A round up of my three current reading piles, some of which might be an inspiration for your next read. The three piles (lovely word ha) fall into books I’ve been sent for work, my own reading, and strange things that have found their way to me that don’t fit into the the other two.

Come with me for one of our walks and talks to explore a question I’ve been asked about protecting our energies if we are starting to live a life of awareness or sacredness. We also look at leaning into a slow-living lifestyle and how that works when we live in the ordinary world.

If you have any questions you would like me to explore in future videos and podcasts, please share in the comments below. But please listen closely to the section in this video first about the sincerity of the question, which I feel is fundamental in helping us move forward in our lives and in our strange old world.

We've decided to take the unprecedented step of sharing the audio of this month's Open Space Satsang on Substack and all Podcast channels for anyone seeking answers at this time. The Satsang is completely unedited, as we are discussing the current events unfolding in the UK at this time. We thought some of you might find it helpful and also that you might like to experience the depth of discussion that our members enjoy.Description:In this month's Satsang, we turn the eyes of our heart to look at what is unfolding in Britain at this time and explore and the critical role of consciousness in navigating through it. With a compassionate perspective, we discuss how to create meaningful change amidst societal turmoil, emphasising the importance of true self-awareness. We reflect on bringing the light of wisdom to our personal and collective dynamics while encouraging a shift from hyper-individualism to a more inclusive and supportive community. This Satsang is an invitation to embrace the wisdom of the present moment in order to engage in actions that reflect the truth of the light that is throughout all existence. If you prefer to watch the video you can watch it here.To Find Out More About THE OPEN SPACE - Go Here

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In this edition of The Siddique Space Podcast, we explore living your ordinary life from the true light that is within you and also what gets in our way. This talk was given in in front of live audience and while it centres around the story of my own experience of actually dying and coming back from a terrible illness, as well as the path of awakening I undertook in the lead-up to this axial event. In reality, this talk looks at how we as a species might live and create the world in a more authentic and meaningful way without becoming someone other than ourselves.

Welcome to The Siddique Space Podcast

We have heard throughout time the call that we should ‘Know Thyself’, and what you might notice is that when this is said, we are rarely told how we might make this journey. All my life has been dedicated, it seems, to understanding the how of things and to living this life from its authentic heart. My work as a teacher simply shares my findings along the way with those who have come to that place in their heart when it is time for them to discover the truth of who they really are beyond the conditioning that has been laid upon them by upbringing and society and so on. That feeling of wanting to get back to yourself in a way that you might not have lived but can feel within everything you do.

In this month’s podcast, I’m pleased to share with you an excerpt of my own teacher, Swami Satchidanada, talking about this very question. Then this is followed by yours truly exploring the How? and the What? of the main elements of conditioning that twist us up personally, nationally and globally so badly. We released a very powerful meditation this week, also called The Discovery of Yourself, on our website. I felt that this was needed right now as a direct response to the very difficult times we are in, where people are being pushed into false dualities and false centres instead of seeing things from a place of intrinsic wisdom and wholeness, which then would be at least a small step to the equity and liberty we have not yet begun to experience in any meaningful way as a species and as members of the family of life.

If you would care to join me for a free monthly meditation, please check out www.authenticliving.life and look for ‘The Open Space Meditation;’ this is a donation or free entry and is open to all sincere seekers. It’s a really beautiful gathering and practice that occurs every month on either the 3rd or 4th Sunday, depending on my diary. As listeners to this podcast, you would be more than welcome. There are more details in the podcast notes.

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In today’s podcast, we look at this question that is trying to hide itself right now but is so obvious and in plain sight. This video comes with a strong warning that it does as questions that many would rather we don’t ask right now. But if our meditation, spiritual journey, and relationship with life are to have meaning, we must ask the questions we feel we shouldn’t. We cannot pretend there is no shadow.This podcast features a clip from Sarah Bertozzi, who kindly gave me permission to share her video - you can find more about her and her work as a storyteller here https://www.sarahstoryteller.com

It also features as its reply an excerpt from a much longer Satsang video by yours truly, which was released this week for members of The Open Space private sacred community. You can find out more about The Open Space here. https://www.authenticliving.life/the-open-space

In this podcast, we cover:The questions surrounding the absence of spiritual guidance and leadership during this time in the world. We discuss the responsibilities of spiritual teachers in addressing worldly issues.

