There’s a seeker born every minute – Swami Beyondananda
The self-reflective inquiry, who am I, is ubiquitous across the spectrum of religious and philosophical approaches that lead to understanding the deepest reality of our being. To this day, I find it a useful and potent query, but where and when I look for the answer has evolved over time. Actually, the recognition of the true self is meta-temporal, that is, beyond time and space. It is an invitation to leave the surface mind that only recognizes time-bound phenomena, and enter the spiritual heart that lives and has its being in the eternal ever-present now.
To the human mind, inquiry remains mundane. When we say "I" we are typically referring to and identifying with gender, history, possessions, beliefs, and all of the external stuff that masquerades as us. In truth, we are not any of that; we are emanations of the Divine, spiritual Beings. Our journey of awakening asks us to recognize the imposter; the false self, disentangle from this identity, and call forth our true self.
The litmus test for what we truly are is that which is changeless, ever-present. When we look at what we have taken ourselves to be, we see a whole litany of temporal qualities and characteristics. Obviously, the body changes (don’t we know this one well), and can be changed, and we can change our name, even our gender. We can change our minds. Thoughts come and go. Feelings come and go. Beliefs (about who and what we are) are malleable. They change over time. We may think of ourselves as awesome, and awful in the same day, or within minutes of each other as we react to life’s vicissitudes. It is all mental content, without substance and transient in nature. It is all simply an appearance in consciousness. The vagary of thoughts and feelings should discourage us from seeking this ultimate knowledge within the vacillations of the mind. But the mind seems to be our default, go-to, source of understanding, doesn't it? Yet, let’s see this clearly for what it is. A seek, but not find, fool’s errand. This is what Jesus meant by not “judging by appearances.” So that’s the negating part of the equation, that tells us what we are not. But there’s an alternative, that leads us to the truth of us.
You and I are God made. You may or may not believe this. It really doesn’t matter. You can still realize your true self. Simply look at what doesn’t come and go. What of you is always present, undeniable, not coming and going, or affected by mind stuff? While you can have a whole range of beliefs about what you are, and they can be changed along the way, there is no wiggle room or deniability in the fact, that you are. You exist. Feel into that simple self-obvious truth. There is a sense of aliveness, an irrefutable recognition of your being. No one says I am not. Simply acknowledge this non-negotiable truth of your existence. I am. Full stop! That’s it. Don’t add an object or adjective. Simply I am. Notice the nature of this sense of being. It’s not a thought, or a feeling, or a belief. It’s a simple knowing. This takes you out of the mind, into pure awareness, pure consciousness. This is what’s been called your true nature, or the Christ Mind or Buddha nature.
Notice that this awareness is omnipresent, even though it might be overlooked when our attention is on the objects within awareness, the awareness must first be present for there to be any knowing at all. It’s prior to any recognition, perception, thought, or feeling. It’s the screen upon which all phenomena in life are seen, known, or observed. Without it, there’s no world. This is the alpha and omega of spiritual understanding, awakening, enlightenment. And it’s here now in its fullness. It’s the elephant in the room. Let’s stop pretending we don’t see it and wake up to the undeniable reality of our being.
Peace and blessings,
Rev. Larry
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