Katie Davis is a Satsang Spiritual Teacher of Advaita, Non-duality, Self-inquiry, enlightenment, spiritual awakening, the power of being now and presence. Since 1999, she has been traveling to offer satsang in communities worldwide. The Awake by Katie Blog is moderated by Katie Davis, author of "Awake Joy: The Essence of Enlightenment." http://www.AwakebyKatie.blogspot.com
By simply stopping, truly being still ... as you are ... and through earnest Self-inquiry, it is realized that you are not the ego state of consciousness. The ego is that sense of “me” that is the mind-made self. It is the self-limiting belief that my identity is only the physical body that was born and will surely die. The ego is the idea of “me and mine” and is the sufferer.
In this mis-identification, the ego experiences separation not only from the divine, but also from all that it sees and experiences. Not realizing that the ego-body is an object appearing within consciousness, this false identity then attempts to have successful relationships with so called other separated objects. True relationship based on separation is not likely possible. Object to object relationships are generally unhappy, whether conscious of the fact or not, because they are based on the illusion of separation, lack and limitation.
The nature of ego is under constant anxiety to acquire or under regular threat ... so rejects ... in order to escape who or what it fears. In fact, desire (greed, sexual obsession and pseudo-power) and fear (all forms of lack and fear of death) are all good names for the ego state of consciousness.
Separation and its delusion of time are the sources of all psychological suffering.
The separation and suffering are not in the world. They only seem to exist, within the shadowy abyss of separation, “between” (duality) the Ultimate Reality that you genuinely are and the false idea of being a tiny fraction of the whole. As a powerless, fictitious fraction, the ego strives to complete itself through some other. This abyss is the pain gap that unconsciously operates within, until it is made conscious. That pain gap is the result of fearing the imagined or through false assumption, both without direct investigation.
The truth of the matter is that ignorance does not exist. There is mostly inattention.
When the ego is in conflict, the egoic mind assists the emotional spin. In direct observation, it may be observed that the state of the egoic mind is directly related to emotional states. In fact, emotional states are caused by the delusion of time, egoic thinking and its judgments.
Then, the whirlpool of negative thinking gains forces and so do the emotions, until finally the collective ego state of consciousness takes over. The negative, collective emotional states are completely out of proportion to the actual events that the ego is experiencing in the life situation. Collectively, anger and frustration become rage; sadness becomes misery, despair, helplessness and hopelessness; fear becomes terror.
Through self-observation and Self-inquiry, the ego may be finally transcended. That is, the false identification with the ego is realized.
There is now this sense that there is no one here to suffer and yet suffering circumstances continue within the world of form. We could consider the daytime dream of form to be a perfect mirror of the collective ego state of consciousness that still remains uninvestigated within you.
The invitation today is to continue the Self-inquiry and observation to realize the delusion of all collective pain.
We could consider all anger to be one deep wave length; call it “universal anger;” even for the delusion that it genuinely is. Deeper than this collective anger, we realize the collective pool of sadness. Deeper still, there is an ocean of fear that is the fear of all humanity as one collective fear. In the collective psyche, anger protects the sadness, which in turn protects the fear.
Are you ready and willing to investigate and to realize the deepest fears of the collective psyche?
After all, you are the pure light of consciousness.
Darkness cannot prevail in the light … just as the rising sun extinguishes the night.
The witnessing consciousness is still a reflected light of the pure light of consciousness.
Some are fooled that the witness is the Ultimate Reality, since the perfume of being-consciousness-bliss is so beautifully at the forefront. Yet there is this sense of going “around and around” between either formlessness (essence) … or … the world of form. We could call this altered state of consciousness as being “between two worlds.”
This persistent sense of duality is perpetuated by the witness itself. The resolution is earnest Self-inquiry into the witness.
When complete detachment is realized, the ego is completely dissolved. This detachment is both profound and completely radical.
Yet, within the “objective void” that may appear as darkness or nothingness, the collective pain has not yet been consciously freed, so duality persists.
It may seem that the witness is formlessness, however it is not. The witness is a subject and as such, it remains a reference point and a sutble form of the intellect.
This subject-witness and its reference point will spontaneously surrender through earnest inquiry.
As far as the world of form, we are indeed in the most precarious times. In fact, we are running out of “time.”
It could be the end of the world … or ... the end of the world as we have previously known it.
I have realized that there is no objective, separate world.
All is pure consciousness appearing as world.
Pure consciousness is sacred, deep peace and radiant love … whether with form or without.
As form, there is no guarantee that the world will make it.
Nonetheless, there is never a loss as consciousness.
