not sure if death and transformation is a last step or if there will be more surprises in store. Maybe the elements in our bodies will be transformed into another life form eventually.
You are an inspiration to me. I can’t begin to explain how lucky and blessed I feel to be able to hear your thoughts, to see you... I’m trying my best and watching your videos remind me of that. I can’t express with words really... just thank you infinitely. You help me so so much to understand life, the bad the good... just thank you 🙏🏻
John Butler on duality (success versus failure): "let's grow up, shall we... Ask a silly question, get a silly answer." Thank you John. Poignant and wise as usual.
I have often had the notion that we didn't fall from the Blessed Estate as john defines it, but have volunteered to take what Joseph Campbell called the Hero's Journey. Some people think that we venture into the domain of light and shade to learn. Somebody else called the material world a University of Duality. The point being that if we never suffered loss and victory, failure and success ect, we would never fully appreciate the the ultimate state of unity. If you have any thoughts on this I would be fascinated to hear them. Great video as always.
Thank you guys for another great video. Best wishes to both of you in 2020. I always enjoy your conversations and John's thoughts. John reminds me very much of my grandmother who I dearly miss, who had a similar upbringing to John - she grew up on a farm raising animals until WWII, when she left the farm to become a Navy Nurse. Even after the war she wanted to be in a place where she could care for animals and other people and returned to her home town to serve as one of the small town nurse practitioners for 30+ years. She was a quiet woman but there wasn't a thing in this world that I don't believe she hadn't thought about in great detail; all you had to do was ask. I hope you don't mind me putting you in someone else's shoes John, but sometimes when listening to you I feel like I'm with my grandma again, listening to some of her stories and thoughts, and I feel at peace. Sometimes I just sit in my office at home doing my evening work, listening to these videos, and it takes me right back to sitting in my grandma's living room talking with her.
I feel sad, very lonely, a failure and having lost a real purpose in my life...i feel like I am an uninteresting and boring person.... I tried to work, to do sports, to travel (alone) do some hobbies and cultivate social relationships but either I don't have much success (like in social interactions, they really seem not my thing even if I would like) or I don't feel any real interest and motivation and do things just for inertia... I have lost (if ever I had it) the vibe, the feeling to be alive, living my life in a fulfilling way. I also went to several psychologists who did not change anything (outside my bank account). I have spent many many years this way and I am wondering if there is a real cure or I will simply spend the rest of my life this way and fade into nothing, alone and outcast from the world and society.
Why don't you try going for one of John's retreats, my friend? Just being in the presence of a truly enlightened soul changes our whole outlook and life ...
The clarity of this comment, and the outline of your life experiences, tells me you have many assets as a person- you’re listening to John, you’re interacting here, keep searching my friend
In reality the only friend we need is Jesus. You're not alone, seek things of peace and joy of YOUR heart and I believe the right people will seek you, as you will feel peace amongst them. However Jesus is your loyal friend who will never let you down. Continue your search of wisdom through him and he shall guide your way. I say these things to you becasue I myself feel the way you do at times. But nonetheless we are all here for his purpose and in seeking him HE will reveal your purpose. We are all created different in this world, and yet all the same. The differences allow us to help and to learn from others, so be thankful for your uniqueness. You are special and created for a purpose, even though we may not understand what that purpose is until God reveals it to us. Never lose hope my friend. Trust in the Lord. Keep your feet planted and know that ALL storms pass, revealing the light. God bless always...
Thank you both for these wonderful videos. Tomorrow is Robert Burns' night and I thought some stanzas from his 'To a Mouse' poem might strike a chord with you, John: I'm truly sorry Man's dominion Has broken Nature's social union, An' justifies that ill opinion, Which makes thee startle, At me, thy poor, earth-born companion, An' fellow-mortal! ...Still, thou art blest, compar'd wi' me! The present only toucheth thee: But Och! I backward cast my e'e, On prospects drear! An' forward, tho' I canna see, I guess an' fear!
