In Self-realization, we realize that we ARE the Now that we also refer to as Self, Pure I, Pure Awareness, Heart, Essence or Absolute Truth; among others.
This is not to be confused with the power of Now that is the appearance of the universe that we call experience. The power includes the forces of nature, the content of the present moment, our bodies, thoughts, emotions, energies, physical sensations such as shakti or others. No matter what form Pure I may take, it never loses the consciousness that is its essential nature.
Even if you perceive a certain power or vision as “other worldly,” since it is experienced, it is none other than the power of Self. The power of Now cannot be separated from the Now any more than “my” power could be separated from “me.” ”My” power is totally dependent on “me.” Without “me,” ”my” power would not be.
The Now is beyond experience and its power is the mind-body that is experience. The mind-body and its experience cannot stand alone. It is totally dependent on the Now, whereas the Now stands free of experience and the appearance of the world. For experience, the mind-body is required and that is also dependent upon the power of Now. The mind is an extraordinary power, but not the Now. “My” body is included within that power. I experience “my body” and therefore it is dependent and cannot stand alone. Everything within the field of experience is the power of Now and inseparable from the Now that I am.
This is not to say that the human being aspect of us should not be embraced. It just is not who we truly are. We ARE the Now within which the body is appearing. When we say “I” that word is pointing to the Now that is Essence. The problematic situation that causes the veil to drop is the misidentification with the body. The mind-body is the power. You are the Now.
For the Self-realized, people, things and circumstances do not appear to be separate and they are appearing from “within.” Although the mental constructs of “inside” and “outside” have been eliminated, the forever Now stands alone and beyond the world and its present moment, although not separate. The Forever Now is eternally permanent, while the impermanent forces of nature are in movement. I am the screen upon which they are appearing and also the consciousness or power that is appearing as form. I am the Totality.
With Self-realization, suffering has been realized as a delusion and therefore has been spontaneously surrendered. The pain gap between the dreaming "I" and the Heart has been extinguished.
When the subject-witness is eliminated, the void of collective suffering is also realized as a delusion and is therefore eliminated. Pure I is free of time, space and therefore separation and its suffering.
I am pure consciousness- being-bliss that is beyond the "I am" that is the foundation of all experience. Now is free of the body idea and the mind’s ever changing phenomena. The body is still sensing and functioning as it does, but it is no longer one's identity. I just can no longer separate the Now that I am from my power; the world.
Pure I is free of the doer of action. This does not mean that the body is not productive. Rather, the belief that there is a doer has been realized as false. I am Pure I during all that is being done. All that is appearing is my power and therefore is the Heart that I am. There just is no doer that is performing the action. One could say that there is pure activity that is intelligent and creative without any identification with the action or its fruits. I am free of imagining that "I am the doer" of anything. It is a false idea to consider the Heart as the doer. There simply is no doer.
Contrarily, the mind-made self that is the ego is time bound and experiences itself as the divided mind. Although an illusion, it experiences bondage. For the ego, it believes that it IS its thoughts and that it is the thinker. Lost in time, it is not conscious of the freedom that is always present.
Since it believes itself to be separate, it experiences only separation. As an illusory subject, it perceives separate objects such as other people, circumstances and things.
Because the ego believes it is separate, a personal reference point that is misidentified as the body, it also imagines that it is separate from the divine. For those who are drawn to enlightenment and curious about the Truth or longing for God, the ego begins an endless search for what is already within. It is an endless search, because the ego cannot realize the Truth. A temporary falsehood cannot meet the permanent Truth. It is itself the veil preventing Self-realization.
Through Self-inquiry and asking this question, "Who am I?" and noticing where the “I” thought arises from, the “dreaming I” is realized to be non-existent. The veil of illusion is removed and only the Self-illuminating Heart, the living Truth, remains.
While we are being Now, the conceptual “I” cannot take flight. That concept requires the mind and its time in order to separate and function. We are purely Now and its present power.
Suffering for the ego is always caused by other people and life circumstance. It therefore attempts to control and manipulate life circumstances in order to make itself relatively happy and avoid its pain. Even in this pseudo power, it is remains helpless as it is tossed about by others and life situations. It is constantly under the push and pull of its emotional state. As the ego, I AM my emotions and always under threat by some other.
Suffering for the self-observer is the body's reaction to what it believes to be its own thoughts. It eventually takes responsibility for its own emotional environment, when it realizes that it is suffering due to its own judgmental thinking. It begins experiencing emotional balance by becoming consciously present to its thoughts and emotions. By observing the thoughts and emotions, it is not as likely to be used by them.
After complete detachment from form, the witnessing consciousness emerges and being-consciousness-bliss comes to the forefront. Nonetheless, all that remains unconscious within the void of the collective continues to emerge as an overlay on the bedrock that is Truth; yet its perfume is plainly evident. This is not enlightenment, but some mistaken it as such.
The subject-witness is a study of formlessness and the witness frees ever more subtle layers of the intellect. Those are two reference points: (1) a formless witness, who objectively is witnessing (2) formlessness (awareness aware of itself). There are not two. Nonetheless, what lies unconscious within the collective surfaces and the collective pain body is freed. It transmutes into the pure consciousness that it genuinely is.
Because the ego state of consciousness is misidentified with the physical body and its limitations, it believes that it is the doer of action and is therefore responsible for the fruits of those actions. The ego believes that it is making individual, mental decisions independently and these decisions will always be based on past experience. Its divided and conditioned intelligence thereby experiences the consequences.
Pure I is beyond this law of cause and effect and thereby free of causality. The Heart is pure intelligence and potentiality that is divinely abundant, all powerful, unconditional love and perfect peace.
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Sunday, November 23, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Is the World Real? ~ Katie Davis, Awake Joy
What is the true nature of the world? Is the world real? Yes, no, relatively so, yes ... depending on who is asking. As I said in my new book, Awake Joy, the perceptions change according to where you are looking from (your reference point). Once all reference points are surrendered, there is only the Self and you are That.
Nothing can truly be known conceptually. Concepts are ideas. I can share what has been directly realized, but until someone directly investigates it, it remains a concept. Once one realizes who THEY are, they then directly realize what the world is beyond all ideas and doubt. So, first things first. Continue the investigation until it is directly realized as true or false rather than accepting it by concept.
Further, there is nothing that can be truly known objectively. We can have ideas about other things and describe their attributes, but we have no idea of how it would be to BE those things. Also, the Self is not a thing, so it cannot ever be found. Since it is who you are, it can be realized. We can only BE the Self that you are right now.
As the ego, we believe we are separate and therefore can only perceive separation, so we see a separate world. Then, we begin waking up and realize that we are not the mind-body; suddenly the world is unreal. This is good, since it points us deeper into formlessness and its deeper inquiry to realize that we have always been Self-realized. We realize the false, it is eliminated, and what remains is who we have always been ... true Self.
Upon Self-realization, the world as consciousness is my inherent power. It is not that the Self creates the world, dreams the world or thinks the world. That would slip us back into separation ... Self and world (world includes here the mind-body). There is only the Self and its Self-illuminating power.
The Self-realized one sees no "inside" or "outside." That is another mental construct that will be eliminated. Instead, I am the Totality. I am Pure Awareness and my power ("my body") is the appearance of the universe. Form is Essence and Essence is form. There is only the Essence that is the Totality.
Within that Totality, Katie, mind-body and world are appearing. Self appearing as Katie. Self appearing as body. Self appearing as world. This is why we say that it is all dependent on the Self. The Self can only be Self.
For clarity, virtually every night, you fall asleep and the body and world disappear. Beyond deep sleep is the Self and we "go back Home" every night (without ever having truly left Home!) When we regain body consciousness in the morning, suddenly the world appears. Without the mind and body, there is no world. The world is dependent on the body and mind, which is dependent on consciousness which is dependent upon Self. All of that is only the Self appearing as ...
So, we now we have to say that the world is relatively true and not absolutely true, since it does not stand by itself, whereas the Self, eternal, omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent CAN stand by itself, whether the body mind (world) appears or not.