The importance of embracing one's humanity and not bypassing it in the pursuit of spirituality. The discussion highlights the necessity of spirituality reflecting in one's life as illumination and awareness.

I delve into my own personal background, touching upon the impacts of colonialism and divided nations and how these experiences have shaped my perspective on spirituality and identity.

We bring a critical eye to how modern spirituality often strips away the core essence of traditional practices, turning them into commodified versions like various forms of modern yoga and meditation practices, losing their true spiritual significance.

I encourage you to explore genuine spiritual practice and awakening to move beyond superficialities and societal norms. The focus is on the transformation that comes from true self-realization and the need to make amends for past actions as part of spiritual growth.

We realise that this video/podcast will be challenging for a number of people. But if questions cannot be honestly explored - well, we are seeing right now where that leads.

With loveJohn

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This talk was given on 15th September 2022 at Alexandra Palace. In it, you are invited to embrace a journey of profound self-awareness. Here, we challenge the superficial pursuit of information, instead allowing ourselves to be guided towards a deeper understanding of our existence. This talk highlights awareness as the bedrock for genuine love and authenticity, urging us to transcend reactivity and embrace the true essence of our being. We are presented with a transformative vision where the curriculum of your ordinary life when embraced with awareness, reveals your indispensable role in the universe.

In essence, this talk covers five main points:Awareness transcends mere information gathering, offering depth to life's experience.

True love and authenticity are unattainable without self-awareness.

Confronting life's challenges with awareness transforms them into growth opportunities.

Self-realization emerges when awareness guides life, not ego.

The journey of awareness is the return to one's intrinsic, necessary place in the universe.

So here is the recording. It’s recorded in a very live setting, so there is some background sound, and the pace reflects the environment. I hope you really enjoy it.

I heard a story today that I would like to share with you. During the Vietnam War, an older man by the name of A.J. Muste, who was a lifelong pacifist, stood in front of the White House in North America night after night. Every night for years, he would turn up, holding a lighted candle in a one-person protest.

One rainy night, a reporter asked him, "Mr. Muste, do you really think you are going to change the policies of this country by standing out here alone at night with a candle?"

"Oh," Muste replied, "I don't do it to change them. I do it so they won't change me.”It may seem ridiculous to some to share a meditation for peace at such a time in the world. Like Mister Muste’s protest, meditation is often conflated with not being a realistic part of the world. But in truth, real meditation reveals our true selves to us, and more than this, it unearths the nature of existence. At times such as these, to know oneself, to see the conditioning and the biases that have been programmed into us, and to understand the sacred aspect of awareness that is within you is not just the greatest protest; it is the road to action and change. It is the only way we will change anything towards the good in a sustainable way. This knowing rather than believing connects you deeply to the family of life. It leads quickly from the typical reactivity, tyranny and warring we see and engage in back to a place of responsiveness and meaningful action.

In my other space, The Open Space, on our Authentic Living website, we often talk about how facing one’s conditioning and programming is the true act of courage. It is the coward who resorts to war, who destroys another from greed, but the one of courage is the one who can sit with another, who is perhaps unlike them, in ‘worldly terms’ and shut the hell up, so to allow themselves to be with the other at the level of being. What happens then? This is the opportunity that is truly on offer. This is the offering I share with anyone interested through the sharing of the teachings and the practices. It may look like it needs ‘courage’ and ‘fearlessness’, but actually, what is really required is only an inch of imagination and only an inch of love. That is enough.

This meditation was recorded in a live online session. It contains readings from the Tao Te Ching and The Prayer of St. Francis, which were requested during the practice. I hope you find this session a healing place where you can draw strength so that you may be responsive and active in a meaningful way as we teeter on the brink in these - our times.

Lots of Love - Let me know how you get onJohn

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The word “love” rings out like a temple bell within all religions and sacred traditions. Yet the reality of love is rarely brought into our daily sacred practice in a real and meaningful way. It often remains an ideal, while duality and fear continue to be our modus operandi in the world at large.

This talk given for The Theosophical of America draws on material from my book Signposts of The Spiritual Journey and explores how the path of love is available to us in this very moment in each of our ordinary lives. Within this talk, we share practices that easily move us beyond the mind’s idea of love into greater meaning, actuality, and truth.

The Siddique Space is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.