I’m having problems with grief.....I’ve lost a number of friends and family but I lost one of my best friend just before Christmas...I feel drained of emotion. I’m trying to suck it up, take my man up pills and move on. But all I feel is sadness....my wife, with her Ukrainian heart helps me a lot, makes me smile but I still feel this numbness...crying, well all it creates is a void....I really don’t know what to do or how to move on.....why do bad things happen to good people, you’ve asked that before. But how do the people who get left behind move on....can you help John
@Lloyd Christmas Thanks for your reply to Bonnie's comment. She may be referring to more notable folks', as well as private ones who go to their deaths, unseeing, driven along by life's inertia. Or, Bonnie may be concerned about her own emotional state, as she wrote...an interesting start to a conversation.
*shakes his head in disapproval* and then... COME BACK HERE. I'm not sure why but that resonated very powerfully with me. I love learning these simple yet very thoughtful pieces of wisdom from John, it helps me cope with troubles of everyday modern life.
Right before video there was an ad for A ROBOT FRIEND FOR KIDS ( I think maybe the intention is help with development). But still it’s the creepiest thing I’ve ever seen. Praying we keep our humanity and connection with nature and other humans
John, love this video. Absolutely superb as always. There has been a lot of speculation lately regarding the prospect of a WWIII following the mounting tensions and recent military action taken against Iran. Many of my friends and family, including myself are quite concerned about that prospect. I believe that most countries feel they're justified in their military actions and that God is on their side. Do you believe that God takes sides or remains neutral in all of these quarrels amongst the different peoples of the world? Given that Jesus taught us to love our neighbor, how should God fearing christians react in regard to the prospect of war?
"We can talk of spiritual development forever" - Phil asks a question. "Success is when there're no questions anymore" - Phil asks a question. "Be here, be now, be quiet, be still" - Phil asks a question :)
In the silence, I am held, By an ever-loving Father's grace, His arms around me, a comforting shield, In this holy, peaceful place. In the silence, I am home, In the silence, I am known, In the silence, I am never alone, For the Father's love is shown. In the stillness of the night, I am embraced by love divine, And in the silence, everything feels right, For the Father's love is forever mine.
I think Phil is suffering some jealousy HAS to show himself, his mask, anyway.... what about ME .... he was activated, we see dark and light in one video!
true success is basically sort out all the basic financial needs after that then focus on the soul searching and fullfilling god purpose for each one of us.
These days it seems the world also tries to promise “instant success” in one form or another without having to earn it. Probably , presence is the only instant success really on offer.
I adore the talks. But always bothers me how the channel only chooses one person to acknowledge & pin their comment. Very few - if any - questions ever get a reply. And some are very faithful followers.
Thanks SS - John is amazed at how the channel has grown and he does read all the comments but you are right - he can only answer a few. He does try and answer as many questions as he can on the videos. We made a video by the river yesterday and he answered about a dozen questions. Phil
Hi John and Phil. HAPPY NEW YEAR. If you watch "The Greatest Secret" by Earl Nightingale (it's on youtube) he says that success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal. This sums it up perfectly for me.
Hello again my dynamic duo friends 😁 (I know Phil understood that reference) Lol, and perhaps John does as well 👍👍My question is in regards to John's books. Are they all different books or revised versions of said books? And if they're all different, is there any order in which I should read them? Also do you ship to the US? I guess that should have been my first question. I would love to read them all, I just dont want to purchase two of the same books so to speak. And thank you again gentlemen for all your work and may you both continue to be blessed. These videos inspire and are a great help to me and many others!! For that I am forever grateful.
What would it look like to raise a child from scratch with this approach. Would you send it to school? Advise on job selection? How easy would it be to thrive on Providence in a world where we’ve developed the land for shopping malls?
Hello, I'd like John to talk about the topic of... Is there such a thing as a bad person, a truly bad person. Or does he believe everyone is good at heart?
I really like the combination of Phil and John because Phil gives the layman's perspective. Wasn't helpful for John to ridicule Phil for sharing his lack of self worth though.
In my book I also wrote, "This is it." Ask yourself, if you died and went to heaven, what would make that place ENOUGH? A feeling, right? And do you know what is getting in the way of that feeling RIGHT NOW? You.
