A touch of meaning

In conversation with Phil Shankland, John addresses the most persistent question arising on the path to self-realisation - am I the body? With clarity, grace and humour, he shares his understanding that we're not. But how was it acquired? Simply look and see. How can the seer be the object seen? The watcher be the world that passes by?
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) - ffm.to/commons....
For your free copy of John's poem 'Clouds' join John Butler's email community here - spiritualunfold....
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 - / @spiritualunfoldment
If you prefer ad-free videos and bonus content you can join the Feet on the Ground supporters here - / spiritualunfoldment
Those who wish to support the Work of Spiritual Unfoldment can donate here - www.paypal.com...

[@SpiritualUnfoldment]

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) - ffm.to/commonsenseguidetomeditation.

[@hamill06]

John has done more to help me with mental health issues than many years of therapy, psychologists and counselling. Whats stranger is that I am an agnostic atheist, but I find wisdom in his words regardless. John is a blessing to this earth

[@TheTsar1918]

An agnostic atheist? Isn’t that like saying a Catholic Methodist?

[@mozzymtb8321]

Slightly off topic, but John's soothing voice has helped me sleep at night and crush anxiety , i speak for everyone when i say thanks John.

[@jillianmcclintock1179]

No

[@thisisnotmyname3048]

@@jillianmcclintock1179 no need to be negative. Mozzy was just being appreciative 😊

[@randybackgammon890]

Don't presume to speak for me

[@angezoumas1597]

Ditto

[@ironmurs6903]

I think you’re on topic. Yes indeed, thank you John 🙏🏻

[@dillonshea4268]

I have fallen asleep to Jon and had really intense dreams like he dictated the dreams and it was crazy. Wise man this Jon

[@azizjado5895]

His voice makes me feel want to hug him

[@mannersdorfer]

I came here for ASMR but stayed for the content.

[@stevenbibby6085]

I came for ASMR, but i came to John Butler.

[@ghost_of_nomad2297]

@@stevenbibby6085 bruh

[@greenytoaster]

@@stevenbibby6085 Godzilla had a stroke trying to read this and f***ing died

[@stevenbibby6085]

@@greenytoaster Mission complete

[@willington-r9b]

Imagine touching so many people through stillness, gentleness and thoughtfulness. Thanks to you both and best for 2019.

[@JonasAnandaKristiansson]

[@moyaliatokmak759]

❤️

[@Vales23]

John I sleep with your voice everynight, thank you

[@sweetswing1]

I just discovered him but did this last night.

[@jayjayfreeman]

I just found out about him too, this past weekend.

[@lluna1266]

Also just found him! ZzZzZzZzZzZz

[@vascoespañol]

best to sleep

[@lalalaland5291]

Comforting

[@sukhmanicambridge]

I love that john butler never seems to stray from the church at Bakewell, everyone goes to see him. ❤️🙏😀

[@dimitris.mouroulis]

I'm so grateful for these interviews...

[@snet9693]

I can hardly believe that I first watched this video 6 years ago... best wishes John and Phil

[@jakeloosle2154]

He seems like the sweetest man! So genuine and loving.

[@philipjohnson331]

He is an ASMR pioneer.

[@PatternRecognizer]

Can you explain what you mean? I've seen a couple of these comments on his videos but don't see the connection. Is this a Reddit thing? Sounds like a Reddit thing...

[@philipjohnson331]

Gino Salvatelli autonomic sensory median response (ASMR) is a tingling sensation of the recipient caused by sound or touch. The sound of his voice possesses those characteristics.

[@lluna1266]

Philip Johnson spot on, it’s a phenomenon that occurs with only a select amount of people Gino, so those that don’t experience the feeling won’t really understand I’m afraid

[@philipjohnson331]

lluna1266 you're absolutely right. It's ok... There's no need to share when we can have all of the ASMR for ourselves!

[@geekymetalhead5112]

John's better than 90 percent of them

[@marcpalmer8721]

The man from. Nazareth said, blessed are the pure in heart. I get a hint of that in John's very being. Thank you. John.

