What Do We Base Our Life On?

Doubt or no doubt?

We cannot doubt awareness, because it is by this that anything can be known. It’s what we are. Can we be anything else? But we can go one step further.

Ordinary awareness is all about being aware of internal and external phenomena – matter and mind. The step further is pure awareness, which is naturally present before phenomena is identified: it’s pure observation itself without reference to memory. That is what we are, before the identity of me and mine.

Regular awareness is like a mirror reflecting objects – thoughts, sounds, sensations.
Pure awareness is the mirror itself, entirely empty yet capable of reflecting everything.

Phenomena require time to arise, dwell and transform.
Pure awareness is the timeless background in which this movement occurs.

Human suffering happens because we identify with the content of our minds.
Recognising this is the pure awareness which brings immediate peace.

We live in a paradox of reality.
Pure awareness is the most obvious, ever-present fact of our existence, yet it is almost universally overlooked.

To notice this open awareness, we don’t need to change our thoughts or stop our feelings. We simply rest in pure awareness, creating a spontaneous life.

Instead of focusing on whatever we are aware of, we notice the empty quality of awareness itself. It is limitlessly vast, unthreatening and completely at peace with whatever arises.