Zero Tolerance
Once we have awakened to the realisation that we are not the experiences of thinking, perceiving and sensing that we commonly refer to as the body and the mind and that we are the Aware Reality that is watching these experiences, which, through rational investigation of the latter, we find that we have no evidence of its limitation leading us to experience the fearless presence of oneness of Self and environment, we have arrived at that version of ourselves that is true.
Because of the habitual programming of our minds, we may still have thoughts that characterise us as a single separate person in an environment that is separate from us. Such thoughts, it becomes obvious, inspire immediate fear and inadequacy in us. If we allow ourselves to become lost in them, we become confused about our agenda, course of action and exhaust our energy. If this happens, as Awareness, we must reinvestigate our experience to remind ourselves who we are and what we are not. Even this is unnecessary at a certain point, as we don't have to entertain such thoughts!
We can choose this, even though our egoic mind was trying to tell us that we did not have this right, we do! Once we fully realise we have this choice, we can adopt a "zero tolerance" stance to any thoughts of separateness. It is allowed to do this! We have this freedom! Then we enter a new phase where we are not bothered by such thoughts or at least a lot more rarely. It is a conscious decision we make as we realise we are this Aware Reality, and entertaining thoughts that we are otherwise is a complete waste of time. Living as this Aware Reality, that is, fully present, as the experience of oneness of Self and environment, releases us from negative states. We can focus on the practical issues of living and turn our attention to enjoying living.
Furthermore, we can trust this decision by surrendering any immediate issues to this Aware Reality rather than trying to mentally strategise our way out of the situation. We can experiment with this experience amidst our daily life. We should confirm to our satisfaction that when we consciously adopt the experience of the Universal Self as being our Self, things work out better. It is this straightforward truth that is the heart of so-called non-duality teachings. It's so simple it's almost too simple for people to understand, as spirituality has often become a complex metaphor. Most people feel that they must somehow purify themselves (or trauma and destructive behaviours) to achieve a "state" of happiness, but here we discover this is not true. We are already what we seek and can jump straight into what we are. Our ability to heal ourselves is much more effective when we do. Awareness includes all things and is the oneness of Self and environment.
As I was sitting in Manchester Airport this week waiting for my flight home, surveying the terminal building, full of hectic noise and thousands of people, I consciously chose at the moment to see that all these so-called people were simply the appearance in the form of bodies, emanating from one single Self. I actually could feel this truth. There was no separation between a "me" and a "them". Realising this, from the perspective of my local mind and body, create a sense of loving, non-judgmental intimacy with all the events unfolding around me. I found I was enjoying what may have been an irritating environment in the past. As I arose to queue up at my departure gate, I found my local body was indicating it was thirsty. I was standing next to a vending machine that sold water. Unfortunately, the device did not take cash and would not accept my card. Seeing my predicament, the woman behind me spontaneously offered to buy me a bottle of water. I was so touched and offered to pay her the cash. As she spoke, I could feel that we were the same Self talking to each other. Different bodies and minds acting as one. She said that was unnecessary, but before she could buy me the bottle, a kind man behind her reached out with a fresh unopened bottle of water and said, "please take this," in a tone of generous firmness and held out the bottle to me. I graciously accepted. This simple exchange immediately confirmed that through my conscious decision to see that all the human beings around me were all the one Self, and any needs of my local body were supported. It felt even more beautiful to my local body and mind to realise this harmony with the environment around me.
This is one of many daily experiments that constantly re-confirm the validity of consciously identifying as the Awareness. Indeed each day is a beautiful opportunity to re-confirm this experience even more. This becomes the central joyful purpose of each day until soon you no longer need this confirmation. In all cases, it is a matter of consciously choosing to sit as the experience of Awareness and trust it by consciously surrendering any particular issues and seeing them resolve.
Therefore, I recommend zero tolerance for those thoughts of separateness as soon as possible. Don't let them into your house for a second. Soon they will stop bothering you at all! Even to get over the threshold. Investigate your experience of being aware to prove to your satisfaction as quickly as possible you are the Universal Self at one with its environment. Live from presence, not past and future. Experiment with this in daily living until, beyond a shadow of a doubt, you know this way of living works, and it's possible to let go of the controlling strategizing mind to live, and things always work out for the better. I would love to hear your experiences of doing this. Please do send me if you like!
Love
Freyja
