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Throughout the ages to the present time there have been many reports of a new form of consciousness arising in individuals. This form of consciousness has been called by many names. A few of these labels are "awakening", "enlightenment", "illumination", "transcendence", "self-realization", "kensho" in Zen, "anubhava" in Hinduism" and "unitive consciousness" in modern psychology. It is often described as a life altering spiritual experience where one suddenly breaks through one's normal mode of sensing to perceive and become cognizant of the true reality of one's existence. It is also accompanied by a deep sense of peace, serenity, bliss and inner harmony. Because it results in an exalted awareness of one's self, it is always life altering.
In modern times more descriptions of the phenomenon have been articulated, beginning with the impressive classic study "Cosmic Consciousness" written by Maurice Bucke in the early 1900's extending into present time with authors such as Eckhardt Tolle, Stephen E Levine, Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, etc. However as more has been written about the subject, more confusion about this state has arisen. Mixed in with the confusion are the images of "enlightenment" we have in the "new-age" culture of the smiling Buddha, eastern gurus engaging in strange ascetics practices, western saints and so-called ascended masters, to mention just a few. People from different belief systems often argue over who's really enlightened and who's not, often getting defensive and self-righteous in the discussion. It is surprising to me how heated some of these conversations can become. In reality the source of their discord is that they each approach the subject with a different definition of the phenomena. This discourse is an attempt to clear up the confusion.
Prelude to a definition
Before I present a definition, I'd like to clarify two important things:
1. Why I can write on this subject and
2. Why I am using the term "awakening."
First off, I am not offering this definition from a theoretical standpoint. It would be just as useless to accept a definition of "awakening" from someone who has not experienced this state as it would be to accept a definition of "marriage" from someone who has never been married. It would also be unethical of me to present this without first hand knowledge.
My "qualifications" on this are simple: I have experienced this level of consciousness numerous times and I have been leading individuals to this state for over 20 years through a retreat called "True Awakening". I've been there, taken people there and witnessed it hundreds of time in others. (You can read more about this retreat by googling:
http://www.truesourceseminars.com/true-awakening-an-enlightenment-intensive-retreat.html.)
If you wish you can read more about me at:
http://www.truesourceseminars.com/about-russell.html and judge for yourself.
Secondly, I have deliberately chosen to use the term "awakening" to indicate this state of consciousness. I could use any word. I could call it "self-truth", "localized consciousness", " the real field" or even "gibbly goo". In reality a word is just a label. It is just a name like "tree" or "sun". It indicates the subject but is not the subject itself.
I am going to select the label out of the many labels there are for this state of spiritual awareness as "awakening"...for four reasons.
1. It most closely indicates what occurs for people when they enter this realm of consciousness. It is very much like "waking up."
2. It is a term that is more in the modern vernacular.
3. It is a term that is has the least association with other religions and "new-age" jargon and therefore fewer tendencies to cause confusion.
4. I am going to use the term to make a distinction between it and the concept of "enlightenment" which I will write about in a later article.
Awakening: a definition
Within this context here is a definition:
Awakening is the direct consciousness of one's true nature.
This will need some further clarification of each term to ensure a full understanding.
By "true" I mean in exact accordance to the "truth".
By "truth" I mean, "the way things actually are".
This does not mean the way you believe things to be as this is really a subjective perception and of course may differ from what others believe. This does not mean the constructs that a religious or philosophical system, "holy" book or an old tradition has established. Just because beliefs have been held for hundreds of years and adopted by millions of people, does not mean they are in fact true. Something does not mature into truth due to the fact that it is popular or ancient. It is either true or not. Your reality is either the way it is or it isn't.
An additional clarification of "true" is: "it is always that way". If something is true it is consistently that way, just like "true love" or a "true course" means "unwavering". So your "true nature" means "the one that you actually are eternally".
By "true nature", I mean the essence of who you are, beyond your mind, emotions and body. I also mean the one that you were born as, before all the influences of your personal history and before your ego formed due to the socialization of your family, friends, school, job, culture, society, etc
By "direct consciousness" I mean though no via. Most of our interaction in the world is through a process. We interact with the world and others through our senses, which transfer information to the brain, which interprets the information. Even the intellect is indirect. We can take concepts and ideas and string them together into a logical sequence and come up with a conclusion about something but even this is separate from the actual experience.
Awakening is also not subject to affirmation, visualization, positive thinking or believing. We can very easily go through a process of repeating an affirmation or visualizing a scene of "oneness with the universe" and manufacture an exalted sense of self. But it will fade if not reinforced. This again is a process.
"Direct consciousness" means: to be in union. For a brief moment in time we are no longer separated from our real essence. We have united. We are one with ourselves. In that experience there are three things that are occur: unity, experience and knowingness.
We are united with our true nature in such a way that not only are we experiencing the magnificence of who we are but we know with absolute certainty the fact of our being.
"Suddenly I knew who I was. Tears just streamed down my face, I was so overwhelmed. It was so simple...and I was so grateful, not just for what I discovered about myself, but also for the total certainty associated with that experience. There can never be any doubt... I knew it in a way that didn't depend on any feeling, idea, belief or anything - I was just directly conscious of who I was." P.C. - Academic
So awakening does not happen through a process. It is a spontaneous event, a profound "aha" moment, a deep intuitive flash that "lights up" your whole being. Suddenly you know who you are but this occurs to you in a way that is much more enveloping than an insight.
These three aspects are the crucial aspects of an awakening experience. If they are not all present, the phenomenon is not awakening. One can be deeply in touch with oneself in deep meditation and feel calm, blissful and at peace but if one cannot articulate who it is that is calm, it is not awakening. Conversely one can intellectually state an idea of self but if they are not in union with his/herself and in experiential self-connection, it is also not awakening.
So awakening is very much like waking up but waking up in a very different way. We suddenly become consciously connected to the one that we have always been being (but not conscious of) and the change is noticeable by others. There is an obvious change but we do not change into something else. Actually what happens is we drop more of the personality that we have been trapped in and fall into our true authentic self and are more able to present ourselves from this state. What we become is ourselves. It is simple, exhilarating and revitalizing.
"It happened just like Russell said, I was eating breakfast on Saturday morning, and like the snap of the finger, I was awake, the light came on, I knew who I was. Every thing was new, like I had never seen it before, and it was exquisite. I was born again, free to experience life... fully". Roger Groulx - Procurement Officer for DND, Ottawa
I offer this definition into the much larger discourse and exploration into the growing research in the field of consciousness. May it help guide you in your way through your own special and exciting journey of Self-Actualization.
Be You to Fullness
Russell Scott
True Source Seminars
For more information on the TRUE AWAKENING RETREAT google:
http://www.truesourceseminars.com/true-awakening-an-enlightenment-intensive-retreat.html
To download Russell's free report on living a self-fulfilled life go to:
www.truesourceseminars.com
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