A paradox? Yes, it is all the Self that I am and my inherent power. My power cannot exist without me and my power IS me ... therefore the world (my power) is as real as I am.
For enlightenment, we surrender all that can be surrendered until only the Self remains; Pure Awareness. For Self-realization, we consciously realize the Totality.
Really the mind will never be able to really get its head around it.
I welcome your comments and questions below by clicking the comment button.
Read Awake Joy book reviews in the Awake Joy Guest Book on Katie's website or purchase her book at:
Katie's Books
Katie Davis Website: www.katiedavis.org
Nothing can truly be known conceptually. Concepts are ideas. I can share what has been directly realized, but until someone directly investigates it, it remains a concept. Once one realizes who THEY are, they then directly realize what the world is beyond all ideas and doubt. So, first things first. Continue the investigation until it is directly realized as true or false rather than accepting it by concept.
Further, there is nothing that can be truly known objectively. We can have ideas about other things and describe their attributes, but we have no idea of how it would be to BE those things. Also, the Self is not a thing, so it cannot ever be found. Since it is who you are, it can be realized. We can only BE the Self that you are right now.
As the ego, we believe we are separate and therefore can only perceive separation, so we see a separate world. Then, we begin waking up and realize that we are not the mind-body; suddenly the world is unreal. This is good, since it points us deeper into formlessness and its deeper inquiry to realize that we have always been Self-realized. We realize the false, it is eliminated, and what remains is who we have always been ... true Self.
Upon Self-realization, the world as consciousness is my inherent power. It is not that the Self creates the world, dreams the world or thinks the world. That would slip us back into separation ... Self and world (world includes here the mind-body). There is only the Self and its Self-illuminating power.
The Self-realized one sees no "inside" or "outside." That is another mental construct that will be eliminated. Instead, I am the Totality. I am Pure Awareness and my power ("my body") is the appearance of the universe. Form is Essence and Essence is form. There is only the Essence that is the Totality.
Within that Totality, Katie, mind-body and world are appearing. Self appearing as Katie. Self appearing as body. Self appearing as world. This is why we say that it is all dependent on the Self. The Self can only be Self.
For clarity, virtually every night, you fall asleep and the body and world disappear. Beyond deep sleep is the Self and we "go back Home" every night (without ever having truly left Home!) When we regain body consciousness in the morning, suddenly the world appears. Without the mind and body, there is no world. The world is dependent on the body and mind, which is dependent on consciousness which is dependent upon Self. All of that is only the Self appearing as ...
So, we now we have to say that the world is relatively true and not absolutely true, since it does not stand by itself, whereas the Self, eternal, omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent CAN stand by itself, whether the body mind (world) appears or not.
A paradox? Yes, it is all the Self that I am and my inherent power. My power cannot exist without me and my power IS me ... therefore the world (my power) is as real as I am.
For enlightenment, we surrender all that can be surrendered until only the Self remains; Pure Awareness. For Self-realization, we consciously realize the Totality.
Really the mind will never be able to really get its head around it.
I welcome your comments and questions below by clicking the comment button.
Read Awake Joy book reviews in the Awake Joy Guest Book on Katie's website or purchase her book at:
Katie's Books
Katie Davis Website: www.katiedavis.org
Thursday, November 20, 2008
You Are the Goal of Self-realization ~ Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy
You are the peace and bliss that you are seeking. You are the Self that you have been searching for. You cannot deny that you exist. Is this not so? Are you being right now? That existence is pure consciousness.
The notion of a goal is a false idea. A goal indicates that there is something to become such as some new attainment. It is only the ego that is in constant search. However, when we seek the dreaming "I" (ego), it is nowhere to be found. Surrender the ego and there is only pure consciousness.
The ego and evermore subtle layers of the intellect are like armor that only appear to obscure that which forever shines; much like clouds that block the sun. Even when ignorance seems to be appearing in the life situation as unhappiness or discontentment, there is something that is AWARE of it. You are that pure awareness. You are already THIS right now and at home as Pure Being.
The entire seeking process is a postponement strategy of ego. The mind-made self will always require more time and experience, since it cannot function without time. Remove the dreaming "I" and you will realize the perfect peace that is beyond understanding. The false perceptions of time and space are only due to the divided mind. That division and separation are also false notions. It will be seen that nothing has ever been anything other than pure consciousness.
The Self will never be realized in an objective manner. For example, if you have lost your eyeglasses, you may search for this object all over your home. That is an objective search. Since you ARE the bliss of Self, it is impossible to discover it as something separate from you. We can only BE the Self. You are being that now. Remove the false notion that you are not Self-realized and you will realize that which is already realized within you. What you realize is the mistake; the mistakened identity.
The appearance of unconsciousness will continue to rise for awhile. You do not need to become involved with it or change anything. Being aware of it, you look directly and recognize it as false as it burns into consciousness.
In the end, it is seen that ignorance never existed, but the delusion must be directly noticed. Ignorance appears to come and go, while you remain the permanent awareness. Pure being IS ... whether with form or without form. Pure Awareness and its being-consciousness-bliss are eternal which means it must be here now.
Katie Davis is author of Awake Joy: The Essence of Enlightenment:.
Awake Joy is a unique and comprehensive guide to awakening to the new state of consciousness that is currently emerging on this planet. It points to the discovery of the radiant joy that is beyond the thinking mind, the separate sense of self, its idea of separation and identification with form.
Awake Joy is meant to be your companion throughout your life’s journey to true and lasting fulfillment. It will be a trusted resource again and again throughout the years. This A-Z handbook stands free of concepts, philosophy and eastern jargon to point clearly and pragmatically for those who are ready to surrender suffering for themselves, their relationships, their families, the schools, the workplace, the world’s religions and the world.
"A powerhouse of a book! Katie Davis has captured the uncapturable: a clear view of enlightenment ... in plain English. Bravo!"
~ Chris McCombs, Author, Delicious Silence, Beloved, Lover's Road
To read more reviews or purchase Awake Joy click:
Awake Joy
Katie Davis Website: www.katiedavis.org
The notion of a goal is a false idea. A goal indicates that there is something to become such as some new attainment. It is only the ego that is in constant search. However, when we seek the dreaming "I" (ego), it is nowhere to be found. Surrender the ego and there is only pure consciousness.
The ego and evermore subtle layers of the intellect are like armor that only appear to obscure that which forever shines; much like clouds that block the sun. Even when ignorance seems to be appearing in the life situation as unhappiness or discontentment, there is something that is AWARE of it. You are that pure awareness. You are already THIS right now and at home as Pure Being.
The entire seeking process is a postponement strategy of ego. The mind-made self will always require more time and experience, since it cannot function without time. Remove the dreaming "I" and you will realize the perfect peace that is beyond understanding. The false perceptions of time and space are only due to the divided mind. That division and separation are also false notions. It will be seen that nothing has ever been anything other than pure consciousness.
The Self will never be realized in an objective manner. For example, if you have lost your eyeglasses, you may search for this object all over your home. That is an objective search. Since you ARE the bliss of Self, it is impossible to discover it as something separate from you. We can only BE the Self. You are being that now. Remove the false notion that you are not Self-realized and you will realize that which is already realized within you. What you realize is the mistake; the mistakened identity.
The appearance of unconsciousness will continue to rise for awhile. You do not need to become involved with it or change anything. Being aware of it, you look directly and recognize it as false as it burns into consciousness.
In the end, it is seen that ignorance never existed, but the delusion must be directly noticed. Ignorance appears to come and go, while you remain the permanent awareness. Pure being IS ... whether with form or without form. Pure Awareness and its being-consciousness-bliss are eternal which means it must be here now.
Katie Davis is author of Awake Joy: The Essence of Enlightenment:.
Awake Joy is a unique and comprehensive guide to awakening to the new state of consciousness that is currently emerging on this planet. It points to the discovery of the radiant joy that is beyond the thinking mind, the separate sense of self, its idea of separation and identification with form.
