The Nothingness of God

"Whoever speaks of God as Nothing speaks of God properly." So speaks German mediaeval mystic Meister Eckhart. In this conversation John Butler helps to unravel the meaning - how can you talk about the 'Nothingness' of God? "Before the great and wonderful, how vainly we try to capture it within our human folly".
For your free copy of John's poem 'Clouds' join the email community here - spiritualunfold....
John has a new book out! 'Mystic Beginnings'. How can one live unfenced and free within limits of human existence? Or satisfy love’s insatiable need in a world of ‘Yes’ and ‘No’? Describing the long, slow development of spiritual awareness, ‘Mystic Beginnings’ leads the reader through John Butler’s boyhood and army days … to wide, open spaces in Australia, farming, injury and business … bursting out to ‘Make the world a better place’ and, chastened, to return … back to farming, meditation, first stormy days of marriage and, then, in 1984, at the age of 47 - to see a woman as he’d never seen before …
This book was written soon afterwards in an attempt to understand. You can buy it here - spiritualunfol...
'Mystic Forbearance - in Russia'. Just over 100 years ago, the Russian Revolution started - man replaced God and the world began to change. From her homeland convulsed by civil war - like countless others with family uprooted and destroyed, a lost and lonely refugee, Mother was sent to England where, eventually she married and bore 2 children. At the age of 55, I returned to Russia for several years to rediscover my roots and incidentally write the notes which form the basis of my latest book, ‘Mystic Forbearance - in Russia’. This 2nd edition, with additions and corrections replaces the earlier, named ‘Oh, Russia’. It’s a large book of 600 pages, which cover almost every aspect of human existence, facing the great question of how spirit can strengthen to bear an unbearable world. John Butler - 2019
You can buy 'Mystic Forbearance - in Russia' here - spiritualunfol...
John's book 'Mystic Approaches' is now available as an e-book (PDF). You can buy and download it here - spiritualunfol...
There will be more silent meditation retreats with John in Bakewell later in the year. Find out more: hspiritualunfol...
If you find these videos helpful and feel you can support making the next, you can make a cheerful donation here - www.paypal.com...
Thank you.

[@PhillipLWilcher]

Love! I think the reality of Love and the complexities met in trying to describe it are best clarified in 2 Corinthians 4:18: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." It is that we cannot see Love, only manifestations of it. Therefore, to embrace the Eternity of Love is to embrace the entirety of being - Eternity: Entirety - to accept All That Is and lovingly, without judgement. Beyond that, the best definition I can give for Love is that is what it does, and it does what it is. I am finding the comfort of such Love here, listening to John Butler!

[@pascalguerandel8181]

What a beautiful beautiful man❤❤

[@yogawithhelen3185]

john is a saint a modern guru of the oneness of god GOD BLESS JOHN

[@ayeletkanari8446]

OH MY GOD! THANK YOU!

[@LenaKrupinski-vg5wi]

🙏 Hi to both of you , John & Phil . John's light just shines through every teaching !! Phil's camera work manages to capture the light so well & the beauty of Nature !! 🙏💎🙏🌟🙏🌳🙏💖

[@SpiritualUnfoldment]

Wow, thank you! Phil

[@kathleenstetler609]

RUINED by ads. 😢

[@GZ9090]

What a beautiful spirit John is.

[@robhammonds7807]

I can’t make sense of anything this man says. I just listen to him to help me go to sleep.

[@MamaStyles]

John you have helped me through the darkest time of my life.Your beautiful words and ways have taught me how to connect with my inner self, communicating with others and deepening my spirituality. Much love from Lisa in Canada 🇨🇦 Bless you

[@gobnaitaine2791]

His words can really transform your way of thinking and how you live your life. He's an angel from God, sent down to help. He's a healer, a spiritual healer. ❤️

[@pascalguerandel8181]

John is absolutely brilliant.

[@JohnOverholt]

The microphone volume difference between you two was kind of jarring. So much love for these videos.

