Exploring Awareness

Ever think about what brings you a sense of security or what you may be holding on to in life that may not best serve you? Who are, or what are you attached to, and what would happen if you didn’t need to attach to anyone or anything including your own ego? Some people have a yearning for something more -it may be a loud voice or a just a whisper, and for some perhaps there is no yearning- but if that yearning is there, we’d invite you to join us on our exploring awareness journey. In this episode, we discuss attachment to thoughts, habits, ways of being that may contribute to the sense of attachment, and how exploring awareness of these patterns may be a new and more authentically feeling way to be in the world. It’s hard though, because becoming aware of all of the things that seem to be self-defining will start dropping away which may, as Adyashanti says, “be distressing to your ego”. Being aware of attachments is the first step, watching them drop off could be the second step, then resting as awareness may open up a new sense of freedom where attachments aren’t the driving force- instead you may just realize that peace, joy love and generosity- the inherent qualities that are already there- become the motivators. Listen to “Within You and Without You” by the Beatles and note the line “With our love, with our love we can save the world, if they only knew” .

Episode # 20 Finding Fulfillment is an Inside Job

In this episode Frank and Lisa explore the word “fulfillment”, and provide methods as to how we can connect with the sense of fulfillment. The word can have different meanings depending on your mindset. Feeling fulfilled may come from achieving something that you have striven for- a material item, a relationship, a vacation, a job- or feeling fulfilled can come from a deeper place that comes from an inner voice that may be telling you something else. This inner voice is your home, it might seem difficult to do - but it’s within your power to find your home and fulfillment wherever you are and whatever is happening. Transform any issue by exercising the full potential of your fullest humanity and bring these things to awareness and then rest as awareness – being freed from swimming in the chaos results in a feeling of fulfillment. It’s easy to say -and sounds good- but the philosophy of our podcast is to discuss the “how” so that anyone can have a method to connect to the deepest sense of fulfillment.

Since you can’t think your way through this, we provide another guided meditation - as you practice mindful awareness in meditation and in daily life, the feeling of fulfillment will naturally arise and you will notice, kind-of in retrospect, that life is more fulfilling. Ultimately its your choice- once you meditate and find your authentic self -you’re home- and those things you thought would fulfill you may not have the same urgency. When you are fulfilled you might just move in the world to help other people feel fulfilled. Someone who is fulfilled with themselves is going to be a very different partner than someone who is looking to their partner for their fulfillment. If you are a parent, or in any community, the dynamic completely changes when you yourself are fulfilled and not relying on your friends, you partner or your co-workers for your fulfillment.

Nagging creates a sense that love or acceptance is conditioned on acting a certain way. So many of the ways of interacting that we were taught creates tension or problems of unmet expectations. Creating a community of Love from a sense of fulfillment is much more satisfying then depending on others to meet our expectations – the very expectations that came from the false sense of fulfillment to begin with.

The paradox in all of this is that you will get what you want, if what you want is coming from the place you find when you explore awareness.

There is Wisdom in Change How to be a Cow with no Nostrils

In this episode, Frank and Lisa continue exploring awareness in the context of the changing corona virus pandemic. We are all witness to a very changing lifestyle guided both by our intense desire to return to normal life, while at the same time knowing that it could be dangerous. How you move around in the world is a matter of practical concern, but from the awareness perspective, brings up the idea of impermanence. When one “takes a backward step” and looks at each situation from an objective awareness place, the changing nature and impermanence of all things becomes clear. Holding on to the past can be seen as impractical because the past is already gone, and wanting something for the future cannot be guaranteed. The present moment is for sure, and we discuss the wisdom that being present can bring. This whole situation is asking us - in a very pronounced way - to be present. Perhaps then decisions as to how to proceed can be wisdom informed instead of desire informed, wisdom informed instead of conformity informed. There is a freedom in impermanence because no longer being pulled around by thoughts of past regrets or a better future. Its kinda like being a cow with no nostrils (listen to this episode to find out what that means!)

From another perspective, it can be said that “Nothing new appears until something old ceases”. To get a feel for this, we read Rumi’s Poem “The Guest House”

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.

— Jalaluddin Rumi, translation by Coleman Barks (The Essential Rumi)

Whether or not it's good or bad how do we get to the place where we accept “what is? The only way for the world to realize it's full potential is if more people start to wake up to who they really are, and perhaps exploring awareness will guide us as to how.

What’s your “story”? Are you aware of the stories you tell yourself about what happened in the past or what may be in the future? “Being awareness” means we can know that we have stories, and in the knowing we can know who we are. It brings up the question- who are you - beyond the labels and conditions of life? There may be something more to life than the stories we tell ourselves, or the stories people have about us. If this resonates, try using the mindfulness techniques explained in this podcast and the guided meditation in this episode. Waking up from the story can reveal a deeper place of love, peace, joy and generosity that we all share. We discuss the lyrics from The Beatles’ song- Within You And Without You, and a line it says it all- “with our love, we can save the world”

Why can’t I figure this stuff out?

There is a difference between figuring something out and letting it be. Meditation and awareness practices are about letting things, people, situations be – as they are. Our powerful, amazing and analytical brain- a great tool- will try to figure this stuff out. When we talk about exploring awareness, there is another layer to access to how we are in the world, something beyond figuring it out. Instead of trying to figure something out exploring awareness invites us watch the brain try to figure it out and see whatever happens from an awareness perspective. It doesn’t mean a passive acceptance of injustice or wrong, but it does mean seeing what is – to which you can respond from a deeper sense instead of reacting unconsciously.

Why would you want to do this? Perhaps there is a yearning to experience something different or to connect to something deeper. Doing these practices, there can be a return to a deeper core and sense of self- a process is this questioning of all those ideas that you had about yourself. When you get to a point where you feel really whole and complete, there comes a sense of spaciousness and a sense of oneness which is a feeling of returning home.

We spend a bit of time in this episode talking about judgments, as judging people is a very common, unconscious reaction that leads to a very limited and uninteresting way of being. From an awareness perspective, the figuring and judging from the brain becomes an action just like breathing- something we can be aware of, and in that awareness is spacious solid ground that allows an authentic response guided by love, peace, joy and generosity- no matter what the situation and no matter what conditions, habits and beliefs say. Are you going to be able to figure that one out? That’s where the paradox comes in. To be in an open, receptive, spacious place that may take some effort or discipline of sitting and meditating and entering your day in a different way. Effortless effort begins to unfold as you get more experienced with meditation. Instead of having to sit and meditate, the whole day becomes a meditation.

Finding your own “home” in spaciousness anywhere you are, is a very personal experience, not something you figure out.