[@lluna1266]

I would enjoy this man reading out a dinner menu to me

[@lluna1266]

Specifically desserts in case anyone wondered

[@lluna1266]

Toby Bigdog oh god yes

[@BeyondDictation]

~ s t i c k y d a t e p u d d i n g ~

[@darrenhill714]

Lemonfairy ????

[@nicetightsize8jeans]

Chicken salad, rice, steak, wine zzzzzzzzzzzzz

[@MrVladanbajic]

Listening to John I meditate, I pray, and I am in stillness, don't lose the light.... best...

[@glisteningwaters3312]

Oh but you are knowing. It is simply a matter of looking inside you. Everything you ever want to know is there. Peace!🙏

[@PRINCESS2527]

Such an adorable man ....😊 I’d love to hang out with him 😊💖 probably fall asleep while he was talking but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind 😂😂😂

[@mikestock969]

I first heard Mr. John Butler's voice this morning. And wow, I fell right back to sleep. Almost as if I melted into my bed with pure relaxation. What comfort indeed

[@rajkakrnetic4147]

I love to listen to him. He takes me in some kind of meditation state. I would like him to have online meditations for beginners and teach us step by step to meditate properly in the way he was tought.

[@saysHotdogs]

This guy could have the biggest cult. Like who doesn’t want to just sit there and listen to him regardless of what he’s saying

[@imyourhuckleberry4706]

There is eternal life through jesus!

[@mikehartley3200]

Ya ...you must be born again.

[@Aum_shantishantishanti111]

🙏 Amen

[@tomekgorniak]

Thank you.

[@shaynelee5273]

Damn I wish he coulda been the one reading bed time stories when I was younger

[@stormsinafrica2189]

What a wonderful gentleman. Truly a pleasure to hear speak.

[@leif5614]

The beauty, the grace, the humility, and untainted understanding of “oneness” that John expresses is a rare gem. His ability to express it so simply is grace itself. Please post more videos, and I would love to read your book. Thank you, thank you, thank you...

[@johnbutler4001]

Thank you too, Leffe. More videos are on the way, and books may be obtained via the website.

[@robbiepeterh]

Wonderful video, so humourous and warm but also insightful and enlightening.

[@jack_knife-1478]

I hope there is a portrait of this man because we should never lose his image. What an intellect he is. Lovely man.

[@martialman12]

Thank you John!

[@死神-v5w]

Todd Stratton Thank you john! Very cool!

[@Ninjahbutter]

I really think this guy has it all figured out. I wish I could give him a new body so he could get another 90+ years knowing what he knows.

[@ItsAllGoodGames]

he'll still know after the body dies.

[@fairweatherfriends.]

I doubt he’d take you up on that.

[@azman6568]

Question is would he want to go through it all again?... Maybe! Knowing he's found peace in this world he would want the extra time but conversely I somehow doubt it. Would be nice to ask him the question his answer would be interesting.

[@akakonoha]

There's no point hanging around after you've done the course, passed all the exams, graduated etc etc unless you want to help other people

[@johannprs]

What a beautiful video John, please don't stop

[@mylifeatrandomASMR]

I subscribed for John Butler 🙏✨

[@komaganpp3025]

Thank you grandpa....

[@ozarkpipertony8396]

I benefit as much from Phil as John and am so thankful for you both. Phil exudes a wonderful example of listening to understand rather than listening to respond. When the response comes through understanding and seeking clarity then it is what we see with you both "Spiritual interaction," which goes beyond the body.

[@martinlowndes3956]

I love you John. Thank you for sharing.

[@kevincooper1897]

I think our bodys are instruments for our souls to develop and mature.

[@fairweatherfriends.]

Kevin Cooper I’ve often thought the same

[@per-andershedlund4065]

Thank you for this beautiful conversation!