[@jamesbullard4897]

Love like a butterfly on your hand or the fist fviolet of spring

[@ericatard]

i'm a young atheist, but these videos are very interesting and heartwarming

[@redroots3103]

God hides from me in my thoughts and I keep on seeking him in my thoughts until I get tired and stop thinking. Then God shows up in my presence. Unconscious to the conscious...darkness to light...separation to oneness. I never seem to remember to just let go. I still go through this process over and over again.

[@naiagp6952]

I'm like you, but I'm sure we are making progress! We will know it one day

[@redroots3103]

@@naiagp6952 yes, I feel the same thing 😊

[@joantollifson7408]

Oh John 🙏 so beautifully expressed and lived. I keep writing words here and then erasing them because none are adequate. Thank you for this jewel.

[@Willsg703]

I love this guy

[@TheSoteriologist]

John Butler at his best !

[@bobbyaspey5371]

This just keeps getting better and better.

[@k8eekatt]

Peace for the end of the day❤

[@samallen1000ify]

I'm glad I can listen to John Butler, he has helped me in how I look at life.

[@holbertsmeadow323]

but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness

[@umavera]

Infinitely gentle ♡

[@ArcaneInkTattoo]

I would love to hear a video on diet and healthy living from John. His videos have helped me develop my spirituality so much. I wish I could meet him. He’s a true gem to the world.

[@willbesoon6601]

Thank you! These videos should be aired on national TV every evening!

[@Londonfogey]

He should at least have a slot on BBC Radio Four's 'Thought for the Day'.

[@swirlingfudge]

Nooooo

[@Duxies]

I love John.

[@rubensergeant6588]

Dear John, I hope my comment passes u at one point. First I would like to thank you for your video's Phil. Without them John's words/teaching/wisdom would never have reached me overseas. I'm a single father of 3 with a busy schedule but like much people, I'm in search for the spiritual world for many years. Succeslessly by my disappointment. Thank you john because you are the first person who's explanation is clear to me. I understood your concept of silence. I could follow your "feel your but and feet 😂 technique" with some success when I tried it after your meditation guide,.... I just wanna thank you from my hart for being the ONE who could show me/guide me into the first layer of spirituality. Lots of respect, love and admiring from Belgium

[@mother8696]

He seems to not only be able to touch the creator, but has found the way to be one with him ... The moments that I have experienced as he describes are fleeting and leave me seeking and yearning for the “presence” return. It is true bliss, peace, love, .... it’s everything!

[@trudesquires1089]

Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. xx

[@dillonshea4268]

The nothingness of wind Who did I hear?!? Nothing, it was... The wind.

[@RaulSciamarelli]

This series is just so precious. Having the opportunity to watch these videos as they are made is a priceless gift. Thank you.

[@jjspade81]

He seems like the most at peace and relaxed person in the world. 😊

[@mikeseeley1042]

@@jjspade81 well, he seems as secure in his beliefs as he is deceived by them.

[@jjspade81]

@@mikeseeley1042 Uh oh :(

[@doublej7257]

Thank you, John. Your words mean a lot to me.

[@tomscheckel3857]

You appear to be in touch with the presence this day John. It’s a joy. Thank you and Phil for these wonderful videos.

[@mformother4449]

It's nice to see by your questions Phil,that you're not so easily led.

[@mrafard]

we humans are gods acording to Jesus and Moses. Jesus begs us to be like him

[@SpiritualUnfoldment]

Can you say a bit more about this? Phil

[@mrafard]

@@SpiritualUnfoldment John 10:34 and Moses 1:26

[@mrafard]

@@SpiritualUnfoldment we dominate the world all that we can

[@randolphlearning5255]

I recognize what John says in itself. Home that is what we crave.

[@charleskohlmann9529]

I must say I am blessed to enjoy these meditations. I let them led me to Christ Jesus who is and all things may pass away. But....His Words will never pass away. And that is Something.

[@charleskohlmann9529]

God is Love

[@okaygoogle781]

Absolutely beautiful and wonderful. Thankyou to Phil and John. GOD bless you 🙏

[@oldjude1987]

Love these videos so much! Phil and John make a fantastic team. If seems to me that John is one of the more enlightened beings I've come across in my life. Please keep making these videos. They are fantastic!

