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