Appearances Come and Go but You are Always Here

Witnessing

Appearances come and go but you are always here. Most meditative practices encourage a distancing from what is observed, a detachment from the minds thoughts that drift, like clouds, across the sky of awareness, for example. Seeing thoughts or emotions forming and moving and disappearing in an infinite sky of witnessing presence is often a technique used to calm the mind, to rest as the awareness and not to ‘log in’ to thoughts or feelings but to remain was a neutral observer.

This is all helpful and very good but to go a little deeper with this I would like to suggest we discern more clearly what is an appearance and what is the True Self. Why? Because to exercise this spiritual muscle of discernment can help to release the grip and the obsession with what appears phenomenally and enable us to fall in love with the unmoving, with the ever present reality, with the timeless imperishable realm of spirit and life.

Phenomenality

I often use the word ‘phenomenality’. What does it mean? Of course the word phenomenal can mean ‘exceptional’ of ‘remarkable’ but the other meaning we refer to here is ‘perceptible by the senses or through immediate experience’, ‘the phenomenal world’. In other words the phenomenal world of apparent objects, names and forms is that which is perceived, that which is seen, that which comes and goes.

So what can be perceived in this way? Matter, forms and physical objects come and go. Even mountains that appear permanent are not. Mountains change over time. If you watch a film of time speeded up this world before our eyes changes fast! All sentient forms are born, grow, live and die. Flesh, therefore is phenomenal. All this is observed from a deeper awareness that is ‘non phenomenal’.

Feelings and Emotions Rise and Fall in You

Also if we move from looking out to perceive the world apparently outside of ourselves, we can also perceive somehow what arises apparently inside ourselves. Feelings or emotions can rise up with intensity and be expressed or felt and eventually they subside – this is observed. Thoughts similarly come from seemingly nowhere and we either engage with them or not. Sometimes they arise so powerfully that they appear to take our attention on a long stream of thinking and imagining or analysing or projecting but eventually each thought – it has to be admitted – goes or disappears. It appears like we are then released from its grip. Is this not so?

Neti Neti

As many of us know, the practise of ‘Neti Neti’ is a way of saying that whatever arises in terms of objects or thoughts or feelings in awareness is not me. I am not this, I am not that. Why am I not this or that? Because, as Mooji says,

Everything comes and goes.
They are objects of perception and are therefore transient. But you are pure subjectivity beyond the concept of subjectivity—formless and complete.
There is no special direction for you to go, because you are everywhere present and the same.
You are here before all beginnings, throughout all duration and time,
and here still after all endings—untouched.
You are unchanging Awareness.
Who can deny this?
Open the eyes of your Heart and see.

~ Mooji

Russia, October 2013

Phenomena come and go and there is a witnessing of that. Look deeply and you will see that IF it is true that you are your thoughts then when they go – you would be gone! Read this ‘Quote of the Day‘. Also IF it is true you are your body then when the body dies you will die. Some may say this is true – ‘we do die!’ On a bodily level this of course is true, but are we the body only? There are many wise sages and prophets of God who point to something that can never die – in you!

If we observe, all phenomena arise in and move through the spaciousness and stillness that simply is here as our natural presence that is both no thing (not an object) and every thing.

Turning attention inward

SO – let’s turn our attention to that presence. There is a subtle turning of attention from object to subject. ‘Metanoia’ meaning ‘turn towards the light’ or ‘a transformative change of heart’. There is an apparent choice, it seems, to turn from the perception of things and objects that arise and fall TO the presence and light within. To turn away from the temptation of alluring objects or thought streams that are seemingly desperate to attract our attention – to the presence that is the witness of all this. What is this presence? What is this perceiver? Is it even a separate entity of some sort or is the perceiving completely impersonal and unified?

The perceiver is NOT a person! It cannot be a form because even the physical form of the body is born, grows, changes constantly and eventually dies. The body is phenomenal. It is not ego (who we think we are) as this is rooted in memory, conditioning and personal psychological identity, ie thought. So what is the subject? What perceives? What are you in essence? What is this background awareness? What is this infinite timeless presence that is always here? Is it of any value? Is it the Celestial Gem?

Root Source of the Universe

Can this presence be defined? Can it be described and nailed down with some words? Can this awareness be labelled in a way that we can say ‘Ah – I’ve got it!’ No it cannot be defined or described accurately. In fact this presence is the unknown, ineffable, beyond the human mind or thinking, incomprehensible. And yet it is always here, without this conscious indefinable presence nothing of the world could be perceived! This is the root source of the universe but even those are only words pointing. Signposts that point to a placeless place and a timeless realm.

Mooji’s video ‘Move Beyond the Grip of Phenomenality‘ is here and most profound in relation to this.

The Vibrational Field of the God Self

The awareness that is it possible to turn from the constant barrage of phenomenal activity to the peace within is tremendous. The realisation that we are not bound to give attention to phenomena and it is possible to give full and undivided attention to the silence and the spaciousness that lies within. This is a blessing. What opens up if we do this and abide here in and as this presence is truly remarkable. The vibrational field of the God Self makes itself known within you. It has always been here but perhaps not acknowledged. It is the one universal, infinite heart of being – but very often simply overlooked.

‘You are the light of the world‘ Matthew 5:14-16 says Jesus.

Easter and Enlightenment!

This is such an auspicious time for awakening

Easter week has just passed and that is a time of Resurrection and new life. Resurrection is perhaps not just about the story in the bible of Jesus being risen from the dead, amazing and powerful as that is. Perhaps it is also a metaphor for true awakening to that which cannot ever perish – in you!

Perhaps ‘Resurrection‘ is another word for ‘Self Realisation’ or ‘Enlightenment’.

Bentinho Massaro is at present offering some free and deeply profound talks here on ‘Enlightenment’ and I highly recommend tuning in – literally to this vibrational field of God.

Bentinho Massaro’s Free Online Global Enlightenment Retreat

— Freedom During Lockdown —

So blessed we are to have beings so clear and giving themselves so freely for a happier planet and an enlightened civilisation. Alleluia!

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