[@Awesomevids806]

Such a sweet and amazing man if I go to heaven I hope to spend it with him hope we get more vids from John butler

[@SpiritualUnfoldment]

Thanks Aaron - more on the way this side of heaven. Phil

[@Awesomevids806]

Your very welcome Phil tell John he has a friend in me I love him very much am happy more videos r on the way u 2 r a blessing

[@deemcintyre3507]

ffffçç​@@SpiritualUnfoldment

[@omgilovesteak6484]

Ok... who downvoted! SHOW YOURSELVES! lol

[@greenytoaster]

disliked*

[@paulthesla]

I believe the only mistake I can make is to try to evaluate, or judge the situation for myself. As long as we rely on God to do so, I believe we'll be okay, and find a way to carry on. Whether by healing, or transformation, we will carry on!

[@rudylozano437]

Peaceful comforting engaging slight delicate simple yet dense Utterly amazing

[@88tongued]

How can you be the unchanging consciousness of changing stuff? How can you have an experience and yet have a consciousness unaffected by that experience? Isn't having the experience and effect on consciousness?

[@alexthegreat8874]

Love the hitchhikers reference ❤️ lots of love to you all!

[@Aum_shantishantishanti111]

Faith in the unseen allows for possibility to know , I believe in Jesus Christ and that he heals .

[@keldagrim93]

Thank you

[@teritheitalian5561]

He is truly wise

[@purrfectpictures8864]

Thank you for the love and truth. Love and blessings

[@ErnestoPozzoni]

In my current opinion, looking for a meaning of anything in absolute terms is just a typical human attitude. But this doesn't mean that there must necessarily be. We have a complex brain, we always ask why, we are scared of our mortality and we constantly seek reassurance. I think we can only find a purpose to our life. Or, in other words, we can build our personal meaning. Despite that, I admit that seeking absolute meanings is so fascinating, like your speech. Thank you.

[@My2Cents1]

It’s cool (and wonderfully ironic) that you quote Douglas Adams, who was Atheist, yet so wise and with lots of insight. The answer to Life, the Universe, and everything in THGTTG, is 42. But the answer was calculated by a computer. The answer was the absolute truth, but nobody knew what to do with it. Even the computer was wise enough to realize that if don’t know the scope of the question or what it means, how can you make any use of the answer? It’s so symbolic for mankind.

[@spiritualanarchist8162]

I wonder how many people like john walk around, 'annoyingly slow old' people , blocking the way for those in a hurry to do 'important things & have deadlines to ...etc,etc ' . Most off them do not write books, and don't need words, It are the strangers who sometimes pop up out off nowhere when you are lost or in pain .

[@ravenmorris4229]

I love stillness, thank you for these videos. Blessings x

[@SpiritualUnfoldment]

You are welcome! Phil

[@redroots3103]

This one went very deep for me 🙏

[@davidsanderson5918]

Much as I enjoy listening to this man (and I have only just started recently) I currently find it difficult.....having been brought up in a family who believed in God, reached adulthood and seen past the concept of God, observed many endings of lives as well as beginnings of others, the circularity of nature as well as the abandonment of physical body by loved ones, and now reached middle age.....to see myself as eternal. The observer he speaks of, as far as I'm concerned, is extinguished when the machine itself is extinguished. I so want to be where John is mentally but I can't just fool myself or magic myself into that state of 'faith'. I can meditate myself into blissful harmony with my surroundings but it doesn't lead me to believing or, further than that, KNOWING that I am witnessing pure love, pure being and the realm of the everlasting. The fact that I sm here watching means I'm searching. Whether or not I can allow myself to suspend my own disbelief and truly be in step with John remains to be seen. It must be lovely to be able to reverse what one learns as an adult and return to what seems to me to be a child-like innocence. Sorry to ruin it, folks!

[@SpiritualUnfoldment]

Dave - it needs practice. You are only middle aged - I'm old. Keep reaching on ...

[@davidsanderson5918]

Spiritual Unfoldment with John Butler Thank you. I will. :)

[@DavidCanning]

Think on what it means for the universe to be infinite. It's a start down a long road...

