Expressing Our Shared Being In Intimate Relationships

What does it mean to approach intimate relationship not as a dance of avoiding each other’s triggers, but as a celebration of shared being? Rupert says: ‘Love is not a relationship – on the contrary, it’s the collapse of relationship. In relationship there’s always separation; love is the collapse of the sense of separation, the absence of two. An intimate relationship, perhaps more than any other, has the potential to express our shared being in all realms of experience – intellectually, emotionally, physically. The primary purpose is to express and celebrate our prior unity. ‘Of course, old residues of the feeling of separation will come up in both parties and will sometimes trigger the sense of separation in the other – that’s simply something to be navigated together. But it shouldn’t be the main focus. If the ground of the relationship is this understanding, when conflicts do arise it gives us the best and quickest way of resolving them. And when a conflict is resolved rather than intensified, it always brings more closeness – so the conflict itself ends up serving the love.’ *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 Intimate Relationships and Non-Duality 2:53 Oneness 4:28 Celebrating Shared Being 6:13 Fear of Intimacy 7:32 The Ego and Conflict 8:37 Choosing Partners Wisely 9:46 How Conflict Serves Love –– 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://rupertspi