Truth: something that is undeniable when observed from unquestionable fact or, as referred to in meditation, truth often points to indisputable reality. Many students believe that truth is unquestionable. For instance, all things born into creation are subjected to the same rules of beginning and end, at least in the material form. Truth may also refer to statements or situations, as in the truth of the matter.
Often when one hears the truth, they do not respond, they merely digest the knowledge or fact. For the purpose of our studies, from a state of meditation, (conscious observation) we digest some simple truths as unquestionable facts based on what is known to be true. “We are.” “This is.” (See more on this topic at wakingupwithpatrick.com: Awareness.) Frequently when a truth is spoken it settles in like an epiphany; an “oh yes” moment. As if it is some life changing bit of information we have been waiting to hear our whole lives and, when applied to our journey, changes our understanding of what we once considered true.
As your level of consciousness deepens you find those things that cause you to question, are doing so because they are not true. In our studies we rarely question undeniable truths. It is a truth that the majority of us are driven by a thought stream, which pushes us and leads us in all sorts of directions and that stream of thought is often beyond our control. The fact is that if you could stop it, you would. Another truth is that you are not the stream of thought, it is a mental function of your mind. It is not truly you. You are something else.
A meditation: try it out, here and there, when it comes to your mind, or not. Take some moments, observe your thoughts and bring to mind some beliefs, knowledge, viewpoints, etc. that you have on any particular subject. Take a moment to look at the truth behind your mindset on that which you are observing. Look for yourself for the truth behind it, is it unquestionable or factual? Be aware that if your mind creates a conflict with the thoughts, your position is to observe. Most truths are undeniable. It is a new day, your day!
Fit, defined as an adjective, means that something is suitable of the same required quality, to go along with something that is already happening or in existence. It also may refer to one’s physical or mental condition, or when one thing, thought, behavior, group pf people, etc., coincides well with something else or each other. For the purpose of our meditation practices, we acknowledge that the result of our practice (present conscious awareness) fits everything we do.
Meditation is the practice that leads humans to levels of conscious awareness, which improves the quality of their lives, as well as, the condition of the planet through their behaviors. Meditation practices do not conflict with anyone’s belief system, political or nonpolitical stance, feelings about themselves or others, the world, etc. Meditation fits your theology (see theology – wakingupwithpatrick.com). The practice does not call on you to change what you believe, what you do, who you associate with, what flag you wave, or what religion you follow. Meditation practices fit everyone and everything you currently believe and do. The resulting state of present moment conscious awareness improves the quality of your life and brings a deeper level of joy and love to everything you do. Meditation fits.
Meditation is not about taking on more, it’s mainly about letting go. It reduces the amount of intrusive, often negative, workings of your mind that interfere with your life. You become relaxed, confident, patient, loving, less stressed, rarely bored, etc. Regardless of what you do or believe, meditation and you are a good fit!
A meditation: So we know the practice fits so let’s “fit” it in. When it comes to your mind, here and there, throughout your day, or not, try some meditations. Focus your awareness on something while you observe the thoughts going through your mind, acknowledge the thought and then return to your point of focus. If the mind leads you into a mental movie or fantasy, as soon as you realize you’ve been pulled in, returned to your point of focus. As you do, observe whether the practice conflicts with any of your current ways of thinking, it should not. Meditation fits your life.
It’s a new day. Your day…
Awareness: The perception, knowledge, or understanding of a happening, situation, or tangible object. Aware understanding, for our purposes, is a thoughtful, nonjudgmental, tolerant, and even sympatric observation of ourselves, the individual or a humanity based situation, etc. Aware knowledge, when applied to meditation practices, is the ultimate and undeniable knowing of the unquestionable truth of all existence, “We are, this is…” Aware perception, is an awareness of people, places, and things through our senses, emotions or notion. Which includes an aware state from presence and of our own divinity.
The teacher tells the student, “I am aware that I am attempting to bring to verse that which is beyond word. I am trying to point you to the state of conscious present awareness, that which is beyond description, that which must be felt, experienced, and tasted to be known.”