[@jaydeep1008]

The interviewer is trying to get ans from a person who is reached the state of self ,,the state beyong question ans ,,but still he is able to made this great men talk ,,great effort and great achievement

[@boredomramsay]

After you found everything that has no meaning, it's a good answer.

[@k8eekatt]

He did not say temporal existence has no meaning, he said it is not perminant.

[@mrbioshock783]

You know if there really is a heaven I would meet four people John F Kennedy , bob Ross , mr Rogers , and this wise man

[@stepha2642]

He's not dead.

[@catmoon2009]

Great

[@liammorris1883]

John of God

[@gooniesneversaydie3699]

Jesus promised eternal life in the kingdom! Praise Christ

[@anthonyhudson3540]

How has this lovley video got three dislikes?????

[@lluna1266]

Now it’s at 8! Awful lot of fingers slipping when they were aiming for the ‘like’ button

[@joshjoyce6039]

12 now :( ..lol

[@danthemandtm450]

25 now, I think we maybe making it worse. People be seeing this and hitting dislike ya see

[@stepha2642]

People who were desperately trying to stay awake.

[@yoya4766]

John seems to have learned TM like the Beatles and others. It's strange to me that John Butler (and John Lennon), Paul McCartney, Ringo, Jagger etc.. have all been practicing TM for over 50 years. John B is so different to them. So I wonder does meditation affect people in different ways?

[@imkerrusin]

I wonder what song this is that's used.

[@moyaliatokmak759]

❤️

[@nslfhq4309]

Isn't it?...doesn't it?....

[@fire-cloud27]

he should be a character in the new elder scrolls

[@adityarao8483]

John the Buddha the awakened one

[@notquiteatory971]

I want this guy to be Santa

[@nickpeluso7511]

The meaning of life is "to keep your campsite a little better off after you leave."

[@marshmallowmilitia8056]

Thought it was 42

[@benningtonmarkbrandonwesle9092]

No can do. I'm a massive pikey.

[@benningtonmarkbrandonwesle9092]

Eliot Drake stfu

[@plopperator]

tell us about the hobbits!

[@SpiritualUnfoldment]

Different franchise. :-) Phil

[@NichtNameee]

Yeah the Hobbits, the Hobbits.

[@My2Cents1]

He is real-life Gandalf. ”...and then the gray veil of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass.... and then you see it. White shores, under swift sunrise... and beyond.” I can hear him say these words with the same amount of conviction.

[@thebeerguybrothaguy]

This dood is a wizard

[@corriethomson4431]

Absolutelee

[@sheilaclarke5276]

🙏🌸

[@glenngreenstein4362]

I am I am I am.. and we humans Are not what we are... O God help us..

[@vitakrnac7236]

OM..................................................................

[@lesliebeckwith2483]

i need an answer from John. i was told by a doctor that the tibeten book of the dead states that people who have had a Near death thing and did not start acting right, then that person will roam the earth for 2,000 years! i need help please.

[@SpiritualUnfoldment]

Hi Lesley - have you had a near death experience? Phil

[@lesliebeckwith2483]

@@SpiritualUnfoldment yes, i was hit by a truck trying to push it out of the snow. i never got hurt, just like i got picked up and set up right, instead of having my head run over... then i got angry, very angry at the person who did it. my life changed after that. i am tormented daily by other people and i saw the sun split into 2 side by side spinning wheels of color , it was beautiful. but my family and friends thought i was going to kill myself because i was hallucinating. i just want some sleep and to know i am NOT going to live 2,000 years. please help.

[@lesliebeckwith2483]

what would happen if i could kill myself? i never sleep any more and i have been healed of a 23 year pain... my lungs have cleared from smoking for over 45 years and pills do not help me to sleep. i have taken many pills at once and i do not even get tired...

[@jayant9151]

@@lesliebeckwith2483 u good

[@lesliebeckwith2483]

@@jayant9151 yes and no... still the same feeling...i never sleep...

[@moesypittounikos]

I wonder if he has heard of Bernadette Roberts? This Catholic nun shuns publicity but is enlightened.

