Reveal The Aliveness
That Is Always Present

Thus I Heard

At the start of nearly all the Mahayana Buddhist sutras appears the phrase, “Thus I heard” (evaṁ mayā śrutam in Sanskrit). This is not simply referring to the phenomena of hearing — what we might call “listening.” “Thus I heard” is the voice of empty still beingness, “this” or (any number of other names) narrating its own beingness. The teaching isn’t what is said. The teaching is what disappears the “you” — when it is truly heard. It is the collapse of separation into the oneness of understanding.

In Chapter 2 of the Lotus Sutra, compiled thousands of years ago, the Buddha declares:

“The Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, teach the Dharma according to what is appropriate, using expedient means… although their words may differ, their purpose is the same — to lead beings to the truth.”

This is an open admission that he sometimes taught provisional truths — using stories, parables, and teachings not as facts, but as skillful entry points. At other times, he taught direct truth, stating that all earlier teachings were partial, strategic, and contextual.

The non-dual message appears in many forms and voices. It can arise in radically uncompromising ways, or gently compassionate ones. It can be presented as a path or pathless and ironically, these styles often become the subject of dispute. But what matters, however it is communicated, is what is heard. And what is truly heard is a cosmic event of the collapse of separation into the always present oneness of what is.

What is heard is not a matter of physical hearing, which is simply phenomenal, but of the collapse of separation. So the radical message may be listened to but not heard. The subtle progressive method may be listened to but not heard. Anything in between may be listened to but not heard. Or, all of them may be listened to, heard, and understood.

What “works” (if that word even applies) is not the content, but the non-personal collapse of separation, revealing what has always been present outside of time and space. Even this “collapse,” though it may appear to be an event in time, is ultimately seen to be just another appearance of what is, like brushing teeth in a dream: seemingly real, but without substance.

In absolute terms, what is was always, and the illusion of separation was simply another apparent wave recognised by the mind in the ocean of what is that is the heart of all phenomena.

With love,

Freyja

The Gatherings of Naturally Being

The gatherings in Naturally Being are designed to be short, accessible and affordable. They are highly experiential and a space for shared exploration of experience, respecting the wisdom being expressed by each mind as it is recognised as an expression of beingness. Questions may arise, insights shared, understanding achieved. Each gathering type represents a particular entry point theme to be explored.

The gatherings are offered on a sliding scale to accommodate financial circumstances. Where required, Freyja can also offer private guidance too. Please email freyja@naturallybeing.one to arrange.

These threads are expressed in the book Naturally Being and writings shared via the Naturally Being Substack.

Please note this work is of an educational, spiritual, and philosophical nature and not a form of therapy or psychological treatment and is not a substitute for psychological or medical treatment. If you are in any doubt, please see a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist in your region.