You are the answering. Are you willing to put distractions aside and earnestly inquire?
Sri Ramana Maharshi:
“Your own Self-realization is the greatest service you can render the world.”
For those who are ready, it is also a good time to open up those meditation eyes, so that there is clarity, acceptance and response for family and relations on the level of form. Response is not reaction. Reaction successfully fuels the negativity of ego, as well as the collective ego state of consciousness.
For those who have been through the awakening from the ego, it has been seen that the life situation falls apart somewhat … or completely … in order to make way for the new.
In my book that was written back in 2004 and then published in 2008, I spoke about the awakening of the collective ego state of consciousness and its effect within the world of form; collective structures that no longer serve the greater, divine and natural good … fall apart in the same manner.
All that has not yet been investigated within, both “individually” and “collectively,” is currently displaying right before you.
For those who are ready to investigate and realize the true nature of the objective void of collective consciousness, I offer a quote from Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj:
"Within the immensity of space floats a tiny atom of consciousness and in it the entire universe is contained." -Talk 55 ~ Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
You are never an object. You are always that which is looking. That which is looking is what transcends the layers of consciousness: first as the person, then as the self-observer, then as the pure witness and finally the realization of the Absolute.
In “relation” to the world, I am Pure Beingness.
In “relation” to Pure Consciousness, I am Pure Awareness.
I am the Absolute that makes all possible.
Only I stand alone.
I am beyond consciousness and yet inseparable.
Consciousness is my tremendous and unlimited power and while my power is dependent on me, it is inseparable.
I am beyond all and All; beyond existence and nonexistence.
In closing, the fire of Truth is currently exposing the false so rapidly in the world of form; most definitely a quickening.
These truly are amazing times!
Within form, the awakening to the false collective structures is critical now and an important first step. Yet, as long as you think you are in the world, rather than the world appearing within you, you are of little help.
The world stage of false collective structures is a reflection of the false altered states within.
Self-realization of who you already are is essential.
You are the very light of consciousness that burns all altered states into the radiant love that you already are.
Below is a video found on YouTube. It is not the actual album "Precarious Times" by Deva Premal, but rather apparently, the same mantras offered to a Heart friend.
Deva Premal:
"I hope they inspire you and enhance your life as they have mine. As my good friend Sharon Gannon says, 'The power is in the repetition.'" With love, Deva
Mantras For Precarious Times is offered as a guide for daily meditation and includes seven mantras chosen specifically to support us in these challenging times.
Deva chants each mantra 108 times, according to classic Vedic tradition, for a mantra meditation practice, and each mantra has a special focus:
Om Gum Ganapatayei Namaha (Removing of Obstacles);
Om Shanti Om (Peace);
Om Shree Dhanvantre Namaha (Healing);
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya (Liberation);
Om Radha Krishnaya Namaha (Joy & Bliss);
Om Shreem Mahalakshmiyei Namaha (Abundance);
Om Kama Pujitayei Namaha (Sacred Love Making).
01 Om Gum Ganapatayer Namaha 8:07
02 Om Shanti Om 3:50 ( at 8:07)
03 Om Shree Dhanvantre Namaha 8:26 ( at 11:52)
04 Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya 9:23 (at 20:20)
05 Om Radha Krishnaya Namaha 8:06 (at 29:40)
06 Om Shreem Mahalakshmiyei Namaha 8:08 (at 37:48)
07 Om Kama Pujitayei Namaha 7:23 (at 45:47)
For the beautiful album, "Precarious Times," please visit:
I want to work through my fear of the void. I have gone through detachment but form wise, I can still be caught by the ego. Yet when I notice the attachment, I can just let go. I mostly experience that I am only the witness. Through the Self-inquiry that you have recommended, there then arises a vast emptiness that is nothing but darkness. Then I feel terrified. I am afraid I am going to die or something. I fear this stark darkness, resist it and avoid it by turning away. Maybe it is just the ego and it is going to psychologically die for good. It doesn't change the fact that I have this fear of death.
Otherwise, I have opened up to some new level of consciousness and sometimes have visions. I am never sure when they will come. I feel ecstatic because the visions are beautiful and suddenly, I become terrified of that. I think maybe it too is the fear of the loss of self. Again, a fear of death.
That is similar to how I feel now. There is the 'I am' which is the dissolving of being dependant on the mind, but at the same time an awful dread of living in the void and that brings up fear. My question is how to work with that fear and my attachment to it. On one hand, I am scared of dying and fear this nothingness. On the other hand, I am scared of losing self even when bliss arises.