Awake Joy is meant to be your companion throughout your life’s journey to true and lasting fulfillment. It will be a trusted resource again and again throughout the years. This A-Z handbook stands free of concepts, philosophy and eastern jargon to point clearly and pragmatically for those who are ready to surrender suffering for themselves, their relationships, their families, the schools, the workplace, the world’s religions and the world.
"A powerhouse of a book! Katie Davis has captured the uncapturable: a clear view of enlightenment ... in plain English. Bravo!"
~ Chris McCombs, Author, Delicious Silence, Beloved, Lover's Road
To read more reviews or purchase Awake Joy click:
Awake Joy
Katie Davis Website: www.katiedavis.org
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Time = Ego = Stress ~ Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy
The next time that you are feeling stressful, please notice that you are looking with the eyes of the ego and its required time. The ego will always resist timelessness, since it requires time in order to function.
Within time, the ego will always be resisting what already is or wanting something more in the future. In either case, it experiences stress and anxiety.
No matter how many things the ego resists (fears) or how many desires it attains, it will continue to feel stressful. It has an endless list and it will always want more. Its intention is to complete itself at some future time. Likewise, no matter how many threats it escapes, once again, it is sure that there are more to come.
The mind-made self is lacking because, through notion alone, it has pretended to separate and made itself an object unto itself (there are not two - Pure I and "me") and therefore can never experience wholeness. It can acquire more and more things or befriend more and more people or even marry the perfect mate and it still has not changed the fact that it thinks its a fraction.
That sense of lack will remain as the ego wanders through life and searches for completion and meaning. It just makes sense that it can never realize wholeness as a fraction. In the end, a fraction will always remain only be a fraction.
The ego is threatened that something or someone will be taken away. Whether conscious or not, it is on guard, defensive and under a constant sense of threat. Although it thinks that its strategy is hidden, right there in plain sight is control and manipulation.
It perceives everyone as separate from itself and that concept is based on its own false idea of separation from Source. In fact to the ego, you are not even important as long as you are not threatening or as long as there isn't something that it can get through you.
The only option is to surrender the ego. In this great release, we profoundly realize that you are already whole. We then live fearlessly, free of wanting, since we are already complete.
The key to stress is ego freedom. Consciously, take a deep breath and notice that you return to the awareness of the present moment. As the Now, you are complete, whole, free of time and its conceptual goal.
I do not mean that there will never be times when you are moving more quickly to catch an airplane after waiting through rush hour or some other life circumstance. I simply mean that when you rest as conscious awareness instead of the ego, you are stress free. In the past, we may have blamed stress on time. Now, we realize that stress is inherent in the ego. Further, the ego can only operate in time.
What a relief! Time = Ego = Stress and all are delusions in the Light of Now.
For reviews of Katie's new book, Awake Joy: The Essence of Enlightenment, please click:
REVIEWS
Within time, the ego will always be resisting what already is or wanting something more in the future. In either case, it experiences stress and anxiety.
No matter how many things the ego resists (fears) or how many desires it attains, it will continue to feel stressful. It has an endless list and it will always want more. Its intention is to complete itself at some future time. Likewise, no matter how many threats it escapes, once again, it is sure that there are more to come.
The mind-made self is lacking because, through notion alone, it has pretended to separate and made itself an object unto itself (there are not two - Pure I and "me") and therefore can never experience wholeness. It can acquire more and more things or befriend more and more people or even marry the perfect mate and it still has not changed the fact that it thinks its a fraction.
That sense of lack will remain as the ego wanders through life and searches for completion and meaning. It just makes sense that it can never realize wholeness as a fraction. In the end, a fraction will always remain only be a fraction.
The ego is threatened that something or someone will be taken away. Whether conscious or not, it is on guard, defensive and under a constant sense of threat. Although it thinks that its strategy is hidden, right there in plain sight is control and manipulation.
It perceives everyone as separate from itself and that concept is based on its own false idea of separation from Source. In fact to the ego, you are not even important as long as you are not threatening or as long as there isn't something that it can get through you.
The only option is to surrender the ego. In this great release, we profoundly realize that you are already whole. We then live fearlessly, free of wanting, since we are already complete.
The key to stress is ego freedom. Consciously, take a deep breath and notice that you return to the awareness of the present moment. As the Now, you are complete, whole, free of time and its conceptual goal.
I do not mean that there will never be times when you are moving more quickly to catch an airplane after waiting through rush hour or some other life circumstance. I simply mean that when you rest as conscious awareness instead of the ego, you are stress free. In the past, we may have blamed stress on time. Now, we realize that stress is inherent in the ego. Further, the ego can only operate in time.
What a relief! Time = Ego = Stress and all are delusions in the Light of Now.
For reviews of Katie's new book, Awake Joy: The Essence of Enlightenment, please click:
REVIEWS
Monday, November 17, 2008
Only the Self is Big LOVE ~ Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy
The unconditional love that you are is beyond relative love. The dreaming "I" that we used to believe was limited to the body is just incapable of genuine love and this will always be so.
Dreaming "I" (ego) is a mental idea; only a word that is expressed in time. When you mis-identify with the word as your identity, you are making an object out of yourself. The true Self and dreaming "I." There simply are not two. Write the word "I" down on a piece of paper. Then look at it. Are you that word? Or is there something deeper here?
For a moment, just say the word "I." Yes, right now. Are you aware of the thought? How deep can a mere thought be? You are not the "I" that you are presently equating to your body. You are the Awareness of the word "I." You are the Awareness of the body. That Awareness is not personal.
We are not referring here to eyesight. It is just beyond eyesight. Are you aware of the eye? Are you aware of seeing? For enlightenment, the only essential question is WHO is aware? If it is not "me" then who is aware?
Close you eyes for a moment. Are you still aware?
The dreaming "I" that is the body exists only within the mental realm and its time. Since it is in time, it is then subject to duality; the law of the opposites. This means that when you experience relative love, it can only remain "in love" for a certain duration.
Time is always in movement. Relative love is unstable and will inevitably cycle to hate. Hate is equally unstable. Because it is traveling in time, it will inevitably cycle back to relative love.
There is a continuum between relative love/hate. The less we hate, the more we feel loving. The less loving we feel, the more likely feelings of hate will arise. Love/hate are polar opposites that require on another. The cycling requires time.
As the ego, we then thank people, because we feel loving and then blame them whenever we feel hate. Not so intelligent in either case. It is "your" responsibility. Where are you looking from? The Heart or "I?"
We have all been in relationships and everything is going along just fine and suddenly the pain body rears its heads within either one person or the other. Generally, the other ego will take that bait; rear its pain body also to defend itself. Instead of a loving relationship, we now have a fighting, hateful and cruel relationship.
If you watch it in action, the ego actually becomes hatred. Observe the face of your partner. Isn't true that they look like hate? Sometime, while you are fighting, look at your own face in a mirror. You will surely notice that hate has taken over the body.
Please listen. The ego is incapable of being free of the love/hate cycling. So we do not need to try to perfect the dreaming "I" so that it is unconditionally loving. We do not need to make a false self a better false self. We do not need to feel guilty about the cycling. It is a given as long as you are mis-identified with the mental word "I" and its time.
The only resolution is timelessness. Free of time, we are free of cycling. Timelessness is being AWARE of the present moment and also realizing that you are the Pure Awareness. That Pure Awareness is timeless and eternal. It is the formless NOW within which your body and world of form are appearing. You are the formless NOW and not the body appearance.
The nature of the true Self is unconditional love. You ARE that unconditional love. It is not something that the ego can attain. The dreaming "I" is a word, remember? Is a word capable of unconditional love?
You already are this unconditional love. It is ever present just beneath (or we could say beyond) the dreaming "I," its time, its concepts and all of its problematic, compulsive and psychological thinking.
Unconditional love is formless and "arises" within the body from the divine dimension within you. Rather, it IS you.
When we realize Pure Awareness (Self-realization), we also realize that we are the unconditional love that never, ever wavers. That realization is then also the transformation of the world. How different would "your" life be and how different would the world be, if humanity was living as unconditional love?
