10/12/09

Awareness method

Here is the method to enter directly into that which you already are: listen carefully for any sounds in your environment. Is there a quality in that experience of sound that is aware of the sound? Notice there appears to be two aspects, the sound and the awareness of it. That awareness is the Absolute. In just Being aware, you can't get any closer, because that's already what you are.

Next, with your eyes closed, again notice the sounds that are occurring to your awareness. Can you find a point where your awareness has a boundary that separates itself from the sound? Notice this carefully. Do you find that the sound and your awareness are inseparable? If so, you will find this to be the case with all experience. First notice mental events and thoughts. Can you separate the mental events or thoughts from your awareness or are they inseparable just like the sounds were? Can you notice that the feeling or sensation of being a separate entity, your sense of self, is also inseparable from your awareness? Work with that one for awhile.

The hardest will be the visual perceptions of sight. Practice this one at first with your eyes closed but in a lighted room so you may see the light at your eye lids, with your eyes closed. As you are aware of the light at your closed eyelids, you may find it easier to notice there being no separation between the awareness of the light and the light that you are aware of. When this is clearly a non-dual experience, then move on to slowly opening your eyes only but slightly. Integrate with that light in the same manner. Eventually open your eyes fully as you are able to experience the oneness of the awareness and its visual field. As I said, this may be the hardest as the mind creates a quality of depth perception that enhances the sensation of separation. Sky gazing can be good for this as well. As you integrate the five senses and mental events with awareness, it will be noticed that awareness and it field of perception have always been inseparable, just as water and waves are. The relative and the Absolute are inseparable as well, and always have been. Hopefully through working through the above exercises you can come to know this too. The truth is always simple, sometimes too simple to easily see.

Jackson Peterson

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Way-of-Light/message/4310