Such humility, grace and silence emanating from this being 🙏🏼 namaste
namaste
John has literally decided to embody the moment in formlessness. No past, no future, no mind, just a return to centre, stillness, this is Spiritual practice in motion.
Watch Phil in 4k and John on VHS :)
😂🤣😂🤣
John is also recorded on a tape recorder from the 70s 😂 Still a great listen though 👌
Ha!
This made me laugh.
"Virtually all talk is an exchange of ego." Brilliant. Thank you John and Phil for this insightful and helpful exchange. Phil's questions are very good because they raise questions that speak for many of us, and they get John to further articulate his meditations for the rest of us who struggle with these things. Worth listening to several times.
unfortunately I feel this to be so true nowadays. Before it was easier lol now its harder. But I suppose all for a better reason of evolving, and perhaps something discovered in this lifetime may well be brought to the next
Video idea: John reading out loud the first chapter or two of each of his books. It would be incredibly relaxing to hear it from him, plus a free advertisement for them.
Wait, what? He wrote books?? I am new to this channel and dont know the history of this Man
E Stu read mystic approaches
I stumbled upon John Butler videos about a month or so ago. I'm so glad I found his great work. Thank you John Butler for all you do 🙏 Also, am I the only one who wishes Mr. Butler is my Grandpa? Anyway, God bless you John Butler and God bless everyone who watches these videos.
Thank you guys for making these videos. You could never make enough of them. I'm going through a tough divorce, and it's been hard. Your videos have brought me such comfort and peace. Please keep them coming. :)
Peace may be with you. Always. Hope everything goes fine for you.this oldman relaxes me when sleeping so peaceful speaking.
"better to be humbled by our failures, than to be inflated by our successes"
What a hell of a fellow Mr. Butler🙏🏼♥️🙏🏼
Spot on. I am now 60 and see the hustle society l was programmed to run with - how lost and depressed l was cause it was not my souls path. I have so many qualifications, and they mean nothing. I retired early and went in and questioned everything. My need for approval, validation, to look special, important- cause inside l felt worthless and not enough. When l investigated that and retreved my wounded Inner child who just wanted me to love/accept her unconditionally exactly as l am. Then a cry came from my depths. I let go of all the phychological needs for others validation cause l was now capable of giving it to myself. Dependencies on externals gradually dissolved. Now l live my way, my path, present to the simple things of my life. A peace is keeping me company, an intimacy within. The success l strived for was within me. Home. This video is true. Ireland.
I love when they post new videos. My favorite part of the week
I really appreciate these videos. Thank you both! 🙏
John radiates joy. Just amazing...
This is one of my favourites in your beautiful collection of videos/messages. John's solemnity, commiseration and admonitions are riveting and compelling.
Wow just listening to this man puts my soul at such a cozy place....he should start an asmr channel...he will be the spiritual Bob Ross version...bless this man, I can feel the kindness and positivity in his voice it's so amazing🍀🍀😇✌👍
Absolutely love all of your videos, such amazing words and message!
I've just received your book "wonders of spiritual unfoldment". The poetry written on the back is so beautiful it's a book in itself. So happy to have this book!
I really enjoy Eckhart Tolle. John Butler is delivering the message of Tolle's "The Power of Now" in this talk. To me, it is a Truth, which are few in this world.
What a pleasure your discussions are! John's humility wouldn't allow him to think so, but he is a great philosopher.
Its very true that all talk is ego. I had an enlightening experience once and I was sitting on my bed with such silence, all the world was absolutely perfect. This experience came to me after hours of torturous mental fighting in me, I was trying to find truth and I was trying to do it through the mind and through thoughts, but i was always going in circles, "the truth" always changed and became untrue, and I broke down, I cried, I got angry, and I said, there is a God that much I do know, but if this is true then it means that God can hear me right now, and if God is God and he is able to hear me, it means he has to answer me. So I started praying to God to please save me, to show me the truth.
After my prayer I gave up and was on lying on my bed face down, pretending I was dead. Then suddenly I began to notice a silence, the birds were chirping outside, the wind was making a sound against my window, it all sounded so peaceful, it made a huge contrast with my previous hellish state of mind and I just kept listening, and then I started to notice how beautiful life was, how utterly perfect it was, I sat up on my bed in a meditative pose and just sat there, totally unmoving. It felt like I could sit there forever.
