Awareness is our true self; it's what we are. So we don't have to try to develop awareness; we simply need to notice how we block awareness with our thoughts, our fantasies, our opinions, and our judgments. We're either in awareness, which is our natural state, or we're doing something else.
- Joko Beck
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I doubt it. Without thoughts there is no awareness. Awareness is made up of thoughts. Nothing else.
Thoughts make up reality. No thoughts, no reality, no awareness of reality. Only nothingness.
Just thinking ...
Either I disagree or we're on the same page and haven't figured it out. Plenty of things happen without conscious thought. Awareness is. Thought tends to involve words, which involves labeling, which by nature is limiting... that's not totally what I'm trying to say but it's something like that.
Without thoughts, no recognition, or perception. Without recognition, no awareness, conscious or unconscious. Clouds are no longer clouds. Just nothingness.
Just thinking ...
Or leap of faith.
aj,
This passage makes good sense of my recent experience. As you suggested, I read Hardcore Zen, and I then found Daniel Ingram's web-published Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha: An Unusually Hardcore Dharma Book, which I've been reading, as well. Those two, combined with your prior comments about meditation have led me to a slightly different approach to meditation. As a result, I've become aware of yet another layer of conception that usually interposes itself between awareness and experience.
I can only hope that the conceptions I keep discovering don't ultimately prove to be like the proverbial "turtles, all the way down."
Enjoyed the insights.
As you raise your level of awareness the greater the insights and/or understanding.
Ilumine Ao,
Al Diaz Author of BEing The Titus Concept
http://ilumine-ao.blogspot.com
Like the idea of increasing awareness, although awareness just is and transcends thoughtful analysis. Tap into awareness and thoughts just fade and you are left with the essential self. Everything else pales. There you are and nothing went away, it only came to the surface because you stopped blocking it through unconscious distraction.
Conscious awareness and ensuing insight is as easy as breathing if you are given the right instruction. Be here, with respect.
http://www.eloquentbooks.com/SeeingIToI.html
Greenfrog - thanks for stopping in. I've been wild busy lately but I do, do, do want to stay in touch with you... I would say it helps keep my feet on the ground, but though the sense of the phrase is accurate, the particulars are far from. Ya know? About to swing over to your blog to see if you've written more...
Andrew L - Dude. Not arguing with that. Excellent. Since this is your first comment - how did you find my blog? In any event, I'm glad for your comment.
Al, thanks for visiting. What brought you here? I enjoyed the article you posted on your blog in April.
Pleasure to meet you too. Just happened upon you, as these things arise. One moment this, the next that, before you know it you're lost in presence...
Great quote, Julie. Thanks for posting.
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