How Can Being Be Loving and Peaceful?

If being or consciousness is like empty space – nothing, with no objective content – how can it legitimately be described as peaceful, loving, or happy? Rupert says: ‘You’re absolutely right – strictly speaking, I shouldn’t assign any qualities to being. But I’m not trying to be accurate, I’m trying to be evocative. In being, there is an absence of the agitation that characterises our thoughts. The common word for the absence of agitation is peace, and so it is legitimate, provisionally, to say its nature is peace.’ ‘Being does not share the sorrow that characterises our emotions – shame, guilt, fear and so on. The absence of sorrow is happiness. And with reference to the division between subject and object in the finite mind, the absence of division is love. But if we want to be truly strict, the only absolutely true statement we can make about infinite consciousness is “I am.” Love is the nature of being; compassion is simply its expression in everyday life.’ *This video is from one of Rupert’s in-person retreats at the Garrison Institute, 5–12 October 2025. For more information on upcoming retreats (many of which can be attended online via livestream) go to: ▸ https://rupertspira.com/events Timestamps: 0:00 Being as Nothingness 1:10 The Empty Space Analogy 2:20 Peace and Happiness Defined 3:28 Love as Absence of Division 4:48 "I Am" the Only Truth –– 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: ▸ https://rupertspira.com/subscriptions –– RETREATS (Weekend & 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 ▸ https://rupertspira.com/events/retreats-at-home IN-PERSON RETREATS SCHEDULE (UK, EU and US) (Also Available to Join Online via Live Stream) ▸ https://rupertspira.com/events –– WEEKL