Katie:
This is a beautiful report on the conscious recognition of the great void. Your report is filled with wisdom and I would like to simply confirm what is being recognized. Most are not yet aware of this void and yet this unknown void lurks. People give many reasons about why they feel fear; at least those who are sensitive enough to be aware of it. Yet, the root of all fear is not in the life circumstance. The root of all fear is the fear of the void.
Individually, the root points to the fear of death of the person. Collectively, it points to the fear of extinction of humanity.
The only way to know or to realize this void as it genuinely is ... is to 'walk into it' to investigate. Trying to escape only creates the runaway madness and imagination of the unawake mind.
Is the void as it seems? Is it more than a blank state of nothingness?
Who is perceiving the void? Is it not true that the void is perceived objectively? Who is the subject?
So first, I invite accepting and allowing. Resist nothing. Yes, noticing that terror is arising and allowing it to be as it is. Is the terror caused by a mental interpretation of how the void seems to be . . . dark, unknown?
All of this is spiritually ripe and shared with wisdom, courage and clarity. At this point, it is not like there is a choice ... the void is ... and it can remarkably point you deeper to conscious liberation and Self-realization. Now is the opportunity of transcending all states of consciousness.
I share with many people and some sense that they are going to physically die. You are recognizing that this is a psychological death ... of the ego.
I might add that it is also a fear of the collective psyche; the collective ego state of consciousness. No matter how it might seem, it is not a physical death or humanity's extinction. It is the 'death' of the psychologic ego state of consciousness and the 'death' of the psychological collective pain body. We will find that neither the ego state of consciousness, nor the collective egoic state of consciousnes, ever existed in the first place.
First and foremost, you can inquire, who is aware of fear or terror? Who is that? Who am I? After detachment, even as the witness only, who am I remains the essential question. There is a purer form of Self-inquiry that I share below in this article.
You have realized that you are not the ego state of consciousness. Then who is 'I'?
I understand that Self-inquiry turns attention directly 'toward' formlessness or the unmanifest and I understand that presently, a tremendous fear arises. This investigation is inescapable and unavoidable in order to live fearlessly.
What I am sharing is that fear and all of it variations such as sadness and anger or rage are delusions. Yet, this must be directly realized. The further inquiry is also essential for enlightenment. Then, the full integration of Self-realization gradually happens by itself. Being free of all suffering is a true possibility.
What is fear? Has the depth of fear been investigated ... both 'individually' and 'collectively'?
Right now, fear is your most valued teacher. Can you allow a great curiosity to arise to realize the true nature of fear and all darkness? Does fear have an end? What is deeper?
Can you allow fear to consume 'you' ... and consume the witness? Not 'someone' who is scared and not a witness of fear. That is duality and separation. Is it possible to be fear itself? How does the 'wave length' of fear feel? Can it be allowed to even deepen more to terror? Being terror ... the 'wave' length' of being terror? Is there anything deeper? Collectively, this void seems massive and infinitely deep. Is this really true?
There is no such thing as control. The residue of the intellect can consume us and may scare us. In those times, when the ego is really caught by the fear, can you simply be aware of the fear and allow it to be? After all, it is. Watch the mind as it attempts to add spin, which perpetuates it. This observing allows an understanding of ego's structure and how it perpetuates. By the way, there is no need to resist the egoic mind or "do" anything; simple watching is enough to transmute it.
The love that the pure witness is will transmute the fear into the radiant love that you truly are. The transforming power is in the observing.
Nonetheless, suppose that the fear is all too overwhelming and perhaps being present ... and welcoming the fear ... is simply not an option. At these times, courageously 'move into it' as I shared above. Take the light of the consciousness that you are into every dark corner. Just as darkness cannot survive the light of day, darkness cannot survive in the light of consciousness.
Will it drive you mad? Well, are you mad right now? Are you willing to investigate the deepest fears of the collective psychic state of consciousness ... the collective illusion? How else can you know the truth directly?
I cannot tell you a concept or philosophy that says ... losing the mind-created self is no diminishment. This must be looked upon directly within you. What are you seeing? You share and I can only confirm that what you are seeing is still the relative truth ... go deeper.
Is awareness afraid of visions or is it simply aware? Who is perceiving?
Some fixate on the fear (attachment) ... some fixate and get distracted by the meaning of a mystical vision. Others fixate on the power of mystical visions. All of these are distractions and ego calling you back to its time. Is it not true that mystical visions and psychic powers ... no matter how beautiful or fantastic ... they come and they go? They are impermanent. Whereas, you are here before, during and after. Who is that?