I knew this experience would fade, so i tried to think of ways to communicate it. The most accurate way I could communicate that state was ISNESS. Its an awkward word, but it is the only word that truly encapsulated the experience. I also realised that as soon as I tried to say anynthing more about it that I was deforming it into something it was not.
Thats when I said "those who know do not talk, those who talk do not know". I imagined if someone where to ask me how to reach it what I would say? And nothing came to mind, just watching them from the space was the answer. Not answering questions about this or that mentally created concept, just sitting and looking at them. I later learned that that is exactly what Ramana Maharshi did for the first few months of his enlightenment and I completely understand why, he also knew that opening his mouth would destroy it.
Only later did he start to talk to try to at least synthesize a small part of that experience and bring it to earth, but that day I realized that some things are beyond the grasp of the material, it is beyond everything, IT JUST IS.
How many people would be content to hear that when they've searched their whole lives? People simply don't understand it if they haven't experienced it, so some traditions tell the seeker to go far and wide, to go deep and seek very hard just like I did, so that they would burn up and completely give up their thoughts to that which IS. Its very painful, I thought I would go crazy. I didn't stay "enlightened" I came back down and it took me years to assimilate that experience, a few years afterwards I was depressed, because all I saw was people playing out their ego games, when I was sitting at the table with my own parents and heard them talk I became nauseous at their stupid empty conversations about nothing. The world looked very dark, I had seen the darkest place but I was also blessed by God who showed me that most tranquil of places.
I'm more positive now and not depressed at all, but to this day I'm still a bit awkward around people, I don't feel the need to talk a lot and I don't have the same interests as most. I must say that I was bitten by the self improvement bug, and I go to the gym 3 times a week without fault, I'm still young and I consider my body to be a gift of God, and It would feel like a waste to not discover the strength and mastery it can produce.
I live alone now and I sit in silence every day, it is beginning to mature, and with steady practice I will go deeper and deeper until one day I will find myself back in that ISNESS and I will be able to take it with me off the cushion and into the world.
John Butler and Thich Nhat Hanh are the real deal, the true masters are those whose teachings are extremely simple, that should be the job of the master, to unwind the complicated mind and bring it into simplicity not create even more concepts and stories for the mind to occupy itself with like many do.
Thank you John!
We are born into an hypnotic trance. I find myself questioning the hypnosis; going in and out of the silence. It seems easy; simple, as John has conveyed, but it is difficult, as you have conveyed. It takes practice. Thank you.
It reminds of when Moses asked God who He is?
God had no other answer than I AM THAT I AM.
God is the I AM.
Goodness, what a looooong sermon to propagate sermonlessness...
Thank you so so much John and Phil....We all are welcomed with open arms..Thank you Jesus
John your sucesse's are being such a wise and knowledgable man. Thats the most success some of us crave for. Love from Lorraine.
Thank you for sharing John Butler's knowledge and wisdom.
It's sure is timely now.
I wish I felt like John he has reached such an understanding of what life is all about. He has been searching for a long time and meditating for many years. He deserves to have reached this level of knowing what matters now. I love listening to him, he gives me hope for myself
John Butler in top form ! And ... 28:33 ... _again_ the interviewer's _uncanny_ siddhi of inventing a question that JB had just answered _immediately prior_ ! Equally miraculous is how JB responds as if he hadn't, fresh as the morning, and uses the occasion for bringing up a whole new aspect !
Guru butler
Question for John in his next video: Do you still suffer? If so, please expand on it.
Thank you,
-Jude in Ireland
Life is suffering oldjude1987 so I imagine he still bares the pain everyday.
Buddha said we suffer because we don't accept what is - he accepts so accepts suffering as, life, because life, is suffering 🙏
I go to sleep almost every day listening to this man talk. Hopefully I still hear him in my sleep.
Of all John's Unfoldments, this is perhaps most to be recommended, as a message needed by western society in its hubris, and by every individual ego. Thank you.
