absolutespiritdotco

“RESTING IN AWARENESS”

Awareness, because of unconsciously the mistaken identification its very existence with the narrative of “I” (a powerless being easily influenced by its environment), begins to cope with the reality by retreating into a world of thought, a constructed “world as it ought to be” built upon assumptions and beliefs rooted in memories and past interpretations. Instead of living the reality of life in the “now,” it unconsciously projects the past onto the present and interprets visible phenomena through that lens—for attempting to avoid suffering—such as getting hurt or facing uncomfortable feelings that are difficult to handle—or to pursue goals like achieving grand dreams.

However, this unavoidably creates a gap between the raw reality and thoughts that do not align with it. Pure Beingness becomes so preoccupied with deciphering the past and future (and believing such deciphering is possible) and dealing with those interpretations that it fails to recognize facts, that is, unconsciously identifying its existence with the “I” narrative, projecting the past onto reality, or even interpreting that reality. Thereby mistaking a world that exists only within the mind—fueled by thoughts that have no actual substance—for reality, it becomes tossed about by various forms of suffering.

࿓࿓࿓࿓࿓

“Resting in awareness” means stepping away from the “I” narrative that is buffeted by suffering. It means simply seeing reality as it is, without being swayed by feelings or thoughts while purely abiding in awareness—totally prior to all movement of the “I” narrative. Because this “Beingness” remains completely unaffected by any changing currents of life, there is no need for any resistance whatsoever.

In short, it is purely beingness is being as Beingness.

It is not about trying to suppress thoughts deemed unnecessary, nor is it about clinging to emotions “I” feel “I” “should” experience, nor is it about being trapped by ideas of how life or humanity ought to be.

Rather, it is the surrendering any and all will to control reality. For this, it is absolutely essential to recognize (embrace)—directly and exactly as it is—the unchangeable fact that “no matter how much ‘I’ strive, it is impossible to control any things.”

With this reconition or insight in the face of that reality—a complete letting go of the “I”—a true surrender—naturally occurs.

This effortlessly leads to the surrendering of all expectations held by the “I”—such as the desire for enlightenment or self-improvement, or the will to be someone into a version of the “I” that does not exist—as well as the addiction to willpower and the strenuous efforts associated with them.

Furthermore, this surrender comes to make it easier to simply be—without effort—rather than perceiving reality as a problem to be solved or becoming trapped in the various thoughts aimed at fixing it.

Amidst those days, as Beingness commits itself to being fully present and keeping its attention turned inward—observing every movement of the “I” narrative exactly as it is through “clarity” (that is, all-seeing eyes, that unswayed by the “I”, by emotions, memories, or by any value judgments; the clarity of the innermost stillness)—and as Beingness truly perceives the lack of substance and foundation in the narrative of the “I,” only then do those “falsehoods” naturally collapse and vanish into thin air.

In doing so, the unnecessary, unconscious veils that had clouded the eye of awareness are naturally stripped away, making it also increasingly natural to simply “rest in awareness.”

࿓࿓࿓࿓࿓

Moreover, alongside these practices, it is immensely helpful to set aside time—whenever the opportunity arises—to simply abide in the sense of “just being.” This means dwelling in that simple sense of pure Beingness that precedes all the various narratives of “I” and “mine,” quietly savoring that sense, or engaging in meditation with the present moment; such practices will greatly deepen self-observation and self-inquiry.

It does not matter which of these it begin with. As Beingness starts with what it can and grow accustomed to the sense of “simply being,” resting in as impersonal awareness—the true nature—will become increasingly natural; at the same time, Beingness will be able to more clearly recognize the unnaturalness of being trapped in thought.

The key is to keep its attention focused on being rather than doing.

For instance, whatever it may be—whether a particular way of being, self-observation, self-inquiry, insight, or enlightenment—it is about letting go of attachment to any specific state (such attachment is always made by the mind of fear, thought; in reality, no fixed state the “I” imagines can actually exist). Crucially, this is not by force, but rather by effortlessly resting in a natural state of being—that is, in awareness—stepping away from a sense of “doing” as a doer, “doership,” centered on the “I” narrative. (OM 🙏)