When the ego is losing its grip and certainly after detachment, ecstatic visions may appear. Unsuccessful at negative attraction, the conditioned mind starts creating extraordinary phenomena. In this manner, the so called mind can be quite successful at luring us back to the fear; fear of the fact ... that by some notion alone, we suddenly sense that we are still separate from the still Heart.
The egoic mind either individually or collectively can never 'know' the still Heart. You are the Heart. Sooner or later, the mind gives up, "This is beyond 'me,' I give up!"
It is ironic that in this unconditional surrender of the mind/ego/body/collective consciousness ... that joy rushes in.
One more word on visions. They may in fact have a relative meaning at the moment when they appear, perhaps. Listen carefully to the mind, while you are experiencing them rather than attending the vision. Listen. Whatever the mind is saying is part of the deeper psychic matters that will be revealed when you are present with what is being said. At that instant, it is clear. The subconscious psychic matters are seen or we could say they are known and therefore are spontaneously surrendered. By subconscious psychic matters, I am pointing to the fear of death or whatever has been previously and subconsciously hidden.
After the vision dissipates, it has no meaning whatsoever. People can spend years in the study of the meaning of some vision, what it means or where it is going is endless mental analyses that in the end, leads nowhere.
Listen, it is the vision that is coming and going... it is in movement ... it is impermanent.
Who is aware of it? THAT is never coming and going. It is the stillness that you are. In the end, mystical visions are essentially meaningless.
The appearance of the void leads to formlessness and the mind may be scared, since it is not known. Are you willing to make it known? Walk into it and see if it is as it seems. Can you measure it? How deep is it? This is the collective consciousness and it can lead to an unwavering true compassion and indestructible unconditional love. I repeat: curiously investigated.
What is the true nature of the void? Is there is a Heart to darkness? Is there a Heart to fear? When you walk into the void, listen. If you sense "hopelessness," become hopelessness and then ask, is there anything deeper? If despair comes up, become despair, and then ask, is there anything deeper?
There is a diamond there!
You mentioned that sometimes there is still attachment to the ego state of consciousness. As we have spoken before in our appointments, the "who am I?" question is still most appropriate. Yet, there are levels to Self-inquiry. Since detachment has now been realized, I would like to suggest the purest form of Self-inquiry.
As the witness only, I would like to suggest simply being "I." That is, resting as that feeling sense of "I" alone; Pure I.
Pure I is not the egoic-i which is only a thought form. What does the thought form represent? Attachment to the ego-I requires 'identification with' an object. You have realized that this is a mis-identification. Attachment requires an object to which consciousness identifies.
Whereas, Pure I is the Absolute. Only Pure I stands alone. Pure I is Pure I now. It is Pure Identity free of all objective experience. Only realizing the Absolute is enlightenment ... realizing That which stands alone.
Gradually, this then integrates as the Totality as Pure Beingness; a fully integrated pure awareness. This alone is Self-realization.
In closing, when deep fear arises, it is a chance to be gentle, kind, loving and understanding ... self-compassion.
Sundance Burke, Author, "Free Spirit and Scott Kiloby, Author, "Love's Quiet Revolution" are interviewed by Richard Miller on Chicago's Never Not Here Show in November 2011.
Who are you really at the core of being beyond thought, emotion and form? Who or what is here now and is ever present? In this compelling inquiry and radical realization, how is the life situation transformed?
Satsang begins in meditation, followed by pointers by Katie Davis and Sundance Burke and finally questions, sharing and music.
Please arrive 15 minutes early, enter in silence to begin silent sitting. Doors open at 7:15 pm. Latecomers after 7:30 will be seated whenever the meditation is completed.
Weekends with Katie Davis and Sundance Burke offer a rare opportunity to retreat from our work, our families, our friends, our concepts and judgments, our personal sense of self with its history and anxious future to allow the mind to open to the most profound truth of who we really are here and now. Over the period of two days, we will commit to the deepest inquiry supported by the potent environment of satsang.
Each day offers two sessions. Each session begins in meditation, followed by pointers from Katie Davis and Sundance Burke that are spontaneously interspersed with the radiant stillness that is constantly available. Each session will also include questions, sharing and some music.
Donation at the door or register for the Weekend Satsang Pass (Includes Friday-Sunday)
In order to encourage the entire Silver Spring Satsang and OneCircle community to commit to the entire weekend of satsang and inquiry (highly recommended), we are offering a Weekend Satsang Pass that is affordable for everyone.
Includes Friday Satsang, June 8, Saturday-Sunday, June 9-10 and a discount for a Private Satsang Appointment on Monday, June 11, if you choose to schedule one.