I found this video in particular to be very interesting to me, personally. I never used to crave success the way I do now, but the passing of my father 6 years ago now changed how I view the world. My father loved to read - he had a sort of obsession for written literature - and after his passing, a situation in which I felt both hopeless and powerless, I found an overwhelming urge to do something extraordinary with my life, in particular to become an author, as a way of (for want of a better phrasing) “making him proud.” I don’t want fame or success for myself, more so for him, to become successful on my fathers behalf. I’d be interested to hear what others think of this particular mindset.
Thank you again John.
Marta Aldama Cervantes thank you very much for your kind words ❤️
My father also died around six years ago. It hasn't made me crave worldly success to "make him proud" as you put it. It depends I guess in what your belief is about the afterlife, and where you believe your father's spirit is right now.
My father was a believer in Jesus Christ but he was also a student of Theosophy and he believed in reincarnation. He would often say his spiritual goal was to reach the point of being able to escape the round of karma and reincarnation and not have to be reborn again in another body. But to join spiritually with the Absolute, as he would put it.
I am agnostic about it, I'm not sure exactly what I believe. I have tried to look more into the Theosophical Society and especially about the Theosophical understanding of Jesus Christ and Christianity. Apparently early Christianity used to believe in the doctrine of reincarnation.
As for worldly success as an author or an artist to make my father proud, I can't say I've had the same feeling. But I understand how one could. It has definitely had an effect on me in a powerful way when my father died, but I can't say in that direction. I could easily see how that energy could be turned that way though. Again, I guess a lot of it depends on what your exact feelings and beliefs about the afterlife are and where you feel like your father's spirit went to and where he is right now, and what his state of mind and being is.
Robert Roberts thank you for sharing your story, and I’m very sorry for your loss.
I completely understand your agnostic views on the topic of reincarnation, and the associated beliefs. And I think this is a part of where my desires for my success stem from.
I truly have no idea what happens to the human soul after one passes, and I have no strong beliefs surrounding the subject. I think it is because of this uncertainty that I cling to the idea of worldly success - it is something that I have a degree of control over, as opposed to simply ‘believing’ that it ‘could’ happen.
As a 20 year old, there is (hopefully) much more of my life left to live, and I hope that during this time, my beliefs of what happens after death will strengthen, and perhaps then my desire for success will fade. Until that time, however, this is perhaps the strongest comfort i have.
@@jackbassindale4336 RUclips hasn't been notifying me of replies recently. I had to come back to this video and look for your comment to see if you replied.
I know what you mean. It's hard to know what to think about spirituality and the afterlife. I am not sure, but I do think there's something. I think reincarnation might be true. There are a lot of people who report remembering their past life, and then it's found out that they know stuff from the past that there's no way they could have known.
Also near death experiences are extremely interesting, and there's a lot of evidence that there really is something to it.
Consciousness and Mind seem to be something more than just chemical reactions caused by our squishy brains inside our skulls. Look up proof of reincarnation and Near death experience stories. It's an extremely fascinating subject. Take care.
Robert Roberts thank you very much Robert. It has been a pleasure talking to you. I’ll happily research more into the subjects of spirituality and the afterlife - hopefully it will give me at least a minor insight into whatever lies beyond 😊
The camera and sound quality set up for each upload is truly a mystery box of wonder.
Word, brother!
I am grateful for this wisdom, we make it so difficult to understand that “this is it, right here and now”. God bless you x
The vaseline on the lens was making my head hurt so I decided to download a 4K picture of nature, play some extra birdsong from somewhere else on YT, and minimise this video so I could just LISTEN. It's the best video i've discovered so far. Thank you John and Phil for all you are doing for people. NH
Thank you both, John and Phil, for a truly successful talk.
Thank you John I truly appreciate the piece of mind and comfort you offer! As I listen to your voice and the history you talk I'm able to stop my mind completely. ❤
It seems that John is helping people understand that the kingdom of God is present here and now and we can access it by being fully present with the stillness. This is John Butler’s way of sharing a knowledge and understanding that he has obtained through his meditations. It is a gift he is sharing. This is a kindness if not a form of life success.