[@redroots3103]

Before I even watch I know this going to be good 😊

[@meancuisine8]

This particular upload is quite edifying. Thank You so much, John, for being, and for sharing Your experience. You Bless We! i Love You, DearSoul.

[@seanamc]

Please please please ask John to narrate his new book for a an audio version 🙏. It would fly off the shelves

[@cate4139]

He reminds me of the old man from The Little Prince. What a beautiful soul.

[@ResourcefulNomad]

I discovered John a month ago, wish I had a year or two ago... but better now than never. God bless you John and Phil for bringing this wisdom to a world in great need of it. I’d like to hear John’s thoughts on The Cloud of Unknowing.

[@osip7315]

"whoever speaks of god as nothing, speaks of god properly" i'd retranslate that as "ideas of god are empty"

[@PanicAttackRecovery]

Thank you Spiritual Unfoldment and John Butler for making these wonderful videos possible. This is a great way to think about God. Many people struggle with the notion of a man or supreme being in the sky, but this type of discussion really makes so much more sense. I’m not even sure that agnostics would even struggle with this explanation.

[@darrellborland119]

Yes!...another anticipated video...thanks.

[@life13525]

what a delight!!! thank you...

[@isabellabuckley7999]

Oh dear John bless you🌈

[@brianlafleche910]

Woo brand new video. My favorite

[@catherinea2726]

In your words john.."my silent friend holding my hand" Much love from Ireland

[@Keanux12]

That rhymed hahahaha.

[@devasadhvi]

I always feel like you are talking with Spirtual tones Directly to my heart.

[@redroots3103]

You said that perfectly 😊

[@danobrien9925]

So beautiful, thank you John

[@AyrtoHD]

Nice to see you both again, god bless.

[@fragilesoulofthespotless80]

A lot love from Turkey 🇹🇷♥️

[@markjoe3808]

Yeter Aqya Gobble gobble

[@nifetheartist5158]

i love john

[@michaelchase5304]

"we make an error when we call God something" "Becomes ever less possible to describe" Every question after the first develops more ignorance because God is just nothing. This world is "Like a stage performance". ("Perfection in the belief of Divine Unity consists of denying Him any attributes" ~Baha'u'llah) God has servants who represent every aspect of life, so He abides as nothing with each creature expressing something of creation, even in heaven or hell.

[@xplaybwoix]

12.41: Utter peace...( door slams )

[@danielgreenleaf]

Lol 😂

[@chriscraven9335]

I do not believe in a loving, caring God, not even close. I'm not sure I believe at all. But I just love hearing Mr Butler's thoughts and beliefs, even if they get a bit rambly at times. He just doesn't strike me in the same way many in his position do, which is an excellent thing. Much respect, Mr Butler, wish I could shake your hand, and maybe even give ya a friendly hug.

[@mwls1991]

John Butler's back baby !!!

[@justins8634]

The thing about people like John is that they know they’ve discovered something, but they don’t completely understand it or it is deeply based on personal experience. The human mind is so complex, we come up with things we don’t even really understand. Take, for instance, how Mr. Butler often refers to a “stillness”. It’s hard for us to understand that, and it’s especially hard for John to explain it.

[@mikeseeley1042]

That's because it's nonsense. He mentions Jesus and the Bible tangentially but not in any faith-enlightened way. John Butler speaks the language of eastern meditation and mysticism, worshipping creation rather than the Creator as He has revealed Himself in holy scripture.

[@chrisaustin4115]

He talks about it in an Orthodox way bro. Look into it. For example the foreward to his book is written by a russian Orthodox Priest

[@mikeseeley1042]

@@chrisaustin4115 Not really, orthodoxy is at least doctrinally based. I don't care if the Pope wrote the foreword. Butler clearly has no use for the God of the Bible, and is leading lost souls in the opposite direction.

