There are many ways to notice our inner state of pure being. The more we notice it in its pure state the more calmer we become. This is because, usually the conscious energy is getting channelized for unwanted thoughts , emotions , ruminations about the past or future , anxiety , depression and so on. All these are waves and torpedoes in conscious energy. Our body, mind and every system gets agitated and worn out. The deep silence of pure awareness gives the whole body and mind a deep rest. Conscious energy is in its natural state of pure bliss.
When we say pure awareness it seems to imply there is also something that is not pure as far as awareness is concerned. What we mean by pure awareness is when awareness is not knowing anything in particular. When a thought comes or when you see something , awareness now becomes awareness of thought , awareness of sight etc. This draws awareness from resting to knowing a particular thing. If we are aware that awareness is trying to know a thought or a sight, then awareness doesn't get entangled with the object. But if we are not aware of this process, then awareness is drawn into the object in front of it. So we say you have been identified with the thought or sight. This is what happens when we are lost in thought . We (awareness ) have been drawn into the thought stream so much so that our identity lies inside the thought stream.
Let us see how we can notice the pure awareness when there are so many things going on in our mind. Let us discuss a simple way that we can use in meditation. When we sit in meditation we notice the thoughts coming and going in our mind. When an engaging thought comes and our awareness is lost in it , we will not notice anything. This is because awareness is the power of knowing things. Since it is now engaged in the thought , we cannot notice anything except the thought that is keeping it busy. When we are free from it , notice the slight gap before a new thought arrives. This is where you start your Soham chanting. Just before you start it , notice the small gap in awareness. This is the pure state where it is free and blissful. You can see that between thoughts there is truly nothing.
When we are reading a book, there are lot of background noise sometimes like chirping birds, the siren of ambulance or some such disturbances. Still we are able to read the book. This is because our awareness is on the process of reading .Just like that instead of being attentive on the thoughts , become aware of the silence in the gaps. Just notice.
Also there is another simple way of seeing pure awareness. When we start our meditation there is a small period of silence before thought streams start coming. So you can see this background of silence in which the thoughts , etc are coming. There is initially a silence, then against this sky of purity , clouds of thoughts start moving about, sometimes dark clouds , sometimes small ones , sometimes simple ones. Whatever they are , they are appearing in the background of purity . This background of silence is the pure awareness..
This is not easy to notice initially since the deluge of thoughts are often more when we start our spiritual practice. As time goes on , it becomes easier to notice even small things. When you do notice the pure awareness , don't try to hang on to it or anything. It is not possible. Just notice it. Just relish its presence. Any effort will destroy it . To hold on itself is a desire. It should stay effortlessly.
Noticing pure awareness is also important if we want to experience our true self ,because this knowing is the real self. When we are more and more attuned to this, our mind also responds favorably. It now springs very mild ,non engaging peaceful thoughts, since it knows it is being watched by its source. As the mind settles down, our decision making becomes clearer. This is why most spiritual practitioners ask us to decide when our mind is quiet. More quiet the mind , the less reactionary it is ,more intuitive and insightful it becomes.
All through our life we have known many things. We are aware of so many things. We are aware of sights , sounds, experiences. But we never cared for the source of all these experiences. Noticing pure awareness which is the background in which all your life drama was played out is so simple . Please note that it is not an object, so you wont be able to locate it. It is the subject itself. Noticing it , you find the real you!!!. How amazing !!!. Finding you is an experience.
When we say pure awareness it seems to imply there is also something that is not pure as far as awareness is concerned. What we mean by pure awareness is when awareness is not knowing anything in particular. When a thought comes or when you see something , awareness now becomes awareness of thought , awareness of sight etc. This draws awareness from resting to knowing a particular thing. If we are aware that awareness is trying to know a thought or a sight, then awareness doesn't get entangled with the object. But if we are not aware of this process, then awareness is drawn into the object in front of it. So we say you have been identified with the thought or sight. This is what happens when we are lost in thought . We (awareness ) have been drawn into the thought stream so much so that our identity lies inside the thought stream.
Let us see how we can notice the pure awareness when there are so many things going on in our mind. Let us discuss a simple way that we can use in meditation. When we sit in meditation we notice the thoughts coming and going in our mind. When an engaging thought comes and our awareness is lost in it , we will not notice anything. This is because awareness is the power of knowing things. Since it is now engaged in the thought , we cannot notice anything except the thought that is keeping it busy. When we are free from it , notice the slight gap before a new thought arrives. This is where you start your Soham chanting. Just before you start it , notice the small gap in awareness. This is the pure state where it is free and blissful. You can see that between thoughts there is truly nothing.
When we are reading a book, there are lot of background noise sometimes like chirping birds, the siren of ambulance or some such disturbances. Still we are able to read the book. This is because our awareness is on the process of reading .Just like that instead of being attentive on the thoughts , become aware of the silence in the gaps. Just notice.
Also there is another simple way of seeing pure awareness. When we start our meditation there is a small period of silence before thought streams start coming. So you can see this background of silence in which the thoughts , etc are coming. There is initially a silence, then against this sky of purity , clouds of thoughts start moving about, sometimes dark clouds , sometimes small ones , sometimes simple ones. Whatever they are , they are appearing in the background of purity . This background of silence is the pure awareness..
This is not easy to notice initially since the deluge of thoughts are often more when we start our spiritual practice. As time goes on , it becomes easier to notice even small things. When you do notice the pure awareness , don't try to hang on to it or anything. It is not possible. Just notice it. Just relish its presence. Any effort will destroy it . To hold on itself is a desire. It should stay effortlessly.
Noticing pure awareness is also important if we want to experience our true self ,because this knowing is the real self. When we are more and more attuned to this, our mind also responds favorably. It now springs very mild ,non engaging peaceful thoughts, since it knows it is being watched by its source. As the mind settles down, our decision making becomes clearer. This is why most spiritual practitioners ask us to decide when our mind is quiet. More quiet the mind , the less reactionary it is ,more intuitive and insightful it becomes.
All through our life we have known many things. We are aware of so many things. We are aware of sights , sounds, experiences. But we never cared for the source of all these experiences. Noticing pure awareness which is the background in which all your life drama was played out is so simple . Please note that it is not an object, so you wont be able to locate it. It is the subject itself. Noticing it , you find the real you!!!. How amazing !!!. Finding you is an experience.
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