Referencing Eckhart Tolle, "A
Course In Miracles", the Tao, the teachings of Jesus ... among other
things.
 Chronicle Of The Ones by Tim Bickel with Linda Fath Cover art by Andy Berlin A spiritual awakening adventure novel. Chronicle weblog |
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| The Center's Purpose | ||||||
There are no mystical unknowns, just a persistent determination to not live the obvious. |
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These
audio teachings are probably the most powerful thing this site offers.
They are given FROM the state of presence, and will draw you
into your own experience of being present - or awake awareness.
Then, you have your own understanding and awareness, not just
more
words, another concept. |
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Is Awake Living Possible?
( Is it possible to be happy all the time? )
Our awake mind is a real alternative state of awareness. It is possible (1) to access it, (2) to develop its frequency and stability and (3) to live in and from it.
It is a state of awareness. It has been talked and taught about since the Tao. It is the mind space Jesus called 'the kingdom of heaven.' It is the mind space Mohandas Gandhi saw his truth from. It is the mind space Eckhart Tolle speaks from and about. It is the mind space Buddha cultivated. It is a specific, real state of awareness. It is enlightenment, nirvana, God mind. Profound experiences of it may occur spontaneously and infrequently, but it is also possible to begin systematically developing it.
This state of awareness is very different from all the other differing states of consciousness that usually entertain, or plague, our so-called-normal human consciousness. Because it is so different, I refer to it as a state of awareness rather than as another or a different consciousness. This differentiation is for the purpose of my teaching. Given the oneness of everything, I do not wish to attempt to impose yet another 'level' of 'different-as-compared-to' state of distinction.
Yet the awareness of awake mind is distinctly different than any state of consciousness the world commonly experiences in.
Jesus taught 'you cannot serve both God and man' and 'you think with the mind of man, not of God.' The 'A Course In Miracles' says 'You cannot see two worlds.' These are all pointers to the radically different nature of awake mind awareness as compared to worldly awareness we are used to.
The attributes of this state have been described as peace and love. But it is not an euphoric state in its full, clarified experience. Rather than attempting to say what it is, when speaking to a state of consciousness which cannot know what it is, it may be easier to point to what that state of awareness 'sees.' If you have seen these things, then you have lucidly experienced awake mind awareness.
For one, it sees perfect equality. It does not see different kinds of people; it does not see that people are different from one another in anyway. Only the human mind sees through the filter of perception, which sees differences. To awake mind, all people are identical, and thus necessarily equal. Another 'further out' attribute of this mind space, is that it sees no difference between anything. It does not distinguish life to be (only) animated forms, with some forms more advanced or superior to others, and all 'life' superior to inanimate objects. It 'sees,' though not visually, that there is a vast limitless bright field of being, and that all form is suspended in that field. And that it is the field that is the Life, and the form as only beautiful expressions of that field. This has been commonly experienced and identified as 'the feeling that I am one with everything.' There has never been one person, if I spent enough time around them, that eventually did not recall, and admit, to their own experience of 'the oneness' in a quite lucid way. However, I have found the human mind is quite proficient at suppressing the memory of these experiences almost completely, and for long periods of time - decades.
Other common expressions of awake mind awareness is 'the presence of God, the peace of God, the love of God.'
When we are in awake state of awareness, all physical pain disappears. All senses of pending problems is gone. We are truly bright, joyful, loving and at peace - with everything. The answer to 'can we be happy all the time', then, is 'yes.' But to do so, we must learn to invite, then live in (only) the awake mind state of awareness. We can learn to live in that space. It requires only - our choice.
Initially, we learn what our awake mind is. Then we learn to re-associate, or re-identify ourselves as being that, instead of the varying human consciousness of mental noise, emotional reaction and physical stimulation that we had previously identified with. Then we learn to maintain our new association with our awake mind, while It proceeds to undo, or unmake, the previous human association of conscious identity. During that phase we still feel the pull and sway of the elements of human consciousness, but even in those residual dramas, we are aware of their undoing in progress - so we are still happy, while we still feel unhappy, while the undoing is still in progress. Then, in the end, we we become very clear and stable in our awake mind awareness and identity, and bright, easy joyful living is the normal state.
