Before Awareness Is Emptiness

The ultimate teaching.

We open a book and, in the very, very first instant before being aware, before being aware that we are awareness, and before we start reading, emptiness is present. As a note for the uninitiated, the word ’emptiness’ is used as our pure state of being with nothing going on. Finding a better word than ’emptiness’ is difficult; the word shunyata is often used, but the meaning is still ‘an uncontaminated state’.

This emptiness is not something we can get hold of as it’s what we, in ultimate truth, are. Awareness or consciousness is our ordinary state; not knowing this is our deluded state. Shockingly, the ultimate teaching reveals that everything we think to be real is false, and this can be disturbing, to say the least.

“I am not deluded!” The first step to enlightenment is recognising that we are deluded, that we are easily aroused, and that we have become a product of mind, indoctrinated by the unenlightened collective.

Before we notice anything – even before being aware – emptiness is present. Emptiness is our original state. That emptiness is our uncontaminated being of no movement, before we start operating and referring to memories stored in the mind to relate to everything. That’s how relative reality comes about.

It is important to register this sequence.

One of the problems with using words is that what is meant may not come across. The words ‘pureawareness/consciousness’ can be perceived as one thing when, in reality, it is the unity of two extremes. These two extremes are emptiness forgetting awareness, and awareness forgetting emptiness. We either become over-excited and fixated (awareness) or spaced-out and, sorry to say, stupefied (emptiness).

Emptiness and awareness/consciousness
are a unity when realised.

When we become constant practitioners of meditation, this becomes clearer and clearer. It has to be experienced to be verified, and is definitely not an intellectual exercise of hear it, know it.

There is nothing new under the sun
except our change of view.

This may be disturbing because we think we know, but it will come. It takes conscious time, it takes practise. It’s like studying anything; if we do not have a foundation in a subject, things won’t click together quickly – but they will, with perseverance. 🙂

It’s not a learning process to become extra clever and adored;
it’s a process of personal uncovering.