The Light of Awareness

"Art of Judgement" by Victo Ngai

The Light of awareness is not an emotion. 

The Light of awareness sees emotions. It sees what is there. Light is not the same as bliss or joy or ecstasy. When the life coaches tell you to ‘follow your bliss,’ it’s not the same thing as following the light. 

The issue here on this planet is that we are 7 billion souls living side to side, and none of us are here to learn the same lesson. This is why we are dissatisfied with most of our schools systems in the West. The industrialized model of schools tries to make everything fit an exact mold. And while there are basic things that everyone should know, we are also incredibly different. We have different talents and strengths. 

A good leader or teacher is the one who knows how to identify those strengths, see them in his students or employees and get them the proper training or set them to the proper task. In this way, both the group and the individual receive benefit. The individual feels true fulfillment because of their engagement and can take pride in the high quality of work they do, while the community also receives the benefit of high quality work.

We have to understand that spirituality is the same. There are many overlapping teachings that are beneficial for everyone to know about, but the actual spiritual journey, the actual development of the individual soul is specific, and those lessons can only be gained experientially.

We walk down different paths to the same goal. Some of us have hundreds of miles to go till we reach our destinations, some only a few leisurely steps. Some are strong enough to sprint down the path at high speeds, others stroll, take breaks, smell the flowers, sleep in the sun, and then continue. When we finally realize that the ONLY thing we can do on the spiritual path is walk OUR OWN path and just love everyone else, that is a true beginning.

I say ‘A true beginning’ because it is one of many. One realization on an on-going list. But it is certainly an important one. Knowing that you are only capable of being responsible for your own evolution gives you a grand level of power. You don’t have to wait for others in order to achieve ANYTHING. It is always in your hands and it is always up to you. 

A question may arise at this point though: “I see so much strife on this planet. What I truly desire to achieve is for it all to get better: for all humans to live in peace and love. How can I do this if I can’t change what others do and can only take care of my own journey?” 

A very important question, it is, to which I have a few thoughts:

1. Stop getting in the way of the peaceful humanity- 

This is a huge subject in itself, but if in your heart the unity and harmony of the inhabitants of this planet is truly an ardent desire of yours, you need to start fervently contemplating what its causes are and make sure that you are not contributing to those causes. 

Yes, things like pollution and consumerism are contributors, but in my opinion those are only external manifestations. The causes of THOSE causes occur on the inner plane, and we DO have power there: Fear, judgement, separation, hatred, disregard, self-imposed limitations, these are all highly contributing factors. The first place to start is to stop adding kindling to this massive fire. 

If you want this planet to achieve peace, first stop the war within yourself <3

2. See yourself as All that is- 

The only way humans can do things that harm others in a negative way without regard for their well-being is by believing that they are separate from those people. But this is not true.

On one level we are all SO inter-connected. On a deeper level, we are even more than that. We are the same being. We are our community, we are our species, we are our planets, and we are existence itself. Know that what conscious work you do on yourself affects all of those around you. 

But, being all of Humanity that means we can’t move forward until all of us do. The work you do on yourself is beautiful and you might reach a point of satisfaction there, on this small finite section of reality. But you ARE humanity as well, the work you do on your SELF as humanity will probably not reach completion by the end of your life time. But you can’t stop, because this is you TOO.

3. The Practical Power of Patience- 

Patience is not to be underestimated, but it does take a certain amount to contemplation to understand. Patience is a spiritual skill which brings peace. 

We have many spiritual skills; they are also known as virtues. In patience, we employ the spiritual understanding of Timelessness: the inner knowledge that time does not really exist, all of existence is one point. The end and the beginning are one. Without the catalyst in the beginning, the achievement in the end would not be possible. Without this waring and strife which humans are suffering, we would not know that we long for peace. The thought seems horrible at first glance, but a mature heart knows the wisdom of what IS. 

Patience is the knowledge of this, not just in the head but in the heart: to feel this truth with the heart and know that the peace and harmony of humanity is simply inevitable and surely coming. Disregard the outward appearance of the world and live in the knowing of your heart. 

Patience entails absolutely no waiting. Patience is knowing. Patience itself is peace.