This was going to be a part of a book that I'm writing. It's been sitting around getting rusty. So, I decided to post it here:
QuoteTHE AWARENESS OF THE PRESENT MOMENT
This instant, I will ask you, the reader, to come to awareness of the physical senses. You must "wake up", because you sleep. Do you wander, what does he mean by I sleep?
I will explain my statement. Are you aware of the sound of the clock ticking near you? Do you see your hands as you are reading this book? Or, do you feel that your foot is touching the carpet under it?
The common human being only has a selective span of attention (they are not aware of every stimulus that comes to their senses). Beings with an awakened consciousness are different. While they are walking they are also seeing every tree which lies before them. They are feeling their foot touch the ground every step that they take. Or smelling the beautiful smell of flowers which they pass.
What is it that you are not seeing? What is it that you are not hearing? To wake up we should be seeing and hearing not only that that we ordinarily see and hear, but those things of which we are not ordinarily conscious of.
'See' the words that are in front of you. At this instant you might wander, what now does he mean by 'see'?
Again, I will explain. Everything that we perceive through the 5 senses of external perception is made up of various smaller details--those of which the common human being does not pay attention to, or merely overlooks. Observe these smaller details.
When looking at the wall, we should also be looking at the patterns on it. When observing two objects we should as well be observing whatever lies between them. If we are observing two chairs at any given instant, we should not only be examining the patterns on them but as well be paying attention to the table that lies between them. When listening to music we should also be 'hearing' the tiny crackles and pops that the radio is emitting. The more that is perceived through the 5 senses, the better, and the stronger overall consciousness will strengthen.
The second foundation upon which we sleep is that known as the dream. While observing the world around ourselves through the five senses we might find that we are thinking about something that is different from the awareness. When this happens we might no longer be seeing the fan which is just to the left before our eyes. Instead, we are giving an imaginary speech in our head to a crowd full of people, though we might still be aware of the book that is before our eyes, or a portrait on the wall (awareness has been lost of the fan, or the sound of the ticking clock).
"Dreams" are involuntary, sub-conscious creations. They do not occur by our will but take place below our level of awareness. A dream is any thought, mental sound, or image, that takes us away from the attention through the outer senses of perception. We must 'wake up' from our dreams in the day, by means of heightened awareness through the outer senses of the present moment.
(I might add more to this later)
interesting read...
I try to do this sometimes when I meditate down at the river. Try to listen to every individual sound in the roar the river makes, its extremely challenging to say the least :shock: But challenge is always fun :grin:
Very interesting read...
The method you described was exactly what got me interestd in meditation to begin with.
I was going through some crap and was constantly thinking negatively.
So, one day after work i just sorta decided to try thinking about what was happening around me, not inside me... so i tried it, and was automatically overcome with a feeling of peace and happiness that ive never felt before. It was awesome.
Anywho, im done :)
Mark
That's amazing, Mark. Many people meditate for long periods with no results, and you were able to get quick results by following your own intuition in the present moment.
Well... automatically may have been a slight exaggeration... only slighty tho :)
My initial reaction was more like... "this feels really wierd, whats goin on?!?!"
Somehow, i just knew what i was doing was a good thing, so i kept focusing on it and just began to see things from a different perspective. I felt really connected and a part of the world around me and all the problems i had seemed so miniscule and un-important.
So yeah, im all for it :)
This is a really great, powerfull method I have seen references to before.
When I do this, I start to feel an expansion of sorts, and a oneness with the room and environment around me, in a blissfull way.
This seems to be the key to so many problems with the subconscious running rampant and issuing a constant influx of "feelings/impressions" inside yourself throughout the day.
In a slight variation, I use this if something gives me the impression that I should get angry about it. I used to fly off the handle, but for the last few years instead of "identifying' with the person/thing that would invoke an emotion, I simply "dismiss" the idea and focus on what is going on around me, and give my awareness to the present moment.
And you know what? It works! :)
It is true that the true reality lies not in the past nor in the future, but in the absolute present, the now.
In the present moment you can experience states of thoughtless awareness, means that you become aware of everything but no thoughts come. The next state is the witness state. It means you witness the play around you, the play of the universe. You are detached from all the troubles, you are beginning to see things from the self, whom is the eternal witness. It is only in the now that you can spiritually evolve.
Because only in the present moment you can find God within you and outside of you.
In the witness state, when something bad happens to you, you don't react, there are no emotions, you are detached, you become your own guru.