Only the Self is LOVE. It is everywhere "you" are. Are you noticing this?
In attention to being, you stand free of time. In attendance, being (or we could say presence) will seem to grow stronger. This is not ultimately true. Beingness is already all powerful and omnipotent. It is just that while we are consciously being, the mind is still and thinking no longer obscures the Pure Beingness.
Just try it for one day and see. Can you consciously BE during all that is being done? This is beautiful movement meditation. You will notice how vibrantly alive you feel or eventually conscious being is just normal and effortlessly so.
In relationship with your mate, it takes "two" to fight. Do not try to change them. Just remain true to who you are. We then can offer true compassion. It is simple to see that they have only been taken over by time. Does it make sense to fight time when time is a delusion. Instead, we are asked to remain open and free, while the pain body loses its pseudo power.
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Dreaming "I" (ego) is a mental idea; only a word that is expressed in time. When you mis-identify with the word as your identity, you are making an object out of yourself. The true Self and dreaming "I." There simply are not two. Write the word "I" down on a piece of paper. Then look at it. Are you that word? Or is there something deeper here?
For a moment, just say the word "I." Yes, right now. Are you aware of the thought? How deep can a mere thought be? You are not the "I" that you are presently equating to your body. You are the Awareness of the word "I." You are the Awareness of the body. That Awareness is not personal.
We are not referring here to eyesight. It is just beyond eyesight. Are you aware of the eye? Are you aware of seeing? For enlightenment, the only essential question is WHO is aware? If it is not "me" then who is aware?
Close you eyes for a moment. Are you still aware?
The dreaming "I" that is the body exists only within the mental realm and its time. Since it is in time, it is then subject to duality; the law of the opposites. This means that when you experience relative love, it can only remain "in love" for a certain duration.
Time is always in movement. Relative love is unstable and will inevitably cycle to hate. Hate is equally unstable. Because it is traveling in time, it will inevitably cycle back to relative love.
There is a continuum between relative love/hate. The less we hate, the more we feel loving. The less loving we feel, the more likely feelings of hate will arise. Love/hate are polar opposites that require on another. The cycling requires time.
As the ego, we then thank people, because we feel loving and then blame them whenever we feel hate. Not so intelligent in either case. It is "your" responsibility. Where are you looking from? The Heart or "I?"
We have all been in relationships and everything is going along just fine and suddenly the pain body rears its heads within either one person or the other. Generally, the other ego will take that bait; rear its pain body also to defend itself. Instead of a loving relationship, we now have a fighting, hateful and cruel relationship.
If you watch it in action, the ego actually becomes hatred. Observe the face of your partner. Isn't true that they look like hate? Sometime, while you are fighting, look at your own face in a mirror. You will surely notice that hate has taken over the body.
Please listen. The ego is incapable of being free of the love/hate cycling. So we do not need to try to perfect the dreaming "I" so that it is unconditionally loving. We do not need to make a false self a better false self. We do not need to feel guilty about the cycling. It is a given as long as you are mis-identified with the mental word "I" and its time.
The only resolution is timelessness. Free of time, we are free of cycling. Timelessness is being AWARE of the present moment and also realizing that you are the Pure Awareness. That Pure Awareness is timeless and eternal. It is the formless NOW within which your body and world of form are appearing. You are the formless NOW and not the body appearance.
The nature of the true Self is unconditional love. You ARE that unconditional love. It is not something that the ego can attain. The dreaming "I" is a word, remember? Is a word capable of unconditional love?
You already are this unconditional love. It is ever present just beneath (or we could say beyond) the dreaming "I," its time, its concepts and all of its problematic, compulsive and psychological thinking.
Unconditional love is formless and "arises" within the body from the divine dimension within you. Rather, it IS you.
When we realize Pure Awareness (Self-realization), we also realize that we are the unconditional love that never, ever wavers. That realization is then also the transformation of the world. How different would "your" life be and how different would the world be, if humanity was living as unconditional love?
Only the Self is LOVE. It is everywhere "you" are. Are you noticing this?
In attention to being, you stand free of time. In attendance, being (or we could say presence) will seem to grow stronger. This is not ultimately true. Beingness is already all powerful and omnipotent. It is just that while we are consciously being, the mind is still and thinking no longer obscures the Pure Beingness.
Just try it for one day and see. Can you consciously BE during all that is being done? This is beautiful movement meditation. You will notice how vibrantly alive you feel or eventually conscious being is just normal and effortlessly so.
In relationship with your mate, it takes "two" to fight. Do not try to change them. Just remain true to who you are. We then can offer true compassion. It is simple to see that they have only been taken over by time. Does it make sense to fight time when time is a delusion. Instead, we are asked to remain open and free, while the pain body loses its pseudo power.
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Saturday, November 15, 2008
Self-realization ~ Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy
Please stop for just one moment to listen. You are awake. Are you receiving this? There is only wakefulness. Even if you are still misidentified with the mind-made self that we name ego, consider whether it could be possible for someone to be separate from that which we refer to as Totality. Totality is just that. It is total.
If we could surrender the false idea that there is a separated somebody (body-mind), you will consciously realize that you are already this wakefulness that is bliss and joy. So in a way, the notion of Self-realization is somewhat a false idea just as all notions and concepts are. Who is there to Self-realize? Can you intuitively sense this?
When we say, "I want to realize the Self," can you see that you are holding the belief that there are two? The first is the ego (or perhaps at a deeper level the subject-witness). The second is the one who is Self-realized. In this, you are believing that the Self-realized needs to realize the one who is Self-realized.
It is impossible to deny that you ARE. Rest in this sense of "I am." Isn't it true? Can you sense and feel it? Do you exist right now or do you not exist?
The question is who is that who is constantly and eternally being/existing? There is nothing personal in this sense "I am." That is the pure Beingness of the sacred that is consciously arising within you. There is not a personal being and an impersonal being. There is only Pure Beingness and you are that. Is not the felt-sense of being blissful? If you will call off the search, stop the seeking, you will realize that you ARE the joy that you are seeking in every other.
Is "being" in the world? Can you show it to me such as you could show be any worldly thing?
Bliss and joy is simply being and it cannot be found in the world of form.
Pure Beingness is the bliss of the formlessness within. This formlessness already IS. It IS.
Are you willing to stop just for an instant to consciously realize that it already IS? That Pure Beingness is also Pure Consciousness. That is the Self and absolutely inseparable from you. There are not two ...
Can you see the folly of holding on to the idea that it will take 20-25 years of faithful meditation to Self-realize. This can only be a postponement. The idea that it will take more time and experience to realize what is now is a false notion. How do you realize that which is beyond experience through more experiencing?
How could it take 25 years to realize a mistake? Time is only of the mind. Is there time in being? Or are you being now?
All Love ... ~ Katie Davis
To enjoy the first two chapters of Katie's book, Awake Joy: The Essence of Enlightenment, please click: "Look Inside"
If we could surrender the false idea that there is a separated somebody (body-mind), you will consciously realize that you are already this wakefulness that is bliss and joy. So in a way, the notion of Self-realization is somewhat a false idea just as all notions and concepts are. Who is there to Self-realize? Can you intuitively sense this?
When we say, "I want to realize the Self," can you see that you are holding the belief that there are two? The first is the ego (or perhaps at a deeper level the subject-witness). The second is the one who is Self-realized. In this, you are believing that the Self-realized needs to realize the one who is Self-realized.
It is impossible to deny that you ARE. Rest in this sense of "I am." Isn't it true? Can you sense and feel it? Do you exist right now or do you not exist?
The question is who is that who is constantly and eternally being/existing? There is nothing personal in this sense "I am." That is the pure Beingness of the sacred that is consciously arising within you. There is not a personal being and an impersonal being. There is only Pure Beingness and you are that. Is not the felt-sense of being blissful? If you will call off the search, stop the seeking, you will realize that you ARE the joy that you are seeking in every other.
Is "being" in the world? Can you show it to me such as you could show be any worldly thing?
