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“LIVING THE RAW REALITY”

When one abides in pure presence—as awareness—the mere mental games of labeling or defining people (including oneself) and the world—addiction of “doership” or self-hypnosis in which “I” or “we” unconsciously indulge—are something spontaneously to be surrendered without effort, as they do not align with the purity of the divinity.

This is what religious teachings refer to as the “right choice.” This “correctness” is not a matter of “right vs. wrong” within a relative duality—judgments based on the memories and knowledge to which the mind (“I,” thought, ego) clings. Rather, it arises from directly sensing inward whether or not something aligns with divinity.

For this reason, divinity—which is pure presence—never criticizes specific people nor assigns them any particular definition or identification.

In contrast, the ego—a narrative constructed merely from memories and interpretations of experiences in the mind—seeks to protect the narrative of “I” or “we” by labeling and defining everything.

In other words, by defining and identifying everything the mind (the “I,” thought, the ego) encounters, the ego classifies and categorizes—making distinctions such as “same as ‘me’/‘us’” versus “different from ‘me’/‘us’”—in an attempt to, for instance, avoid discomfort or secure a sense of safety.

Yet, this very process is division and separation by duality, and one of the root causes of suffering, such as attachment and conflict.

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Reality is the world as perceived through the recognition of events that have already occurred.

However, from the perspectives of brain science and cognitive science, it is said that the human brain does not perceive the world exactly as it is. Instead, it constructs a narrative—an illusory world mistaken for reality—distorted by the values, memories, interpretations of experiences, assumptions, and beliefs held by “me” or “us.”

So, can we truly say that what “I” or “we” call reality—and what we judge or criticize as “wrong” or “evil”—is actually based on fact? To what extent is it the truth?

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Through continuous, sincere, and careful self-observation, awareness gradually comes to truly realize these facts. As awareness gains a deeper understanding of the ego’s tendencies and its cunning nature, awareness naturally comprehends the complex web of interconnectedness known as engi (dependent origination): the spontaneous humility of comprehension that events do not arise from a single cause, but depend on countless causes and the various conditions present at that moment, and so they can never be defined or identified.

As a result of such self-observation, the world that the mind (“I,” thought, ego) had previously identified and defined inevitably falls apart.

Furthermore, the insubstantial “I” itself that identified and defined those things—the narrative of “me” or “us”—also collapses.

It doesn’t mean that humans will cease to exist, but rather what remains gradually is pure presence—completely different sense as the Self within a different dimention from the thoughts, emotions, memories, and interpretations of experience (such as judgments and criticisms) that arise and be constructed as the “I” within the mind.

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Allow thoughts to arise as they will; they will eventually fade away.

Do not pick and choose among emotions; instead, cherish the act of feeling each one fully and attentively. By doing so, it makes preventing the accumulation of unnecessary energy within, and life becomes lighter. After all, emotions are merely emotions; they can never define who you are.

Furthermore, there is no need to panic when memories or interpretations of experiences arise in the mind; they, too, will eventually quiet down.

However, whenever awareness find itself fixated on a particular thing, whatever it is, recognize that there is surely a spiritual challenge involved—a call to let go.

In that case, do self-inquiry into the source of what the “I” is resisting in here and now, instead of indulging in the unrealistic and fruitless act of resisting the reality that has already unfolded—such as judging or criticizing others (including oneself) and the world, or being swept up in reflexive reactions intended to protect the “I”—awareness will be able to live for what is truly necessary for awakening and grounded in raw reality: a simple way of life addressing the task at hand honestly and humbly. (OM 🙏)