In this impromptu chat, the second at Cliff College, John addresses: - differences between Eastern and Western Christianity - origins of 'The Jesus Prayer' - on Russia - "These people are my people" - in the real world there is no death - when present we are 'in love' and free from fear - why love affairs go wrong - in the real world there is only one time - eternity - pure and impure, divine and demonic - meditation is the practice of letting go attachment to our separate identity - we can never not be in Jesus - be determined for freedom - how to deal with thoughts - whatever you attend to expands and seems more real - practical exercise in the use of 'The Jesus Prayer' Gracious thanks to our retreat guests - Berthram, Carlyn, Krish, Cate, Arthur, Jasmine, Tracey, Angie for allowing us to share these insights. Did you know you can now listen to John on Spotify and other audio platforms? Here is his most popular recording 'Common sense guide to meditation' (1m views) - https://ffm.to/commonsenseguidetomeditation. For your free copy of John's poem 'Clouds' join John Butler's email community here - http://spiritualunfoldment.co.uk. Those wanting more detailed accounts of John's life experience - the formative influences, which have taught and made him what he is, will find it in his 7 published books, available through the website: www.spiritualunfoldment.co.uk/store. Retreat guests asked if the sample t-shirt was more widely available in different size and colours. They are now - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi0TFuqj6eND-mJRf8i2Tnw/store If you prefer ad-free videos and bonus content you can join the Feet on the Ground supporters here - https://www.youtube.com/c/SpiritualUnfoldment/join Those who wish to support the Work of Spiritual Unfoldment can donate here - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=BBAWMHB4JQMKY Music: Schubert Impromptus D.899 No.3 Licensed by: Epidemic Sound Topics: Subtle Energy and Spiritual Practice: Discusses the concept of subtle energy in spiritual practice, emphasizing the need for discrimination and careful handling to avoid waste, enhancing spiritual development. Meditation and the Jesus Prayer: Covers the history and significance of the Jesus Prayer within Christian contemplative tradition, comparing its roots to meditation practices in other ancient cultures. Spiritual Dichotomy Between East and West: Explores the differences in emphasis on the human role in spirituality between Eastern and Western Christian traditions, including the doctrinal splits and their implications for personal and collective spiritual practices. Personal Spiritual Journey and Experiences: Reflects on the speaker's personal journey in spirituality, including his introduction to meditation, experiences with the Jesus Prayer, and insights from Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Philosophy of Presence and Practice: Discusses the importance of presence in spiritual practice, the pitfalls of distraction, and the practice of meditation as a means to transcend everyday concerns and reconnect with a state of inherent divinity. Keywords: Meditation Subtle Energy Jesus Prayer Spiritual Development East-West Spiritual Dichotomy Five YouTube Chapter Headings with Timestamps: (00:04) Introduction to Subtle Energy: Understanding its Importance and Management (03:22) The Jesus Prayer and Early Christian Contemplative Practices (07:29) Historical Split Between Eastern and Western Christianity (12:52) Personal Reflections on Meditation and Spiritual Practice (28:09) Philosophy of Presence: Beyond Thoughts and the Material World