[@chrisaustin4115]

@@mikeseeley1042 how so? From what I see he basically says "meditation and prayer are about submitting to God". He even teaches the Jesus Prayer

[@mikeseeley1042]

@@chrisaustin4115 In no way does he advocate the finished work of Christ Jesus, the person or deity of Jesus, as the way to salvation. He babbles on about "stillness" and points away from God as revealed in scripture in favor of eastern meditation. He gives superficial lip service to Christianity.

[@killertaquito27]

16:20 House analogy 🤯 😇

[@joemama1020]

I can’t leave this video

[@EdgeOfLight]

john is the ultimate god of asmr for real he gives me mad tingles

[@loriscunado3607]

Very good

[@aythatsme3607]

meditation is great . . .

[@henrieecen2938]

John thank you for being one who verifies so much what I came to see by immersing into the Bible myself. Insights given through the lens of Jesus being the Word of God made flesh. God the Father's purpose being the same for us, through the work of His Holy Spirit. How beautiful the relationship of Father, Son (including all humanity) and Holy Spirit. Relationship with each other in the giving and receiving, being the reality of everything. John thank you for the fellowship while I listened to your bit of God's peace ( Christ) within. GALATIANS 1/16😍

[@SRH586]

He looks very warm in his three piece wardrobe.

[@shaungibson7322]

Another fantastic video from Mr Nothingness himself.❤️

[@coolcatproductions6804]

keep up the videos love them

[@zakkthemaniac6025]

Watch this man more than once a day learn a lot from him i'll tell you that.

[@Willsg703]

So true friend

[@butchcoolidge2445]

I miss these video formats. The church setting, Phil accompanying John. The aspect of it being conversational gives it an organic aspect. The new style videos messianise john as some kind of neo-evangelist. The latter is incongruent with this whole idea of presence. From a human perspective there is little more natural than a conversation between 2 friends. I watch and like the new videos but I take refuge in these old ones as I deem them to be better.

[@GhostInTraining]

he is the santa of asmr and im here for it

[@zeljkomusovic7103]

If something can't be described , why talk about it? Read this book: archive.org/details/the-one-who-is...-not/mode/2up Short, honest, convincing.

[@hairyjute]

John should have been a politician he can bullshit his way around any topic

[@TrumanGN]

God needs to get on with the job of banishing evil from the world. Too many people have been eaten alive by bears while we wait. And his son should be ashamed for his tardiness.

[@NotesFromTheOwlBox]

The only thing we are certain of in life is our sense of self, our ego, yet this is certainly no thing.

[@taghi83]

Thank you so much for these videos, please say Hi to John for me.

[@debtickner]

Quite exquisite 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@Space2B1981]

“We are like fishes in the sea, we cannot not be in God” Very beautiful 🙏🏻

[@deedni42]

Spirit is just pure awareness. What is the presents within presence. Magnetics, magnetic reciprocation.

[@daveydoodle1916]

We really can’t rely on anyone to explain who God is. No man knows we think ah he might know lol! The old saying I heard before is” God is beyond thought”. Some say look at Jesus as the human manifestation of God. Good Luck figuring it out.

[@randybackgammon890]

Now I,m not being contenteous for the sake of it,John speaks beautifully.But but how does one distinguish between the invisible( presence,friend,arms of God etc.) and the imaginary.Human love may be finite,but at least you can put your arms around it.Cant see much comfort in the embrace of empty space...or am I missing something

[@s_patzz8212]

You may not realise but John is actually over 2,300 years old. He used to go by the name `Plato`.

[@quentinquentin6752]

stuart paterson I just laughed so hard at that. Hilarious.

[@ZombolicBand]

lmao! i see the resemblance now

[@Mr_M_]

Jonh is clearly an immortal. He will outlive all of us.

[@lehtokurppa7824]

The other was one of the most significant philosophists to ever exist, and the other is someone who thinks he can understand the universe trough his own experience, and has a nice voice. You reached a bit too far there mate.

[@mountainair]

He's a proper Buddha in my eyes. Of course he would reject both labels and point us back to our shared stillness.