Bliss and joy is simply being and it cannot be found in the world of form.
Pure Beingness is the bliss of the formlessness within. This formlessness already IS. It IS.
Are you willing to stop just for an instant to consciously realize that it already IS? That Pure Beingness is also Pure Consciousness. That is the Self and absolutely inseparable from you. There are not two ...
Can you see the folly of holding on to the idea that it will take 20-25 years of faithful meditation to Self-realize. This can only be a postponement. The idea that it will take more time and experience to realize what is now is a false notion. How do you realize that which is beyond experience through more experiencing?
How could it take 25 years to realize a mistake? Time is only of the mind. Is there time in being? Or are you being now?
All Love ... ~ Katie Davis
To enjoy the first two chapters of Katie's book, Awake Joy: The Essence of Enlightenment, please click: "Look Inside"
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Joy of Being ~ Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy
All longing, seeking and discontent have their roots in the delusion that we are separate from the Heart of all being. When we are desiring and wanting things, people or circumstances at some future date, we cannot be conscious of our organic sense of being; the joy of being that is already within.
When we are identified with the ego state of consciousness, it is as though we BECOME the longing for what we "think" that we lack. We become the discontentment that we are trying to escape. We desire something other than the present moment. Even enlightenment can become something that we are seeking and we believe that it can only "happen" at some future date.
When we have a future fixation, we are not being present for the very joy that we have been seeking within every other. The joy of being can only be realized now and it is within you. Lost in an external search, it cannot be found. The only option is to look within.
Where is your attention right now?
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When we are identified with the ego state of consciousness, it is as though we BECOME the longing for what we "think" that we lack. We become the discontentment that we are trying to escape. We desire something other than the present moment. Even enlightenment can become something that we are seeking and we believe that it can only "happen" at some future date.
When we have a future fixation, we are not being present for the very joy that we have been seeking within every other. The joy of being can only be realized now and it is within you. Lost in an external search, it cannot be found. The only option is to look within.
Where is your attention right now?
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Wednesday, November 12, 2008
The Self-illuminating Light of Consciousness ~ Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy
The Self-illuminating light of consciousness is the light by which the mind can see. We would not be able to sense or perceive anything within this dimension without this Pure Awareness or Pure I; who you truly are.
The mind turned outward is the altered state of consciousness that we refer to as the ego and the world. In this, we suffer the delusion of separation and therefore experience a sense of abandonment, alienation and lack; whether we are conscious of the fact or not. This fear then takes form in our life situation as anger, sadness, etc.
The mind turned inward and that disappears into Pure Awareness is then realized as the illumined mind. In this, all suffering is destroyed and we realize that we are sacred love and perfect peace, without the slightest separation.
Both the conditioned mind and the illumined mind are totally dependent on Awareness. Although inseparable, the mind cannot stand alone, whereas Pure Awareness alone is real.
It is a mystery why we seek this Awareness and are not conscious of its presence. It is always here. It is everywhere you are. In fact, it is another name for you.
Every day, we pass through three states of consciousness: waking, dreaming and deep sleep. All three states are dependent upon Pure Awareness. They are appearing within Awareness. Everything is appearing within Awareness. All is appearing within you.
The three states come and go, whereas Awareness is state-free, eternal and never changing. Awareness is transcendental and is the bedrock upon which all is appearing. It is the Life that is supporting all living.
1. Waking is dependent on Awareness.
Are you aware right now in the waking state?
2. Dreaming is dependent on Awareness.
Are you aware when you are dreaming?
3. Deep sleep is dependent on Awareness.
You may not have body consciousness during deep sleep, but when you awaken in the morning, are you aware that you had a good night's sleep?
You are this Awareness.
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The mind turned outward is the altered state of consciousness that we refer to as the ego and the world. In this, we suffer the delusion of separation and therefore experience a sense of abandonment, alienation and lack; whether we are conscious of the fact or not. This fear then takes form in our life situation as anger, sadness, etc.
The mind turned inward and that disappears into Pure Awareness is then realized as the illumined mind. In this, all suffering is destroyed and we realize that we are sacred love and perfect peace, without the slightest separation.
Both the conditioned mind and the illumined mind are totally dependent on Awareness. Although inseparable, the mind cannot stand alone, whereas Pure Awareness alone is real.
It is a mystery why we seek this Awareness and are not conscious of its presence. It is always here. It is everywhere you are. In fact, it is another name for you.
Every day, we pass through three states of consciousness: waking, dreaming and deep sleep. All three states are dependent upon Pure Awareness. They are appearing within Awareness. Everything is appearing within Awareness. All is appearing within you.
The three states come and go, whereas Awareness is state-free, eternal and never changing. Awareness is transcendental and is the bedrock upon which all is appearing. It is the Life that is supporting all living.
1. Waking is dependent on Awareness.
Are you aware right now in the waking state?
2. Dreaming is dependent on Awareness.
Are you aware when you are dreaming?
3. Deep sleep is dependent on Awareness.
You may not have body consciousness during deep sleep, but when you awaken in the morning, are you aware that you had a good night's sleep?
You are this Awareness.
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Conscious Emotion and Uneasiness ~ Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy
The body will always be a mirror of your problematic thinking. This is why I encourage people to be consciously within the body and aware of how it feels. Busy in daily activity, we may miss our thoughts that cause a contraction in the body. That contraction is emotion and inflicted by our own thinking. When we feel the emotion in our body, we can then shift our attention to our thoughts and dis-identify with them. We do not try to change our thoughts. That is only more thinking. Instead, we can be aware of the body's senses or our breathing and it will bring us back to the present moment where the mind rests tranquilly.
There is something deeper here to observe. Beyond our thinking, there is within us all that remains unconscious. This unconsciousness does not express itself in our thinking. Instead, we sense an uneasiness or maybe a feeling of dread. When you recognize this unease, it is a gift, even though it may feel uncomfortable. That which is unconscious deep within you is being released into consciousness.
We do not need to analyze or interpret what this unease means, why it is here, or how to get rid of it. Instead, we allow the unease to be just as it is. That is to say, we consciously BE with the uneasiness. In this willingness, we are burning the unconsciousness as it transforms into consciousness and this happens all by itself. Our consciousness becomes more clear and therefore seems to grow stronger and brighter.
Being with uneasiness or emotion is the same as watching or listening to your thoughts. The only difference is that thoughts are in your head, whereas emotion is expressed within our physical body. Just like not being controlled by your thinking, you are then not controlled by emotion. Instead, you consciously recognize that you are the awareness of emotion instead of being the emotion. When you are the watcher of emotion, it cannot use you. There is a space between "you" and the physical emotion.
That space is the doorway to your organic being.
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There is something deeper here to observe. Beyond our thinking, there is within us all that remains unconscious. This unconsciousness does not express itself in our thinking. Instead, we sense an uneasiness or maybe a feeling of dread. When you recognize this unease, it is a gift, even though it may feel uncomfortable. That which is unconscious deep within you is being released into consciousness.
We do not need to analyze or interpret what this unease means, why it is here, or how to get rid of it. Instead, we allow the unease to be just as it is. That is to say, we consciously BE with the uneasiness. In this willingness, we are burning the unconsciousness as it transforms into consciousness and this happens all by itself. Our consciousness becomes more clear and therefore seems to grow stronger and brighter.
Being with uneasiness or emotion is the same as watching or listening to your thoughts. The only difference is that thoughts are in your head, whereas emotion is expressed within our physical body. Just like not being controlled by your thinking, you are then not controlled by emotion. Instead, you consciously recognize that you are the awareness of emotion instead of being the emotion. When you are the watcher of emotion, it cannot use you. There is a space between "you" and the physical emotion.
That space is the doorway to your organic being.
Look Inside Katie's book, Awake Joy, to read the first two chapters by clicking:
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Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Key to Liberation is the Present Moment ~ Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy
The present moment is the key to liberation,but you cannot find the now as long as you are identified with the mind. The mind is meant to be only a tool that we use to complete a certain task. When we are done, the tool is no longer needed. No doubt about it, the mind is an extraordinary tool. However, whenever it is using you, rather than you using it, it is dysfunctional and causes separation and suffering.