We all must live our lives, and like John, some get to live long lives. We are engaged in all of life’s phases and if we are fortunate we may at times feel satisfied that our work has benefited our families or maybe our skills were useful to society. It may be ego, but I have found joy helping my mother and mother-in-law in their elder years. I wouldn’t say this is success so much as using our bodies and minds in a helpful way.
I suppose I too am old. I have discovered that old age gives one more time to ponder and pursue answers to questions. John’s discussions have helped me become more meditative and to connect with the stillness. I have been able to see that a sort of unifying transformation occurs at the time of ones death. We become unified with God and with all who have lived before. It is like we will become one literally with God and all of the creation.
I am not sure if death and transformation is a last step or if there will be more surprises in store. Maybe the elements in our bodies will be transformed into another life form eventually.
You are an inspiration to me. I can’t begin to explain how lucky and blessed I feel to be able to hear your thoughts, to see you... I’m trying my best and watching your videos remind me of that.
I can’t express with words really... just thank you infinitely. You help me so so much to understand life, the bad the good...
just thank you 🙏🏻
Great video John and Phil, wish you all the best.
Thank you both again..you are showing me the path to success, my silent friend holding my hand..
Much live from Ireland x
John Butler on duality (success versus failure): "let's grow up, shall we... Ask a silly question, get a silly answer." Thank you John. Poignant and wise as usual.
"Humility allows in the possibility of something bigger". Amazing.
Philip, you look just like Juddi Krishnamurti ! Thank you to both you and John for being Here. I love you
Just wanted to thank you guys for this channel. It's an absolute treasure! Much love.
I have often had the notion that we didn't fall from the Blessed Estate as john defines it, but have volunteered to take what Joseph Campbell called the Hero's Journey.
Some people think that we venture into the domain of light and shade to learn. Somebody else called the material world a University of Duality.
The point being that if we never suffered loss and victory, failure and success ect, we would never fully appreciate the the ultimate state of unity.
If you have any thoughts on this I would be fascinated to hear them.
Great video as always.
I feel like eating a whole bag of Twix listening to him. Or butterscotch candy. Hahahahaha
Yeah same, and I don't know why lol
Thank you for this interview
Another great gem from John & Phil, Thanks ❤️
thank you gentlemen. be blessed always.
Thank you guys for another great video. Best wishes to both of you in 2020. I always enjoy your conversations and John's thoughts.
John reminds me very much of my grandmother who I dearly miss, who had a similar upbringing to John - she grew up on a farm raising animals until WWII, when she left the farm to become a Navy Nurse. Even after the war she wanted to be in a place where she could care for animals and other people and returned to her home town to serve as one of the small town nurse practitioners for 30+ years. She was a quiet woman but there wasn't a thing in this world that I don't believe she hadn't thought about in great detail; all you had to do was ask.
I hope you don't mind me putting you in someone else's shoes John, but sometimes when listening to you I feel like I'm with my grandma again, listening to some of her stories and thoughts, and I feel at peace. Sometimes I just sit in my office at home doing my evening work, listening to these videos, and it takes me right back to sitting in my grandma's living room talking with her.
Love your videos John. Thank you
Thanks, John and Phil, for another video.
Thank you john!
very inspirational . Thank you kindly.
“A quiet and modest life brings more joy than a pursuit of success bound with constant unrest”
Hi all. I wonder wether John would do audio books. Instead of reading, your voice sends me far and beyond. Just a thought. ☺️
Video is a little blurry - but its content is gold!!
I love john. he is such a wise and lovely person.
Lovely John & Phil, thank you 💖💫
We must protect this man at all costs
Pray for us in Puerto Rico. Please keep us present. Please look for news about what is going on in southern Puerto Rico.