[@godschild6417]

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 King James Version (KJV) 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

[@commodusfirmus3754]

Well 42 is a very good number for the meaning of life. It’s in the Bible too, Matthew 1:17! It must mean something or it wouldn’t be in the New Testament.

[@ppcasey9]

Suffice to say 'Perfect post'

[@lluna1266]

ppcasey9 I always used to pronounce the word suffice as suffix... I used to get confused... I was young... by young I mean 25, and by used to I mean last week...

[@Kharn526]

When the host tells you where they are, but you still have no idea where they are?

[@Roller_Ghoster]

This big lad had windy pops in his interview with concious tv. Thats enough to break anyones meditation practice.

[@danieldecker2526]

what are windy pops?LOL

[@Roller_Ghoster]

Daniel Decker burping or farting lol. This guy comes across as being very kind and a decent human being. He is obviously prone to the odd bottom burp but thats cool by me. :-)

[@danieldecker2526]

Awesome. I put his vids on to make me sleepy!

[@Roller_Ghoster]

Daniel Decker his words are wise but he has a voice of velvet as well. Good choice for ASMR.

[@donmilo4733]

Cozying up to knot knowing ? That’s awareness without thought Ah ya the knower behind the thought ? It’s the Christ the oneness of all Make friends with uncertainty make it your buddy

[@OSKARSY11]

John? Can I find stillness or "this other" in Facebook? Does the divine present itself in my s9+? What would someone as wise and cheerful as john do, if he were captured and tortured by someone like Ivan Milat? Would he simply chuckle, as Ivan presents his Bowie knife to John - who is tied to a pine tree in the forest, and recount a story about his past? Would he warmly appeal to the serial killer to "put the knife down lad. Sit. Melt into stillness. Because...that's all there is, isn't it? You see?

[@SpiritualUnfoldment]

See for yourself - stillness and movement co-exist, like two wings of a bird. As countless martyrs and Jesus Himself have shown us, the flesh may suffer but it comes to pass. The peace is undisturbed.

[@OSKARSY11]

Spiritual Unfoldment i am about to settle down and watch your videos again. My love to you John. I will soon make purchase of your books. I cannot wait to read them. I am in Australia but it would be an honor to meet you in person. I seem to be writing in short. Abrupt. Sentences!

[@gagliano033]

OSKARSY11 Well he is a Christian and if you seek Jesus Christ you would know the answer to that question. Wether it is Roman soldiers or a serial killer they cannot seperate you from the love of the Father.

[@OSKARSY11]

I want to believe this. However, if I had been unfortunate enough to be stuck at the top of the wtc in sept 2001 as it burnt, knowing that I had to either jump or burn, I'm fairly certain that I would have been filled with panick and dread, and not with love for 'the father'? In fact why would 'the good father' place humans in such torturous scenarios? If connecting with god is the antidote to fear and hatred, why isn't god being proactive and simply showing himself? No doubt you will say that HE IS SHOWING HIMSELF, we just need to SEE him, why doesn't god simply MAKE us see him? Solve all the problems right????

[@gagliano033]

OSKARSY11 I am glad you responded back because after I responded I was worried I'd come across as a jerk. If I did I'm sorry. Your questions are valid really. You are asking the basic questions we all ask. I don't want to sound generic but I kinda have to when I say the answer is in the bible. Our human history, our fallen nature and how we got to present day America in all its complications beginning with God's relationship with Abraham. It gives purpose and reason to what is confusion to most people. Think about if you saw a ghost or an alien lol. In your mind you say ok I'm just gonna tell people and they will believe me and thats how it will be. In reality no one believes you unless they themselves have experienced the same. In fact you are forced to hold back what you know is true for fear of criticism and rejection. In a sense that is the Christian experience. Believe me it is The Truth and Jesus Christ can save you but you have to first seek and approach Him. Like I said your questions are valid ones but don't start off so complicated. Learn who God is and start there. Eventually you will find answers and comfort. If I could recommend something to you it will change your perception of life in God. Read "The Confessions of St Augustine" by Saint Augustine. You are a thinker as was he and you will truly hear what he is saying. Look I am no work of perfection myself lol but if I can help email me if you want. [e-mail]

