Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What is the relationship between awareness and attention, particularly regarding the movement and focusing of attention? For example, in self-enquiry, is it awareness itself, the finite mind, or some mixture that decides to turn attention away from objects and return it to its source?
Rupert says: ‘To understand this, we must understand the etymology of the word ‘attention’. It comes from two Latin words: _a,_ meaning “to” or “towards”, and _tendere,_ meaning “to stretch”. So attention means “a stretching towards”. When you want to pay attention to something, you stretch your awareness towards that object.
‘Self-enquiry is simply attention relaxing back to its natural state, just as a rubber band returns to its unstretched state when you let go. Nobody does this – it is just awareness ceasing to be in a state of tension and naturally, effortlessly going back to itself and returning to its natural condition, a state of equilibrium and peace.’
*This video is from one of Rupert’s in-person retreats at Mercy Center, 9–16 March 2025. For more information on upcoming retreats (many of which can be attended online via livestream) go to:
▸ rupertspira.com/events
Timestamps:
0:00 Awareness and Attention
0:55 The Etymology of Attention
1:59 Going Back to Your True Nature
3:25 Our Natural State
4:19 What Is Self-Enquiry?
5:23 Turning Away from Experience
6:34 The Relaxing of Attention
––
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You can watch or listen to 1000s of hours of teachings, guided meditations and answers in Rupert's full video archive here:
▸ rupertspira.com/subscriptions
––
RETREATS (Weekend, 5-day, 7-day)
Rupert holds regular retreats, roughly once per month, either in-person and online. Many in-person retreats can also be attended from the comfort of your home via livestream.
ONLINE RETREAT SCHEDULE
▸ rupertspira.com/events/retreat-at-home
IN-PERSON RETREATS SCHEDULE (UK, EU and US) (Also Available to Join Online via Live Stream)
▸ rupertspira.com/events
––
WEEKLY WEBINARS (2 hours)
Rupert's webinars take place on Wednesday evenings, from 4pm UK time. In the first twenty to thirty minutes, Rupert leads a spontaneous meditation. The remaining time is open for attendees to discuss their questions with Rupert.
WEEKLY WEBINAR SCHEDULE
▸ rupertspira.com/events/webinar
––
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▸ rupertspira.com/store
––
LISTEN TO RUPERT’S PODCAST
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▸ Libsyn: rupertspira.libsyn.com
▸ Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/6z1GNgC1js30g9RLSfBB4M
––
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#rupertspira #nonduality #happiness #natureofreality #consciousness #awareness #meditation #guidedmeditation
RS25012i
What is the relationship between awareness and attention, particularly regarding the movement and focusing of attention? For example, in self-enquiry, is it awareness itself, the finite mind, or some mixture that decides to turn attention away from objects and return it to its source?
Rupert says: ‘To understand this, we must understand the etymology of the word ‘attention’. It comes from two Latin words: _a,_ meaning “to” or “towards”, and _tendere,_ meaning “to stretch”. So attention means “a stretching towards”. When you want to pay attention to something, you stretch your awareness towards that object.
‘Self-enquiry is simply attention relaxing back to its natural state, just as a rubber band returns to its unstretched state when you let go. Nobody does this – it is just awareness ceasing to be in a state of tension and naturally, effortlessly going back to itself and returning to its natural condition, a state of equilibrium and peace.’
*This video is from one of Rupert’s in-person retreats at Mercy Center, 9–16 March 2025. For more information on upcoming retreats (many of which can be attended online via livestream) go to:
▸ rupertspira.com/events
Timestamps:
0:00 Awareness and Attention
0:55 The Etymology of Attention
1:59 Going Back to Your True Nature
3:25 Our Natural State
4:19 What Is Self-Enquiry?
5:23 Turning Away from Experience
6:34 The Relaxing of Attention
––
ACCESS FULL VIDEO ARCHIVE
You can watch or listen to 1000s of hours of teachings, guided meditations and answers in Rupert's full video archive here:
▸ rupertspira.com/subscriptions
––
RETREATS (Weekend, 5-day, 7-day)
Rupert holds regular retreats, roughly once per month, either in-person and online. Many in-person retreats can also be attended from the comfort of your home via livestream.
ONLINE RETREAT SCHEDULE
▸ rupertspira.com/events/retreat-at-home
IN-PERSON RETREATS SCHEDULE (UK, EU and US) (Also Available to Join Online via Live Stream)
▸ rupertspira.com/events
––
WEEKLY WEBINARS (2 hours)
Rupert's webinars take place on Wednesday evenings, from 4pm UK time. In the first twenty to thirty minutes, Rupert leads a spontaneous meditation. The remaining time is open for attendees to discuss their questions with Rupert.
WEEKLY WEBINAR SCHEDULE
▸ rupertspira.com/events/webinar
––
BROWSE RUPERT’S BOOKS
▸ rupertspira.com/store
––
LISTEN TO RUPERT’S PODCAST
▸ iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rupert-spira-podcast
▸ Libsyn: rupertspira.libsyn.com
▸ Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/6z1GNgC1js30g9RLSfBB4M
––
JOIN RUPERT’S FACEBOOK GROUP
▸ facebook.com/groups/rupertspiracommunity
––
SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS
▸ Website: rupertspira.com
▸ Instagram: instagram.com/rupertspira_
▸ Facebook: facebook.com/rupertspira
▸ Twitter: twitter.com/rupertspira
▸ Tiktok: tiktok.com/@rupertspira_
––
FOLLOW RUPERT ON MEDIUM
medium.com/@rupert_spira
––
SUBSCRIBE TO RUPERT’S YOUTUBE FOR NEW VIDEO ALERTS
▸ youtube.com/user/rupertspira?sub_confirmation=1
––
#rupertspira #nonduality #happiness #natureofreality #consciousness #awareness #meditation #guidedmeditation
RS25012i