I feel sad, very lonely, a failure and having lost a real purpose in my life...i feel like I am an uninteresting and boring person.... I tried to work, to do sports, to travel (alone) do some hobbies and cultivate social relationships but either I don't have much success (like in social interactions, they really seem not my thing even if I would like) or I don't feel any real interest and motivation and do things just for inertia... I have lost (if ever I had it) the vibe, the feeling to be alive, living my life in a fulfilling way. I also went to several psychologists who did not change anything (outside my bank account). I have spent many many years this way and I am wondering if there is a real cure or I will simply spend the rest of my life this way and fade into nothing, alone and outcast from the world and society.
the Creative Assembly machinimas just be you, whatever that is, that is enough. 💜
Why don't you try going for one of John's retreats, my friend? Just being in the presence of a truly enlightened soul changes our whole outlook and life ...
The clarity of this comment, and the outline of your life experiences, tells me you have many assets as a person- you’re listening to John, you’re interacting here, keep searching my friend
In reality the only friend we need is Jesus. You're not alone, seek things of peace and joy of YOUR heart and I believe the right people will seek you, as you will feel peace amongst them. However Jesus is your loyal friend who will never let you down. Continue your search of wisdom through him and he shall guide your way. I say these things to you becasue I myself feel the way you do at times. But nonetheless we are all here for his purpose and in seeking him HE will reveal your purpose. We are all created different in this world, and yet all the same. The differences allow us to help and to learn from others, so be thankful for your uniqueness. You are special and created for a purpose, even though we may not understand what that purpose is until God reveals it to us. Never lose hope my friend. Trust in the Lord. Keep your feet planted and know that ALL storms pass, revealing the light. God bless always...
@@brucewayne2495 I am not Christian, sadly. I am atheist. But thank you for your nice words.
This video was really great. One of my favorites. Thank you.
It's videos like this where I find I have a lot in common with John's beliefs. I would much enjoy fellowship I think.
I AM, I remind myself every time I am separated from it🙏
john butler trio!!! ....
Thank you both for these wonderful videos.
Tomorrow is Robert Burns' night and I thought some stanzas from his 'To a Mouse' poem might strike a chord with you, John:
I'm truly sorry Man's dominion
Has broken Nature's social union,
An' justifies that ill opinion,
Which makes thee startle,
At me, thy poor, earth-born companion,
An' fellow-mortal!
...Still, thou art blest, compar'd wi' me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But Och! I backward cast my e'e,
On prospects drear!
An' forward, tho' I canna see,
I guess an' fear!
I am going to miss this man…
Thanks for the presence Santa.
Success is being Happy being your self without fear of judgement or scorn. Also doing what you love and making a living from it.
Can't argue with that 100%Jim. That's where I'm at - but still too much of separate 'little me'. Phil
The mesure of success in a life is how you loved and how you were loved.
nice video all along but last 2' are amazing
I love you John Butler
I’m having problems with grief.....I’ve lost a number of friends and family but I lost one of my best friend just before Christmas...I feel drained of emotion. I’m trying to suck it up, take my man up pills and move on. But all I feel is sadness....my wife, with her Ukrainian heart helps me a lot, makes me smile but I still feel this numbness...crying, well all it creates is a void....I really don’t know what to do or how to move on.....why do bad things happen to good people, you’ve asked that before. But how do the people who get left behind move on....can you help John
I hope peace has reached you! All the best. 🙏🏼
Bless you John. I'm filled with deep precious peace on my journey, as I turn ever more towards the light ❤
Hey man you are the best person in the world
Let's all grow up!" Love him. He is God speaking through a John Butler.
The majority of people never do learn from their mistakes.
@Lloyd Christmas Thanks for your reply to Bonnie's comment. She may be referring to more notable folks', as well as private ones who go to their deaths, unseeing, driven along by life's inertia. Or, Bonnie may be concerned about her own emotional state, as she wrote...an interesting start to a conversation.
@Lloyd Christmas Bonnie seems to be speaking from a place of unfortunate experience
Success is peace of mind ,simple .
This one was great!
In this video, John pleads for renewed focus. Of course, I kid - all I care about is the sound anyway.
Thank you two for these videos, they're explendid!
Beautiful and great
At about 24:00 he says “I’m taking a course on personal development to figure out what a hell a fella I am” haha
*shakes his head in disapproval* and then... COME BACK HERE. I'm not sure why but that resonated very powerfully with me. I love learning these simple yet very thoughtful pieces of wisdom from John, it helps me cope with troubles of everyday modern life.