Awake Mind awareness is not a belief, or as I said just above, another state of consciousness. It is a clear and steady space of its own - in our mind. But it is so uncharacteristic of our familiar states of consciousness that we often need help realizing 'that is it.' It is peaceful, very peaceful; and quiet, very quiet. That is why Zen Buddhism refers to it as 'the void.' It is the peace that passes understanding and the peace that is not of this world. It sparkles with a vibrancy and love - it has been described as the presence of God.
In terms of our work to get to this awareness, it can be said to be - a choice. It requires our constant, repeated and sustained choice - choosing and choosing again, to step to awareness to see we are tangles in an old thought pattern, and to stand still mindfully, watching from awareness, until the old pattern dissolves and only the sparkling, vibrant, clarity of our awake mind remains. When a mind has begun this ongoing process of its own accord then it is said to be awakening.
The Center's purpose is not to 'sell' all these ideas about awake awareness to anyone, but to offer a place, support and encouragement for you to help develop your own awareness of this space, and to learn how to use it to live from. Everyone has had an experience of it, though many deny it passionately. It cannot not be available, for it is the Source of Life.
***
The human
condition of life consciousness has systematically dedicated itself to
being fearful and miserable. In fact, fear is just a device of
the mind, among many, with which to justify misery. It is not
hard to be happy, bright, joyous and loving. In fact, it is
natural for all minds to be that way. All that is needed is to
break the habits of returning to miserable perception. These
habits are largely unconscious, and are often ingrained deeply in a
sense of 'this is how life is.' But awake mind has a power of its
own. It can unmake all the habits of misery we have chronically
fed and sustained for a lifetime. Although this is a natural
ability of awake mind, when we are not used to it, it appears
miraculous in its ability to bring peace, and though that, healing,
understanding, and love and new awareness.***
There is no doctrine or teaching about awake mind. All doctrines
and teachings are reductions of other's awake mind experiences.
Some are a little bit useful, in pointing to the awake mind awareness
within ourselves, but they cannot tell us what it is, nor can they get
us there.Awake Mind Awareness is attained - by the desire to do so. It has a tremendous intelligence and power of its own. If we let our minds begin to loosen, awake mind within will do the work and guide us ever further deeper into it.
***
States of consciousness and awareness are like musical notes. The note for awake mind is higher, clearer and purer than any other note. It has been called Om, the sound of unmanifest Being. When we are in a space with another who plays that certain note, our mind does hear it, and if we are willing, we respond to it.
The center is a place where the singular note that is sustained is that of awake mind. The continual energized experience of it by others here, makes it 'louder.' Your presence in the sustained field of awake mind awareness will make it easier for you to distinguish it in your own mind, from all the other continuous and raucous noise made by consciousness.
When another mind responds gladly to the presence of awake mind, a communication channel is opened. Another wake mind can 'see' you are 'getting it.' (There is actually a feeling of flow that goes out from our mind when we regard another in awake mind and they respond to it - you can feel it as clearly as feeling a breeze blowing.) Through this, others can point out to you when you have situated your mind to accept awake mind awareness. Their validation, of what will definitely feel like a good and peaceful experience to you, helps you develop 'mind landmarks' to return to on your own to re-access your own awake mind awareness - when you have lost your way again in the noise or panic of the human mode of thinking.
That is our primary offering here. There are also practices, and some teachings that help 'peace out' and open the human consciousness a bit, so your awareness of awake mind is more likely to get through to yourself. We offer those spontaneously, as situations call for them.
Awakening is a very personal experience and there are no pre-requirements or judgments we associate with any individuals process. How it happens for you, and the apparent rate it is happening for you, is up to you and the Universe. We just offer to be available to share the experience with, as it is sometimes hard to tell your old world 'I have had an experience of knowing, or being, the love of God.'
We are always willing to speak with anyone, regarding any experience they want to pursue for themselves, regardless of your words or understanding - or ours. Call or email us. This is what we do.
Tim