For most people still, they are compulsively thinking all day long. Most of what is going on in the head is repetitive, tedious and basically useless. It is constantly causing stress, anxiety and worry when it is not necessary.
Most are still identified with thinking. In fact, they believe that they ARE their thinking. This thinking and conditioning creates the delusion of a separate sense of self; a false sense of self that is based on our ideas about who we are or conditioned by what others have said about who we are. This false sense is totally dependent upon our continued, habitual thinking. When thinking stops, that false sense of self disappears and we discover the aliveness of now. People are unconsciously misidentifying with the mind.
To the ego, the one whose identity is derived through thinking, the present moment hardly even exists and yet it is virtually all that exists. To the thinking mind, the past and future are all important. The ego needs to keep the past alive. It needs the past since it is the past that is defining who it is. For its continued survival, it then projects who it is going to be into the future. For the ego, happiness and true fulfillment are always just out of reach after some future goal.
Even when the ego thinks that it is seeing the present moment, it is not so. The ego is looking at the present moment with the eyes of the past and blind to what actually is. Or it is busy using the present moment as a means to reach some point in the future when it believes it will gain its freedom or fulfillment.
If you will observe the mind, you will discover how it works and how it is constantly using you. True happiness, peace and aliveness are always here. You just can not realize it until you break the addiction to thinking.
For most people still, they are compulsively thinking all day long. Most of what is going on in the head is repetitive, tedious and basically useless. It is constantly causing stress, anxiety and worry when it is not necessary.
Most are still identified with thinking. In fact, they believe that they ARE their thinking. This thinking and conditioning creates the delusion of a separate sense of self; a false sense of self that is based on our ideas about who we are or conditioned by what others have said about who we are. This false sense is totally dependent upon our continued, habitual thinking. When thinking stops, that false sense of self disappears and we discover the aliveness of now. People are unconsciously misidentifying with the mind.
To the ego, the one whose identity is derived through thinking, the present moment hardly even exists and yet it is virtually all that exists. To the thinking mind, the past and future are all important. The ego needs to keep the past alive. It needs the past since it is the past that is defining who it is. For its continued survival, it then projects who it is going to be into the future. For the ego, happiness and true fulfillment are always just out of reach after some future goal.
Even when the ego thinks that it is seeing the present moment, it is not so. The ego is looking at the present moment with the eyes of the past and blind to what actually is. Or it is busy using the present moment as a means to reach some point in the future when it believes it will gain its freedom or fulfillment.
If you will observe the mind, you will discover how it works and how it is constantly using you. True happiness, peace and aliveness are always here. You just can not realize it until you break the addiction to thinking.
Monday, November 10, 2008
The First Step Toward Enlightenment ~ Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy
The most important first step toward enlightenment is to dis-identify with the mind. Every time that you recognize a gap in the thought stream, your consciousness grows stronger. You become more curious about the space between your thoughts than the content of thought.
Another way to dis-identify with thought is to direct your attention to the present moment. You will notice a deeper sense of being alive and a subtle joy comes to the forefront. In this, you withdraw attention from your mind activity and create a space of no-mind where you are alert and aware, but not thinking.
Another way to dis-identify with thought is to direct your attention to the present moment. You will notice a deeper sense of being alive and a subtle joy comes to the forefront. In this, you withdraw attention from your mind activity and create a space of no-mind where you are alert and aware, but not thinking.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Katie Davis, Compassion, Service, Suffering, Author, Awake Joy
Questioner ~
We are all ONE... The world is as it should be... Suffering is just due to the dualistic mind. Yes?
Then....
Is the grief of the mother who has lost her child due to her dualistic thinking?
Is the pain the dying child feel just due to the child's dualstic thinking?
Is the starvation in the world as it should be?
Are the suffering from the victims of war just coming from the their minds of dualistic thinking?
Is the pain a victim of violence (physical from a broken body and mentally from the experience) just due to the dualistic thinkng of the mind...?
And is the hope for a "better" world and my goal to do the best I can to ease the suffering just due to my dualistic mind?
Katie:
I am delighted that you asked this question. It is the very essence of the spiritual quest. This is life's purpose. Until this body's last breath, I will be pointing to the possibility, potentiality and Reality that is within.
Self-realization is the end of all suffering. For ourselves, our relationships, the world, the living earth. Can you imagine this? And yet, there are so many who cannot hear this call. This is not a trivial matter. The impact is as huge as the universe.
Our first responsibility is to wake up from daytime dream of dual mind, its suffering and its time. When we discover that virtually NOTHING is as it seems, the focus shifts inner. If I am not "me" ... then who is really here?
Between the Heart that you actually are and the misidentification with the false, separate sense of self (the mind-made self) is the pain gap. Within that gap is not only what appears to be our personal suffering, but also the COLLECTIVE suffering that you are noticing in the world. Through this misidentification, suffering appears not only in our lives ... but within the world of form. We blame the world and yet we are projecting it.
The only enduring resolution is to dive in and realize the unconditional love, perfect peace and overflowing abundance that we are. In Self-realization, the dual mind is destroyed and realized as the illumined mind that is at home as the Heart. When we then turn to look at the world without the pre-existing pain gap ... it is the "new earth." It is here now for everyone. The key is within you.
Someone shared a story of walking on the street in the city and she came upon a man who was laying on the sidewalk just left to die. Everyone on the crowded street was just walking by. They may not have even been conscious of the situation. The person called an aid car and perhaps saved the man from dying.
She had an apparent choice there. She could have been scared and upset about the situation, judgmental of the others that were walking by and then generalized it as an uncaring world. This negativity actually strengthens the negativity in the collective consciousness and the negative only gains more power.
So we are asked to stay still as the genuine love and compassion that we are. We remain free of judgment and in acceptance of what is. Stay true to the Heart. We are then spontaneously animated in right action.
Instead of interpretation (bad, awful, shouldn't be) ... yes, this man may be dying ... compassion moves us into action. True compassion never reduces to suffering. In the old world, when we saw people suffering, we would begin suffering as well. In the new world, True Compassion remains steadfast as authentic Love in action.
It is a mystery why so few hear this call. If we will investigate to discover the falsehood of the separate self, then dive into the collective ego, we realize the delusion of suffering ... you are free ... and collectively the world is free.
Meanwhile, the love that we are is in constant selfless service. Helping Love's child that has fallen on the playground. Opening the door for the elderly. Every day there are simply ways to give this love away; to be the instrument of true love.
We either strengthen the illusion ... or we realize the Truth.
If this can be true for "katie" it is true for everyone. We are free of all bondage right now. We have only to look with clearsight. THAT is a miracle.
We are all ONE... The world is as it should be... Suffering is just due to the dualistic mind. Yes?
Then....
Is the grief of the mother who has lost her child due to her dualistic thinking?
Is the pain the dying child feel just due to the child's dualstic thinking?
Is the starvation in the world as it should be?
Are the suffering from the victims of war just coming from the their minds of dualistic thinking?
Is the pain a victim of violence (physical from a broken body and mentally from the experience) just due to the dualistic thinkng of the mind...?
And is the hope for a "better" world and my goal to do the best I can to ease the suffering just due to my dualistic mind?
Katie:
I am delighted that you asked this question. It is the very essence of the spiritual quest. This is life's purpose. Until this body's last breath, I will be pointing to the possibility, potentiality and Reality that is within.
Self-realization is the end of all suffering. For ourselves, our relationships, the world, the living earth. Can you imagine this? And yet, there are so many who cannot hear this call. This is not a trivial matter. The impact is as huge as the universe.
Our first responsibility is to wake up from daytime dream of dual mind, its suffering and its time. When we discover that virtually NOTHING is as it seems, the focus shifts inner. If I am not "me" ... then who is really here?