Right before video there was an ad for A ROBOT FRIEND FOR KIDS ( I think maybe the intention is help with development). But still it’s the creepiest thing I’ve ever seen. Praying we keep our humanity and connection with nature and other humans
John, love this video. Absolutely superb as always. There has been a lot of speculation lately regarding the prospect of a WWIII following the mounting tensions and recent military action taken against Iran. Many of my friends and family, including myself are quite concerned about that prospect. I believe that most countries feel they're justified in their military actions and that God is on their side. Do you believe that God takes sides or remains neutral in all of these quarrels amongst the different peoples of the world? Given that Jesus taught us to love our neighbor, how should God fearing christians react in regard to the prospect of war?
Success is in the "museums"!
"We can talk of spiritual development forever" - Phil asks a question. "Success is when there're no questions anymore" - Phil asks a question. "Be here, be now, be quiet, be still" - Phil asks a question :)
In the silence, I am held,
By an ever-loving Father's grace,
His arms around me, a comforting shield,
In this holy, peaceful place.
In the silence, I am home,
In the silence, I am known,
In the silence, I am never alone,
For the Father's love is shown.
In the stillness of the night,
I am embraced by love divine,
And in the silence, everything feels right,
For the Father's love is forever mine.
Wait a minute, is Phil's camera shot of him in his house using a green screen and adding a church background in post?
My life is a lie
No
He has to find new ways to be cringy and annoying after all...
I think Phil is suffering some jealousy HAS to show himself, his mask, anyway.... what about ME .... he was activated, we see dark and light in one video!
It's pretty cringey especially the way his eyes never meet the camera like Johns do.
You can be a successful failiure...In the great scheme of things, failure is just as valid...it is all experience....
true success is basically sort out all the basic financial needs after that then focus on the soul searching and fullfilling god purpose for each one of us.
These days it seems the world also tries to promise “instant success” in one form or another without having to earn it. Probably , presence is the only instant success really on offer.
I adore the talks. But always bothers me how the channel only chooses one person to acknowledge & pin their comment. Very few - if any - questions ever get a reply. And some are very faithful followers.
Thanks SS - John is amazed at how the channel has grown and he does read all the comments but you are right - he can only answer a few. He does try and answer as many questions as he can on the videos. We made a video by the river yesterday and he answered about a dozen questions. Phil
john butler is a referent of the real spirituality
Hi John and Phil. HAPPY NEW YEAR. If you watch "The Greatest Secret" by Earl Nightingale (it's on youtube) he says that success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal. This sums it up perfectly for me.
Hello again my dynamic duo friends 😁 (I know Phil understood that reference) Lol, and perhaps John does as well 👍👍My question is in regards to John's books. Are they all different books or revised versions of said books? And if they're all different, is there any order in which I should read them? Also do you ship to the US? I guess that should have been my first question. I would love to read them all, I just dont want to purchase two of the same books so to speak. And thank you again gentlemen for all your work and may you both continue to be blessed. These videos inspire and are a great help to me and many others!! For that I am forever grateful.
What would it look like to raise a child from scratch with this approach. Would you send it to school? Advise on job selection? How easy would it be to thrive on Providence in a world where we’ve developed the land for shopping malls?
Everyone go read A Short History of Decay by E.M. Cioran. I think it would put things in perspective.
Hello, I'd like John to talk about the topic of... Is there such a thing as a bad person, a truly bad person. Or does he believe everyone is good at heart?
Namaste 💙🙏
It's lovely to hear John, it would be even nicer if I could see him properly.
Or am I still hungover?
Only need to be able to listen 👂😁
I really like the combination of Phil and John because Phil gives the layman's perspective. Wasn't helpful for John to ridicule Phil for sharing his lack of self worth though.
In my book I also wrote, "This is it." Ask yourself, if you died and went to heaven, what would make that place ENOUGH? A feeling, right? And do you know what is getting in the way of that feeling RIGHT NOW? You.
In my book...
I just love God so much! I talk about that alot in chapter three of my book! It's on Amazon
I jest. I love you