The Relevance of a Spiritual Awakening
By Aruna Byers, Awakening Coach
Being a Master of the human experience is the requirement for Ascension. We are all Masters in essence, but most humans are not living as Masters because they are focused on the world around them to define who they are instead of going within to meet the Master they really are. Realizing that the Master within is our true identity is a Spiritual Awakening.
In Eastern spirituality the Master within is called the Self. This does not mean Higher Self as in Higher Self and Lower Self. It means the One, non-dual Self that we are all part of. It is the awareness that existed before we even became conscious that there was a world around us. The Self is the source of all that is. It is also called God, Consciousness, Mother/Father, Higher Power, I AM and other names. No matter what name we call it, most people agree that it is something greater than ourselves that exists as a source of life for all living things. What most people don’t recognize is that we are all part of this same source and it is a creative force in our lives that we are not in control of – no matter what the ego thinks about this.
To be Awake, in a spiritual sense, is not about living a certain way because of what the mind believes. Rather, it is living spontaneously in every moment because the mind has become quiet and the ego mind is functioning only to serve the Self. Without the controlling ego mind directing the show, our True Self is free to express itself through our human form.
How is this different than we would live otherwise? Notice how your thoughts constantly tell you what to do and how to do it. Notice how they keep bringing up the past and fantasizing about the future. Notice how your thoughts about who you are, how you would like your life to be, what has happened to you, what you want and don’t want, etc. totally dominate every moment. In fact, all of this mind chatter is about your personal story. We learn to depend on the instructions the mind gives us as if it were a guardian angel that knows what’s best for us. But does it really? The mind is like a computer, fully programmed with beliefs and attitudes we brought in with us and these are reinforced by experiences of the senses that confirm these beliefs. More experiences and other input from books, teachers, parents, peers, etc. expand our programming into a specific way of perceiving ourselves, others and the world. Our self image, our body, our health and our behavior thus become an expression of this identity we believe ourselves to be. IT IS ALL A LIE!!! Who we really are has nothing to do with our beliefs.
To Ascend we must be empty of all thoughts and beliefs that keep our vibration dense. This does not mean choosing some beliefs the mind tells us are good to choose and denying those the mind tells us are unacceptable. It means having a quiet mind that is empty of all judgments, fear, anger, and victim thoughts. It means being fully present to each moment without a running dialog about what we have experienced, are currently experiencing or will experience. It means fully showing up as our True Self which is unconditionally loving, peaceful and full of joy, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in.
We fulfill our role as lightworkers and support the Ascension process by living this way in every moment. Awakened awareness allows the light within us to radiate through every cell. The love and joy we feel insides creates a huge aura that embraces everyone that finds themselves within it. This helps them feel peaceful and helps to open their hearts and awaken their awareness. It is a gift we offer the planet and all its inhabitants without doing anything but Being. It is the ultimate co-creation with the spirit realm for the highest good of all.
Description of a
Spiritual Awakening
An Awakening can happen at any moment, and when it does you will know it. Everyone’s experience of Awakening is different, so what I could tell you about mine may be completely different than what happens to you. But what is the same for all is that your perception of reality changes immediately, because you suddenly understand everything you have ever heard or read about Awakening and Enlightenment. For most of us it is an “Ah-ha” moment when we realize the truth of who we are by having a direct experience of our True Nature, the Master within. We suddenly know that this is who we are and that all the beliefs we have held about ourselves are merely fabrications of the mind and not guidelines we are obligated to accept as truth. The “Ah-ha” moment may be accompanied by drama or not – the end result is the same. The absolute knowing that you are not your thoughts, and that the True Self within (rather than the body/mind) is you, has freed you from self-imposed bondage. What we do next is up to the Master within because the ego mind is no longer dominating your life as the chooser.
The Difference
Between a True Spiritual Awakening and an Awakened Ego
An ego is not real. You can’t find it anywhere no matter where or how hard you look. We use this label to refer to the unreal identity we create with our thoughts. Some call it the Negative Ego because even though it seems to be our guardian angel, it is also the source of all our problems. This software program in our body/mind computer is extremely clever. It records all the things it wants us to remember and plays it back to us whenever there is an opportunity to direct our lives with it. It feeds on our vulnerabilities and the beliefs we already have so that we will accept what it is telling us. When we read books about spiritual topics, the experiences of our teachers, the teachings of our spiritual path, etc. it forms its instructions around these concepts and directs us to act as if we were truly embodying awakened awareness. When we do this we actually start to believe we have awakened and are the full expression of our divine Self. ANOTHER LIE!!! Awakened awareness is not mental, a feeling, a state, or a way of behavior. It does not exist when there is any belief in a person being directed by a mind. It only exists when the mind is so quiet it has no role whatsoever in the way a body behaves. In fact, the identity as a person has disappeared. As long as there is a personal “I” that believes anything at all, an Awakening has not occurred.
How do we function without mind chatter directing our every move? Wonderfully!!!! The absence of thoughts allows us to be fully present to every experience without judgments or comparisons to previous experiences. Our actions are spontaneous because the Master within determines what they are to be for the role we play in the movie of life. Our knowing replaces all beliefs and the wisdom of our expanded consciousness is available as we need it.
Spiritual Experiences
and their relationship to Awakening
Spiritual experiences are part of every human life because everything in life is spiritual. Some are more dramatic than others, and the mind will interpret the more dramatic ones to be significant -putting meanings on them that they usually don’t deserve. An altered state, or altered mind experience is not an Awakening. Any experience is just an experience. An Awakening has occurred when a permanent change in awareness has occurred. If the memory of an experience is described by mind as “something that happened to me” there is still identification with the body/mind story and Awakening has not occurred. An Awakening has occurred when the “I” you refer to as your identity is the One Self. without any individuation.
Spiritual Paths for
Awakening
All authentic Spiritual paths lead to the same place. Masters of all mystical traditions will tell you that “The truth lies within” and they will point you there. Those teachers who are not authentic Masters (yes, many believe themselves to be and will happily run your life as if they are), will preach a lot of dogma, give you practices and austerities to do according to their belief systems, and following them will keep you stuck in illusion.
A true Awakening begins with being quiet and having the mind directed towards the silence within where all thoughts rise from. It helps to have an Awakened teacher to show you where ego still exists and keep you on track. Only Awakened awareness can know where you are in relation to Awakening because mind will always deceive you about this. Finding an Awakened teacher can be a challenge if you don’t know what to look for. Here are some guidelines: Someone you feel peaceful being with who has no agenda for you other than supporting your Awakening. They won’t be asking you to join anything, take lots of very expensive courses, turn your life over to them, etc. They will point you to the Truth within. And most important: they will help you Realize who you are by showing you who you are not.
Self Inquiry - The
For those who do not have the time or money to travel somewhere and live with a guru there are alternatives. One is the availability of those who have already Awakened and are living ordinary lives in cities, towns and rural areas all over the planet. They may not be promoting themselves as teachers but will recognize and be happy to assist those who are serious about Awakening.
Another is the way that most of them Awakened – with the practice of Self Inquiry.
This method of going within was introduced by the Indian Sage Sri Ramana Maharshi. It is a practice that is can be used continuously no matter what the body is engaged in doing. It can be done at home, at work, driving the car or taking a walk, etc. It requires vigilance and mindfulness because thoughts will continue to distract you unless you stop them in their tracks. It is a very simple practice that can be the last one you will ever need.
For more information about this “most direct way to have a Spiritual Awakening” you can go to www.ramana-maharshi.org,, www.aham.com, or contact me directly for instructions and support in the process.