Between the Heart that you actually are and the misidentification with the false, separate sense of self (the mind-made self) is the pain gap. Within that gap is not only what appears to be our personal suffering, but also the COLLECTIVE suffering that you are noticing in the world. Through this misidentification, suffering appears not only in our lives ... but within the world of form. We blame the world and yet we are projecting it.
The only enduring resolution is to dive in and realize the unconditional love, perfect peace and overflowing abundance that we are. In Self-realization, the dual mind is destroyed and realized as the illumined mind that is at home as the Heart. When we then turn to look at the world without the pre-existing pain gap ... it is the "new earth." It is here now for everyone. The key is within you.
Someone shared a story of walking on the street in the city and she came upon a man who was laying on the sidewalk just left to die. Everyone on the crowded street was just walking by. They may not have even been conscious of the situation. The person called an aid car and perhaps saved the man from dying.
She had an apparent choice there. She could have been scared and upset about the situation, judgmental of the others that were walking by and then generalized it as an uncaring world. This negativity actually strengthens the negativity in the collective consciousness and the negative only gains more power.
So we are asked to stay still as the genuine love and compassion that we are. We remain free of judgment and in acceptance of what is. Stay true to the Heart. We are then spontaneously animated in right action.
Instead of interpretation (bad, awful, shouldn't be) ... yes, this man may be dying ... compassion moves us into action. True compassion never reduces to suffering. In the old world, when we saw people suffering, we would begin suffering as well. In the new world, True Compassion remains steadfast as authentic Love in action.
It is a mystery why so few hear this call. If we will investigate to discover the falsehood of the separate self, then dive into the collective ego, we realize the delusion of suffering ... you are free ... and collectively the world is free.
Meanwhile, the love that we are is in constant selfless service. Helping Love's child that has fallen on the playground. Opening the door for the elderly. Every day there are simply ways to give this love away; to be the instrument of true love.
We either strengthen the illusion ... or we realize the Truth.
If this can be true for "katie" it is true for everyone. We are free of all bondage right now. We have only to look with clearsight. THAT is a miracle.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Practicing Presence ~ Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy
Questioner:
One question that I have been pondering is: How should we actually practice the presence, awareness or tranquility in everyday life? I guess that should become very natural for us, but as we have opposite tendencies that we are accustomed to, it is not so obvious at all!
If I practice being present, how much of the awareness should be in the outer 'things' and how much should be directed inwards? And should I be aware of details in my sensory experience or should my awareness be kind of diffuse and not to be fixed to particular things (if that is not needed in a particular activity)?
Does being present require psychic or mental energy? I ask this question because I have not found a way of being present that does not make me strained after some practise. I guess that I am doing something wrong as I have an intuition that awareness should come very naturally. How does the awakening to that kind of natural presence happen? Just by grace only?
Just yesterday I read an excerpt from Osho and he wrote that happiness is always fleeting but bliss can be found constant. How can I realize that bliss or inner joy are constant?
Katie:
Presence is natural and does not require anything more. In other words, Self-realization is not an attainment or something you strive for. This Being-Consciousness-Bliss that you are is ever-present. It is right now.
The situation seems to be that the thought "I" arises. In the old world, out of habit alone, we misidentified with the concept of "me;" the "I am the body" idea. When this misidentification takes place, the "dreaming" I has extraordinary pulling power and suddenly all the other thoughts appear. So the thoughts are really not problematic. It is our misidentification that is at issue. "I" is just another word. Where is the word pointing? We were taught that it was pointing to the body. This is true on a relative level of course. But is it true that your identity is limited to the body. I say this is not so, but this will be for your direct investigation. It requires great curiosity because you want to know the ultimate Truth. Ideas and concepts remain philosophical … instead we need to notice directly through authentic experience.
When this misidentification with the "I" thought occurs, a veil drops and we are unable to be conscious of the being-consciousness-bliss that we are. To remove the veil, it requires that you seek this "I." Sit quietly for a few moments right now. Just close your eyes and be aware of how exquisite the air feels as it moves in and out your nose. Then ask this question, "Who am I?" and listen with every cell in the body. We are not looking for a thought in reply. If a thought arises, such as "I am Katie," ask the question again, aware of your breath, "Who am I?"
That question alone with lift the veil to perfect peace.
It is beautiful that you are practicing being present. The best tool for this is attending the breath. Breathing is always occurring right now and the present moment is the portal to the perfect peace within. The body's sensing is another tool. What do you hear right now? Do you smell anything? The body is part of the content of the present moment and therefore the key to the inner body.
But let's take this a step further. The "I" that is practicing is the ego, the separate sense of self that needs more time and experience to realize. This is actually a postponement strategy of the ego. The more appropriate question might be, who is practicing?? Who am I?
You are aware when you are driving your car, aware when you are shopping, aware when falling asleep. Are you aware that you are always aware? You are this Pure Awareness that is closer and more intimate to you than even your given name and your body. You are appearing within this Awareness. You ARE this Pure Awareness that is beyond your name and form.
So we are naturally present all day long during everything that is being done. However, most often, we get carried aware by compulsive thinking and lost in the thought stream in the head ... instead of being in the body. The resolution? 1. Bring the "I" thought home by asking "Who am I" and then truly listen. 2. Are you aware of breathing? 3. Are you aware of sensing.
It does not take much effort to become aware of breathing all day long. It is always happening in every day life.
This is a first step and perhaps even unwise to move forward from here. Eventually the outward going mind (on its own accord) will remain within the Heart. Of course eyes are looking outward, the body is functioning and sensing as it does, we are just deeply at rest … being still … while the body does what it does.
Body movement and activity can become Zen-like. During the morning shower, be aware of every movement. If there is a set habitual routine, change it. How does the soap feel as you pick it up in your hands? How does the water feel? Are you breathing? You become consciously present without rushing to the future about anything. Even if rushing is required, we are consciously present with that.
You soon find that the real effort is the misidentification with thought, having to maintain all of the ego's ideas; constant thinking is exhausting!
This not require psychic or mental energy. All that is appearing within the Awareness.
What you shared about Osho's words is true. When we misidentify with "I" we move into time and space and then are caught in the world of duality. Relative happiness will eventually cycle to the opposite duality of sadness. Then, sadness will once again cycle to happiness after a certain duration. Neither are stable … whereas the bliss and unending joy are permanent. Now, don't go looking for it. You ARE it! When you are seeking, it cannot be found, which is why I say be STILL and notice what truly already is. Only still permanence can realization that which is permanent. Be still.
Only This Love ~ Katie
Questioner Report:
I am so grateful for your kind reply. I have read it now for a couple of times and I think that it is very close to what is required at the moment. :-)
I have observed an interesting phenomenon after the question I posed about practicing presence. During last two weeks or so I have found that I have been resting in peace more often. As I have attended to this peace, now and then I have investigated the question "Who am I?" Replying to this question feels utterly impossible and absurd. It feels that there is no "I" but just a vast presence. I guess that is probably how the question is meant to work, to leave the thinking mind disarmed so that it can surrender to the consciousness that it is born of. In gratitude ...
Katie:
Thank you for letting me know. Excellent, what are you attending right now? The perfect peace within or the noise in the head? Are you aware of breathing?
I am so grateful for this report. And you have now realized directly through asking this question “who am I?” that when you seek it, it disappears … no where to be found … only “vast presence.” Delightful! At ease. And yes, that is the point of asking the question. The dreaming I disappears into the Heart of all being … the Pure I that is the Pure Consciousness … unending joy … perfect peace … free of time.
Now when you notice once again that you are lost in the head (habits are sometimes hard to break!), just silently ask the question and there you are once again … being peace. Or, just for an instant notice the breath … notice sensing. Then we are in a type of meditation all day long during all that is being done. Being peace … paying bills … being peace … taking the shower.
All Love True Heart ~
Katie
One question that I have been pondering is: How should we actually practice the presence, awareness or tranquility in everyday life? I guess that should become very natural for us, but as we have opposite tendencies that we are accustomed to, it is not so obvious at all!