Awareness includes bringing to the conscious mind everything we observe externally as well as what we observe going on in our minds. The simple act of thought or tangible objects, situations, emotions, etc. brings them to a certain level of consciousness. Similar to bringing something out of darkness and into the light. The student and the teacher often find that as their observations move forward in their minds, cognizant of any additional thoughts they add to the observations, things change. That’s one of the things meditation does. When practicing meditation you observe thought, (bring thought to your awareness) while doing so you abide by the rules, aware of any positive or negative responses you add to your observation. Then allow the thought to pass like wind on the sand, conscious of its existence yet unaffected by its effects, consciously aware, yet untouched.
Awareness is included in our meditation practices as part of waking up. For some, it may in fact be the key essential part of their journey towards conscious presence. For the purpose of our current studies we use awareness to separate from much of the conditioning going on in our minds. Often times the student and the teacher bring their awareness to the fundamental facts of our existence. We are a lifeform evolving on this planet with a multitude of other lifeforms, including those of the past and present, spinning around this ball we call earth, rotating around a star we call the sun flying through a galaxy at high speed, flying through a galaxy which is one of many in a universe beyond human comprehension. We are aware we are a part of this natural unfolding of all that is.
A simple meditation, an awareness presentation, try it here and there, when it comes to your mind, or not. Aware that you have a choice. Take some moments and say in your mind everything that you are aware of as it unfolds in the moment: the sounds, the level of light, the space you are in, the sensations in your body, the thoughts in your mind, etc. Bring your awareness to your reaction to these observations; with practice you could do this well. With practice, this could assist you in separating yourself from the workings of your mind. As an advanced mediation you could bring your attention to the silence and the stillness underneath of everything going on around you and even the stillness under the stream of thought.
It’s a new day. Your day.
Equality. We think of equal as being the same value, quality and size. Identical in number or volume, alike in measurement, nature, etc… Equality among peoples is perceived by many to be an unobtainable goal that we continue to strive for. We often separate our fellow humans as being of different disposition, political affiliation, economic status, religious belief, gender, race, educational background, etc. Perhaps human equality begins with us, the individual.
We are one race. The human race. Some believe and understand that we are all created equal; others disagree with our shared equality. Despite the efforts of some, too many prefer to separate us from each other by creating mind made rules and expectations that separate us. Some believe that as the consciousness of the people of earth evolves, equality will be among one of our greatest human achievements. Our status as humans in our current hierarchy, culture, political, and societal situations does not achieve equality. When we include observations of equality in our meditation practices, the oneness we share is clearly evident. Many will tell you that from an observation of creation, peace, love, truth and existence we are the same. We are each other. Separate, yet one. Divided, yet subject to the same laws of creation. We are equal when it relates to emotional responses, to the human experience, not equal by circumstance, gender, country, education etc., but equal emotionally. Joy is joy, fear is fear, love is love. Equal to the inevitable unfolding of all that is. Equal in the fact we all share in the cycle of life and death. As these realities and truths settle in, as we come to value each other as we do ourselves, equality will come to us all. Society may keep us separate at birth, death brings us all together equally.
A simple meditation, try it out, here and there, when it come to your mind, or not. Observe how you judge your fellow humans by a place of equality. You are well aware of your differences from the point of view created by your mind from a place regarding gender, race, religion, social status, profession, creed, etc. then take a moment and observe the person from a place of truth, a place aware of the knowledge of the cycle of life and death, a place of conscious awareness of love. There is a difference. It’s a new day, your day.
