"I look back on all those ten books as so many words that are passed. The most satisfactory ending to my tenth and last book is that I simply run out of words. Or rather, I grow out of words. The best thing we can do to further our spiritual progress is to stop talking. Words inevitably signify duality and the essence of spirituality is to find, beyond duality, Unity." Producer: Phil Shankland, InSight New Media Productions Ltd https://insightnewmedia.co.uk Location: Friends Meeting House, Bakewell, UK. Date: April, 2024 Copyright: Spiritual Unfoldment Trust 2025 Title design: Wendy Mayes Design https://www.wendymayes.co.uk Music: Dan Phillipson - 'Thoughts resolve' (under license) This is the sixth in a series of 8 conversations with John and Phil: #1 Is sin just ignorance? #2 The Comfort of Job #3 The Causal Realm #4 Why do we suffer? #5 Pure and Simple #6 What's the matter with books? #7 Unreal to Real #8 Reach for the stars You can watch the whole series now in the 'To Make Whole Be Whole' members section: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_93Sd1aIoCM&list=PL_TtBqRWu4B-GHijmwCviIQfJ1esbcmhV John's first audiobook 'Mystic Approaches' is now available on Audible - https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Mystic-Approaches-Audiobook/B0DQ64PF5P John's latest book 'Mystic Love' is now available here - https://spiritualunfoldment.co.uk/store/Mystic-Love-%E2%80%93-letters-to-Christine-p674982505 You can watch 80+ ad-free videos with John in the "Feet on the Ground' supporters section. Join here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi0TFuqj6eND-mJRf8i2Tnw/join. 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 8 published books, available through the website: https://spiritualunfoldment.co.uk/store/. 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) - https://ffm.to/commonsenseguidetomeditation. John's 'Common Sense Guide to Meditation' series is now available on the Insight Timer app - https://insighttimer.com/JohnButler. FREE 86pp PDF 'Introducing Spiritual Unfoldment' Join John Butler's email community and receive a free 86-page PDF 'Introducing Spiritual Unfoldment'. Go to http://spiritualunfoldment.co.uk and scroll to the bottom of any page. Those who wish to support the Work of the Spiritual Unfoldment Trust can donate here - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=BBAWMHB4JQMKY Find out more about the the Spiritual Unfoldment Trust: https://spiritualunfoldment.co.uk/charitable-trust/ Disclaimer: https://spiritualunfoldment.co.uk/disclaimer/ Topics: Evolution of a Writer: Discusses the speaker's journey from early experiences with writing, through his extensive career of letter writing and eventually authoring ten books, culminating in his final work which embodies his reflective thoughts on words and spirituality. Role of Words and Silence in Spirituality: Explores the contrast between the usefulness and limitations of words in spiritual progress, suggesting that true spiritual experience transcends verbal expression and may be more profoundly encountered in silence. Personal and Spiritual Reflections: Shares personal anecdotes about love, spirituality, and the journey of writing as a form of self-expression and introspection, leading to a deeper understanding of self and the divine. Influence of Meditation and Eastern Spirituality: Describes the speaker's encounters with meditation and Eastern spiritual practices, including his experiences at the London School of Meditation and how these practices influenced his spiritual and writing life. Integration of Life Experiences into Books: Reflects on how the speaker’s life experiences, from boarding school to his travels and spiritual learnings, have been integrated into his books, offering insights into the development of his spiritual and philosophical perspectives. Keywords: Books Spirituality Silence Meditation Writing Chapter Headings: (00:01) Introduction to John’s Literary Journey: Exploring John's early writing influences and his extensive work as an author. (11:29) The Spiritual Significance of Words and Silence: Discussing the dual nature of words in spirituality and the deeper unity found in silence. (25:34) Role of Meditation in John’s Life: How meditation shaped John's spiritual understanding and influenced his writings. (37:56) Compilation of Life into Literature: Reflections on how personal experiences and spiritual insights are woven into John’s books. (46:13) Integration of Christian and Eastern Philosophies: Examining the blend of Christian teachings and Eastern spiritual practices in John's perspective and writings.