If I practice being present, how much of the awareness should be in the outer 'things' and how much should be directed inwards? And should I be aware of details in my sensory experience or should my awareness be kind of diffuse and not to be fixed to particular things (if that is not needed in a particular activity)?
Does being present require psychic or mental energy? I ask this question because I have not found a way of being present that does not make me strained after some practise. I guess that I am doing something wrong as I have an intuition that awareness should come very naturally. How does the awakening to that kind of natural presence happen? Just by grace only?
Just yesterday I read an excerpt from Osho and he wrote that happiness is always fleeting but bliss can be found constant. How can I realize that bliss or inner joy are constant?
Katie:
Presence is natural and does not require anything more. In other words, Self-realization is not an attainment or something you strive for. This Being-Consciousness-Bliss that you are is ever-present. It is right now.
The situation seems to be that the thought "I" arises. In the old world, out of habit alone, we misidentified with the concept of "me;" the "I am the body" idea. When this misidentification takes place, the "dreaming" I has extraordinary pulling power and suddenly all the other thoughts appear. So the thoughts are really not problematic. It is our misidentification that is at issue. "I" is just another word. Where is the word pointing? We were taught that it was pointing to the body. This is true on a relative level of course. But is it true that your identity is limited to the body. I say this is not so, but this will be for your direct investigation. It requires great curiosity because you want to know the ultimate Truth. Ideas and concepts remain philosophical … instead we need to notice directly through authentic experience.
When this misidentification with the "I" thought occurs, a veil drops and we are unable to be conscious of the being-consciousness-bliss that we are. To remove the veil, it requires that you seek this "I." Sit quietly for a few moments right now. Just close your eyes and be aware of how exquisite the air feels as it moves in and out your nose. Then ask this question, "Who am I?" and listen with every cell in the body. We are not looking for a thought in reply. If a thought arises, such as "I am Katie," ask the question again, aware of your breath, "Who am I?"
That question alone with lift the veil to perfect peace.
It is beautiful that you are practicing being present. The best tool for this is attending the breath. Breathing is always occurring right now and the present moment is the portal to the perfect peace within. The body's sensing is another tool. What do you hear right now? Do you smell anything? The body is part of the content of the present moment and therefore the key to the inner body.
But let's take this a step further. The "I" that is practicing is the ego, the separate sense of self that needs more time and experience to realize. This is actually a postponement strategy of the ego. The more appropriate question might be, who is practicing?? Who am I?
You are aware when you are driving your car, aware when you are shopping, aware when falling asleep. Are you aware that you are always aware? You are this Pure Awareness that is closer and more intimate to you than even your given name and your body. You are appearing within this Awareness. You ARE this Pure Awareness that is beyond your name and form.
So we are naturally present all day long during everything that is being done. However, most often, we get carried aware by compulsive thinking and lost in the thought stream in the head ... instead of being in the body. The resolution? 1. Bring the "I" thought home by asking "Who am I" and then truly listen. 2. Are you aware of breathing? 3. Are you aware of sensing.
It does not take much effort to become aware of breathing all day long. It is always happening in every day life.
This is a first step and perhaps even unwise to move forward from here. Eventually the outward going mind (on its own accord) will remain within the Heart. Of course eyes are looking outward, the body is functioning and sensing as it does, we are just deeply at rest … being still … while the body does what it does.
Body movement and activity can become Zen-like. During the morning shower, be aware of every movement. If there is a set habitual routine, change it. How does the soap feel as you pick it up in your hands? How does the water feel? Are you breathing? You become consciously present without rushing to the future about anything. Even if rushing is required, we are consciously present with that.
You soon find that the real effort is the misidentification with thought, having to maintain all of the ego's ideas; constant thinking is exhausting!
This not require psychic or mental energy. All that is appearing within the Awareness.
What you shared about Osho's words is true. When we misidentify with "I" we move into time and space and then are caught in the world of duality. Relative happiness will eventually cycle to the opposite duality of sadness. Then, sadness will once again cycle to happiness after a certain duration. Neither are stable … whereas the bliss and unending joy are permanent. Now, don't go looking for it. You ARE it! When you are seeking, it cannot be found, which is why I say be STILL and notice what truly already is. Only still permanence can realization that which is permanent. Be still.
Only This Love ~ Katie
Questioner Report:
I am so grateful for your kind reply. I have read it now for a couple of times and I think that it is very close to what is required at the moment. :-)
I have observed an interesting phenomenon after the question I posed about practicing presence. During last two weeks or so I have found that I have been resting in peace more often. As I have attended to this peace, now and then I have investigated the question "Who am I?" Replying to this question feels utterly impossible and absurd. It feels that there is no "I" but just a vast presence. I guess that is probably how the question is meant to work, to leave the thinking mind disarmed so that it can surrender to the consciousness that it is born of. In gratitude ...
Katie:
Thank you for letting me know. Excellent, what are you attending right now? The perfect peace within or the noise in the head? Are you aware of breathing?
I am so grateful for this report. And you have now realized directly through asking this question “who am I?” that when you seek it, it disappears … no where to be found … only “vast presence.” Delightful! At ease. And yes, that is the point of asking the question. The dreaming I disappears into the Heart of all being … the Pure I that is the Pure Consciousness … unending joy … perfect peace … free of time.
Now when you notice once again that you are lost in the head (habits are sometimes hard to break!), just silently ask the question and there you are once again … being peace. Or, just for an instant notice the breath … notice sensing. Then we are in a type of meditation all day long during all that is being done. Being peace … paying bills … being peace … taking the shower.
All Love True Heart ~
Katie
Friday, November 7, 2008
What is Satchitananda? by Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy
When speaking of awakening and Self-realization, we often hear the Sanskrit term "satchitananda" or being-consciousness-bliss.
Reality is alway Real. It never changes and is free of names and forms. It is the only enduring, supreme Reality ... and you are That.
You are beyond your given name, beyond "me and my thoughts," "me and my emotions," "me and my form."
You are the single immanent Reality and it is being experienced within you right now. The question, are you conscious of it?
When speaking, I often refer to this Reality as the Self, Essence, Heart, Pure Awareness or Pure I. They are only words that point to the supreme principle that is ever shining within and available for direct realization.
The Self is pure being and this being is not personal. The Reality is also conscious, so we speak of Pure Consciousness. The direct experience of this Pure Consciousness is unbroken happiness, uncaused joy and Pure Bliss.
While being-consciousness-bliss may appear to be separate attributes of the Reality, this is not true. It is one homogeneous field of intelligence that is absolutely inseparable from who you are.
My invitation is to be still and notice what is shining deep within.
Reality is alway Real. It never changes and is free of names and forms. It is the only enduring, supreme Reality ... and you are That.
You are beyond your given name, beyond "me and my thoughts," "me and my emotions," "me and my form."
You are the single immanent Reality and it is being experienced within you right now. The question, are you conscious of it?
When speaking, I often refer to this Reality as the Self, Essence, Heart, Pure Awareness or Pure I. They are only words that point to the supreme principle that is ever shining within and available for direct realization.
The Self is pure being and this being is not personal. The Reality is also conscious, so we speak of Pure Consciousness. The direct experience of this Pure Consciousness is unbroken happiness, uncaused joy and Pure Bliss.
While being-consciousness-bliss may appear to be separate attributes of the Reality, this is not true. It is one homogeneous field of intelligence that is absolutely inseparable from who you are.
My invitation is to be still and notice what is shining deep within.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Friends of the Heart November Issue by Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy
The new November issue of Friends of the Heart is now posted on the Katie Davis Website. To enjoy, please visit Friends of the Heart.
In This Issue:
"Holiday Presence" by Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy
"Being Beyond Belief" by Sundance Burke, Author, Free Spirit
"Gratitude to Heart Friends" Sundance and Katie Travels
"Diamond of Joy" Free Video (5 min) by Katie Davis
Awake Joy and Free Spirit New Book Reviews
Heart of Life E-book by Katie Davis at Awake Books
Donations to the teachings at Friends of the Heart
Visit www.KatieDavis.org/FriendsoftheHeart.html
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