[@Mike2wz]

Great videos, very peaceful and calm to listen to. 10.03, someone's a bit too relaxed ha ha

[@gregedmonds7152]

I am compassion and to me you shall all return.all machinations of the mind fade to nothingness in my presents

[@chrisg.2821]

:)

[@donmilo4733]

Good to see ya back 😐

[@ABronyNamedBurnie]

How you gonna excommunicate someone AFTER they die? What are they gonna do, drag him outta heaven? "Sorry dude, they decided you actually suck. Downstairs you go!"

[@morrispridgen]

If we put all the videos together, where he's opening and closing his hands, you'd have another whole video

[@tjc89]

Can we do a competition to win his bike?

[@dannydazzler1549]

Yeah. And then we'll do a competition to win your house

[@tjc89]

@@dannydazzler1549 haha.

[@milts22346]

what u say only matter if your vegan #ofgod

[@MCMusicalArts]

John, I've suffered from depression and anxiety for several years now. You've mentioned before you've had experience with depression as well. How did you pull yourself out of it? Much appreciated!

[@bratwurstkinsman6740]

Matthew Cross Try DMT.

[@henrieecen2938]

How beautiful is old age when one can stop wrestling with God and simply rest. "Be STILL and know that I AM God. True Christ centred revelation I suspect is what John has come to know, not with the mind but with the heart. But what a beautiful foundation Christianity at first a religion as we understand it, but over time with the experiences of life a WAY of resting in God's love. Faith rather than fear from eternal hell as has been passed on by Protestant biblical theology. No need for details here for one tires of the folly of arguing. Twenty years ago I became aware of the need of a new way of explaing a more mystical Christiany, today I'm hearing it from the likes of you John. Others Richard Rohr a Franciscan, Brad Jerzak and Brian McLaren. But where does find fellowship? Certainly not in a Christianity that relies on dogma and certainty of biblical interpretation. As St Paul once desired for the church 2 millinium ago I desire you to progess from milk to meat. The church has been (except for the mystics) mired in milk ever since. No wonder that with the increase of our knowledge of God's creation, so many have deserted organised and tribalized Christianity. Jesus a mystic Himself and One for us to follow, said "seek and you will find" ( the stillness and rest IN God. So true then, true today and will be true tomorrow. God's peace which passes all our understanding, be upon you ALL! 😍

[@simpaticode]

"How do you describe God? ." Ah yes, well said John!

[@stepha2642]

If you removed all the pauses this video would be 18 minutes long.

[@darrellborland119]

@@matilda628 The enlightenment is in the space between the words....according to John. However, he prefaces his life story/cosmological view' with a personal disclaimer, that it is his own story, and no one else'. Kinda' neat and unique...like a vacation from daily woes. Thanks.

[@Londonfogey]

I think it was Spinoza who wrote 'to define God is to deny Him'.

[@trahnettilhcs]

Paul describes love pretty well in 1 Corinthians

[@skemsen]

But how can we be in that state void of thoughts if we have to maintain a job to pay bills etc. And why was this realm of ours created if we need to "go home" and find our origin again? We could have just stayed there. Highly confusing.

[@TheBaldyheed]

I'm not sure what o have paid the subscription for 🤷 I can see al of these videos without having spent any money

[@alcolic1826]

love john even he doesnt know what hes talking about but somehow tries to make u think he does

[@rubensergeant6588]

😁😁😁 You just made 3 seconds of my life much better thx 😂😂😂

[@hiarahkimusic3282]

I would like to know what John says about how the world is today .... his thoughts on the overdose of negativity ..... just hearing him would soothe my thoughts ☺️

[@dungteller367]

Humans have made quite a mess of things, by inventing things instead of saying "we don't know" All of our inventions have divided us from one another. Here we can see clearly why we made a wrong turn and that, going right results from seeing clearly thus ending the wrong turn. Meditation is natural and will come about when thought understands what it is doing. The mind is,, stillness is, god is.

[@mindminimalist]

his voice and presence are a bridge from where you are to what he speaks of