Self as Awareness

[Guest guest]

Often on the spiritual path, the topics of best postures, best

technique of meditation, best behavior conducive to spiritual growth,

best guru, etc. come up. All of these questions are appropriate to

their time and space. Underlying such questions is the fundamental

theme or inquiry as to what constitutes superior spiritual practice

that will lead to improvement in one's condition and finally Self

Realization. In this perspective, "Self Realization" is viewed as an

attainment. This point of view emphasizes the need to focus

consciousness on "something" or to "do something" with consciousness.

it can involve meditating in a particular posture, focusing on

chakras, mantras, breathing, etc. The Yoga paths are based on this

perspective. What practice or behavior will be helpful to the seeker

on such a path seems to depend on ones conditioning, physiology,

culture, background, etc. For the one abiding spontaneously and

inherently in the Truth of Reality, questions of method, technique,

and practice become moot. When Clarity of Self arises, any technique

may be practiced and any path may be walked or one may give up all

techniques and paths. For such a person, the Self attention itself

absorbs attention regardless of where it is focused outwardly. The

essential element in this understanding is the Recognition by

Awareness of its Innate Wakefulness. Awareness is always self aware

by its very nature. Continuous, perpetual, Self Recognition is the

very nature of Awareness.

When awareness remains pure and unfocused (focused on nothing in

particular and falling continuously upon itself, scanning itself,

consuming itself), the subtle duality between awareness/attention (as

Pure I AM) and its Source is seen to be illusory. Here the witness

disappears, there being nothing to witness. The I AM disappears.

Spontaneously with the I AM/Awareness/Shakti merging in its Source,

It Recognizes It Self as the Source. It instantly and spontaneously

Sees and Recognizes that It has Always Been the Source, the One

Heart. That It Is the Eternal Source. This is the Supreme Beauty of

the Heart. It absorbs the Shakti, the mind with all its endless

concepts, and along with it, swallows time and space itself. How can

one speak of that Silence which is our very being? Great sages like

Sri Ramana never tire of pointing out that, That Which is Real and

Absolute Always Exists and is not absent even now. Grasp this present

ordinary awareness, hold on to it like a mother holds on firmly to her

child. Keep Coming back to This, until you See that you have never

been without It and everything rises and

fall in It Alone.

Love to all

Harsha

 

 

"Love itself is the actual form of God."

Sri Ramana