Photo source: http://www.justinverrengia.com
Awareness is our true self; it’s what we are. So we don’t have to try to develop awareness; we simply need to notice how we block awareness with our thoughts, our fantasies, our opinions, and our judgments. We’re either in awareness, which is our natural state, or we’re doing something else. – Joko Beck
How simple. For decades, I tried to acquire Awareness, when all the time I have been this awareness, but became distracted by the entertainment and fear of the mind. My eyes would get misty with longing when I would read of the awakening of Eckhart Tolle, Byron Katie, Papaji and various other sages, and the permanent freedom they experienced from the limitations of living inside the movie projector of the mind.
Moment by moment, I am learning to be more observant of myself and how I create my own limitations and freedom. It doesn’t require deep thinking to get into observer mode so I may experience my true self – words can get in the way, it requires a silent observation which leads one back to the holy foundation of Self.
Taking a “giant step” back into the role of “detached observer” is relaxing, calming, de-stressing, and peace inducing.
It’s like pressing the pause button and allowing things to Just Be without us for a time. Aah . . . that’s better.
Great post.
To think we have the ability to press this pause button as often as we would like but mental habits are seductive. Today, I am enjoying the pause button. 🙂
This is a wonderful post, Marie. The idea of being the awareness is new to me–at least as you speak of it here. It’s a wonderful concept!
Debra, If you pay attention to the animals how they fly, hunt or the squirrels find nuts for the winter, it’s Awareness/Intelligence (God) that is doing the work. They don’t need to think. We humans function better when we live from a higher awareness and use our mind as a tool, not to get lost in it’s stories and fears which creates suffering …
Wonderful, Marie. I find it so irritating when I discover my thoughts to be blocking me. but it’s liberating to know that if we just identify those thoughts, the wall falls down. Lots of love to you.
Yaz, Yes! Speaking of collapsing walls, I was talking to my s/o Phil tonight and remarked how for the past week I have lost fear… it’s as if something came off me. We have Satsang like chats regularly in the park, and when a Truth gets clear for me and it collapses beliefs or thoughts, something shifts for me without my even trying. It’s awesome and I am grateful. Much love to you.
Wonderful post Marie…:)
Thanks my friend! 🙂
I am a new student to Tolle and I am having SUCH a hard time with this. I think this will be harder for me to master than my anger.
Hi Jasmine, Tolle was difficult for me to understand at first, but as the years went by and I read his books again, I was able to understand him better, and yet there is sitll a lot I am learning. A trick I learned from a teacher is to simply keep my mind quiet when reading or listening to teachers such as Tolle. Trying to understand by analyzing what was being taught was not working for me. These truths are beyond our minds.
My problem is accepting the advise I think. I am still at that point when I don’t catch myself BEFORE it happens but only as it’s happening or after. Except for the silencing the mind totally. This is SOOOOOO HARD!!!! I know I will master it but it is going to take me a LONG time or something AMAZING to turn that light bulb on! Thanks for the words of encouragement! Your very kind.
I find it very interesting, Marie, that you speak of quieting the mind, of not letting the “movie projector” of the mind dominate. These words are important, but what I find interesting is that what you seek, spiritually, is manifested physically already–in the quietness (however frustrating!) that your loss of hearing brings…. wondering if you’d thought about it that way?
Wonderful, as always, to read your musings!
Janet
Janet, I have seen my hearing loss as forcing me to look at life differently, to let go of mental fears that have been blocking me, and I am doing this now. Basically I have no choice! The silence of the semi-rural town where I now live is very good for a spiritual focus, but, the silence of deafness is not elevating because I need to communicate with the outside world, so it becomes a struggle at times and which fills my mind with “noise.” It’s like Helen Keller said “deafness does not soothe the weary senses, it isolates and estranges”… though I am not toally deaf, I can relate.
Thanks for asking, it’s always good to see you!
You clarify this well… I think you put it well, with the silence filling your mind with noise, and how it is isolating and estranging. Thank you for helping me understand that. Best to you for 2013!
You are welcome, Janet. And also wishing you the best in 2013! 🙂