I don’t see pure awareness!

 Oh, but you do: you simply do not notice it.

I enjoy writing because I like to share experience, and to give a flavour of “what’s it all about”. It took me years to understand what the teachings meant, and when I finally got the message, I found that I had known it all the time…just like you!

Another reason for writing (which is a new found skill that just appeared) was that, when going to teachings and reading books, it was not always clear what the essence of the teachings was. This is especially true if one gets stuck in Shamata practice (which is meditation with support – eg watching the breath, and without support – an I, resting in the stillness) for years.

There are times when one has to move on – ‘go to the end of the book’ – to find out what’s it all about.

Look

Recognise

Drop

Sit in your normal meditation position: eyes open, aware of peripheral vision, senses wide open, face muscles relaxed. Look for awareness, recognise it, and drop any attempt to hold onto it.

And rest.

That is pure awareness.

This is non meditation. Meditation, is now the continuity of resting in this clear view. However, you do not do anything, simply re-cognise!

 Reading this on a page will not have the same effect as hearing the instruction from someone you trust, but you get the ‘feel’.

 When we forget, we use mindfulness to recognise that we have moved away from this pure view. We recognise that…and rest! Simple.

 This pure view is what we are, in all activities. Of course, it needs practice until it is constant, or rather, there are fewer distractions. The distractions (which are obstacles that obscure this pure view) are now clearly seen, so they serve as reminders to re-cognise. To re-know!

 In a sitting session, the secret is “short moments many times”, so that it is always fresh, and we do not try to hold onto the experience. We just have to accept that in an hour’s session, this clear view may only be present for a couple of minutes. This may sound silly, but we need to become more familiar with ‘our natural state’ and be aware of how far we have moved away from naturalness.

We oscillate: “Now you see it, now you don’t”.

The outcome of all this is a life is worth living. We become more spontaneous and more creative, and experience a great sense of relief…there is nothing more. Everyday will be different!

Oh, there is one more thing..love others more than yourself!

You now have all the love you need.

Always your friend,

Tony