Self. When describing self (the self, our self) it is prudent to have several definitions in mind. For the purpose of our meditation practices, we define self as our inner most conscious being that is beyond the description of thought and form, what many refer to as our “true self.” There is also the ego driven self. This self develops as we are exposed to societal norms, interpretations for what is a right or wrong and cultural influences. Often when we refer to ourselves we seek identification in the search, we define our self through what we do and don’t do, what we distinguish from right and wrong, how we look, how we dress, how we act, etc. We define ourselves through mind made conditioning and programing. This is the polar opposite of how we find ourselves through meditation. Some believe that when we define ourselves from ego we limit ourselves from reaching our full potential. It is easy to get caught up in other’s self-identification, it is easy to identify from what we think others expect from us. We often view our fellow humans by how they identify themselves.
A child sat in a classroom and with an open mind listening to the instructor; struggled to define themselves from the description set before them. The teacher said, “If you do this, people will think that. If you act like that people will think this. If you don’t do this, you can’t be that. And if you do this, you will be that.” The child sat there, slightly bewildered, for it was being taught to identify themselves through the lectures of this particular teacher. Just an hour before, another teacher was teaching the child to be this and to be that, so that people would see them this way and that way. Finally at the end of the day, in their last class the guru said, “Tread softly when others tell you to be this or to be that.” It’s okay to listen, hopefully they have your best interest in mind, but you must seek to identify your being (self) beyond the conditioning and the programing of your culture, your society, and those who have yet to find their true self.
A meditation: Give this a try, here and there, when it comes to your mind, or not, when you’re identifying yourself, take a moment and observe whether your definition is the result of conditioning, programming, societal norms, etc. or if your identification is coming from a place of love, peace and joy. A place of presence, which neither holds nor seeks any judgement, prejudice, or identification created by the ego. An awareness of whether you speak from ego or from the conscious presence of your being, which exists beyond word, thought, and form.
It’s a new day.
Waking up, simply defined, means to become roused from sleep or from an inactive or tranquil state, such as lounging or day dreaming. Some refer to waking up as that moment in your life where you find true meaning for yourself or your perceived destiny. In terms of spirituality, it often points to the “self” transcending to higher levels of consciousness of the state of experiencing love and joy beyond the confines of the spoken language. Others still refer to waking up as the different steps you achieve on the journey of enlightenment. Regarding enlightenment, as a process not a destination, which you move more deeply into as you apply the knowledge you acquire along the way. Waking up as the process which leads to total awareness or, for some, the ultimate state of conscious awareness. Presence.
The majority of us do not want to wake up. We are quite content in our slumber. Waking up can be hard, a struggle, an unpleasant wrestling match with that which we have come to believe and what we believe is truth. Waking up often means change. Change which challenges your beliefs, ideals and many of the fantasies that you have become comfortable with. Most of us don’t like changes. We are happy with the illusions our minds have settled with. Illusions created by our programing, conditioning, societal norms, etc.
They say the wise teacher will not challenge you to wake up, they will leave you in your sleep, knowing the knowledge they present and direction they point you in will lead you to great challenges and moments of suffering you have yet to endure. Our society does that, leaves them as they are, better they live in fantasy then try to struggle with the truth. This teacher chooses to take the risk. To tell you to wake up. Wake up from that mind made self that has gotten you to where you are now. Whether it be a state of repetitive suffering or an ego motivated existence. Wake up and find you are not the stream of thought, you are not the things you have been telling yourself. You can wake up to knowledge of your own glory, grace and divinity. To find for yourself, you are what you are looking for in the world. Everything you want and need you already have: peace, love and joy. It is the nightmare of the thought stream the keeps you from experience of the glory of life. You can wake.
A simple meditation: Meditation wakes you up. It separates you from the repetitive, conditioned workings of your mind and allows true concise thinking and awareness to come to the forefront of your life. Try this here and there, when it comes your mind, or not… Bring your attention to how you feel and what goes on in your mind as you wake from sleep or a relaxing moment. You could observe how it feels as you come out of a meditative state after some meditations. Observe any conflict your mind creates as you awaken or, on the other hand, any joy or exhilaration you may experience as you awaken. Consider how these feelings would apply or be similar to any joy or struggle you come across as you continue on your journey of enlightenment.
It’s a new day… your day.