[@mrbioshock783]

I want him to read me to sleep I also want him to be my uncle

[@randybackgammon890]

So if your soul is your eternal self and not the body/thoughts you experience why is it referred to as your soul/my soul etc.Your/my is a possesive term.Clearly it's beyond logic.....Me none the wiser

[@peters2240]

I love John so much but with this video I feel like I’m watching an old interview of Charlie Manson sometimes. I mean no disrespect. I think Charlie was a Mystic wannabe

[@nowayhosay50]

Love listening to death cult talk that is the desert religion christianity. Let go of the physical realm, don't help preserve nature and try to make a difference, it just leads to disappointment. Meditate with god and let it all go, spread the desert brotha!

[@dromarsheikhomurad]

🤲🙏❤️💝🥰🌎

[@samcrocker5142]

9:55

[@gloria6673]

Phil’s voice is so loud…ruins the mood.

[@ruthbelda3887]

Vedanta. Consciousness Awareness Limitlessness.

[@imyourhuckleberry4706]

The only way to heaven is through jesus christ our lord. We first need to acknowledge we are sinners and realize we need christ to forgive us of our sins and believe jesus died so that we didn't have to.

[@SpiritualUnfoldment]

Thanks Huckleberry. I seem to have heard this before somewhere - it sounds a bit ... err, regurgitated. Try giving it a freshness in your own words. John has done a video 'Dying to sin' - kzbin.info/www/bejne/f57NZKmJbpipirM. What is sin to you? Phil

[@reecemesser]

@@SpiritualUnfoldment have you read Hebrews chapter one?

[@seankelly4509]

I love his message & sprit, but i find it a challange to overlook his annoying habit of smacking & clicking his mouth, toung & lips, its sems so self gratifying, they should put the mike away from his throat,, terrible annoying,,

[@Ponty_Paul]

Who is John Butler exactly? I don’t mean to be rude but everything he says isn’t very profound or inspiring. Everything he says is very brief with no substance to it. Seems like a lovely man however and his voice is relaxing. Bob Ross still the king of ASMR for me

[@gooniesneversaydie3699]

What a shit comment

[@Ponty_Paul]

Lion Of Judah - Almost as shit as yours fella 👍🏻

[@reecemesser]

@@Ponty_Paul - I think yours is shitter tbh 🤔💭

[@craigtechno]

Welsh Azor Ahai Yours is definitely shitter bro 😉 Lion won the Internet

[@darrenhill714]

What does it matter. ..?? We interact with life as we do currently and we will become what we become. . Initially I was intrigued nevertheless. .sorry. .

[@psyopmatrixsystemprojectio176]

Darren Hill gospel of Thomas from Jesus

[@ScottCBreeze]

The guy who is not John Butler is superfluous. I respect him as a human being, but he has to know that we're not watching the video because of him...right? The Q&A could happen in the same fashion without his presence breaking up the Butler stuff.

[@bonnie8441]

John spends far too much time analyzing everything.Concern himself with his 'afterlife' if he gets there.We all have dreams of course.But enjoy what you are capable of enjoying on earth.Where you know things are real.Phil's got the right idea.

[@randybackgammon890]

John,like many mystics,would say he's not concerning himself with the afterlife but having direct experience of the devine in the hear and now. Becoming familiar with eternity in this life,the mystics would say,means death is inconsequential......maybe.Personaly I hope so

[@pld427]

John is an interesting guy, but I must be the only person who finds the noises his mouth makes incredibly distracting and irritating.

[@glenngreenstein4362]

I think John was sitting in the bathroom .. when all time passed. Mm.

[@glenngreenstein4362]

John is trapped in his own mind That keeps snacking his lips.. The other guy keeps sniffing And John keeps snacking..)) It's all good and he keeps mentioning his hands.. I'm done.. haha.

[@akakonoha]

Does he not look like Merlin? Namaste 🙏 a reincarnation of Merlin ☺️ 😛