Contentless Awareness; I Am that I Am
Ever see what is between the gaps of thought? In not thinking, does a person disappear? During sleep, when there is no active consciousness, does a person die? What are zen masters and new age writers speaking of when they say no-mind? How can you have no-mind, what does that mean?
It all gets pretty confusing at an intellectual level, so much can be said about transcending the mind. Nothing compares to direct understanding of a no-mind state, and words remain unable to fully express this level of being.
Every single person on the planet refers to their self as 'I Am.' I am Keith, and I am writing this. I am thirty-three, male, with long hair and tattoos. I am a yoga teacher, web designer, musician, artist, and writer. I am friends with numerous people. I Am able to start all of my sentences about me with 'I Am' and be absolutely accurate. Whatever follows 'I Am' changes, both between people, and for each individual through the course of time. 'I Am' young. 'I Am' old. 'I Am' healthy, and in shape. 'I Am' out of shape.
Also, you are able to say 'I Am' about so many things, and be absolutely accurate in your assessment.
However, 'I Am' remains the same within each person. This is why there is no sense of aging, though the body ages. Anything that can be said about 'I Am' remains a definition, and remains a form that changes in time. All of the descriptions that follow 'I Am' are always different for each person, and changes for the individual depending on their perception. 'I Am', itself, remains indescribable.
Yet, what is this 'I Am'?
'I Am' remains a space of contentless awareness that has no definition. 'I Am' is always present, awake or asleep, sickness or health, male or female. 'I Am' remains translucent, and operates in a paradigm beyond the scope of mental comprehension. 'I Am' remains liberated from the confines of time and space and is at the core of each individual. This is the common element to every human being, regardless of gender, age, race, nationality or belief.
Is 'I Am' the soul?
I really do not know, yet it is quite possible. 'I Am' has a language of feeling based alignment. Acting according to 'I Am' is a seventh sense of alignment, it guides a person into ethical action, and trusting in this non-mental aspect has brought tremendous transformation into my own life. 'I Am', when active in a persons life, becomes a well-spring of love. 'I Am', if it is not the soul, is certainly a different subtle aspect that guides a person into wise action and develops a harmonious relationship with the inner and outer world
How does a person know 'I Am'?
Awareness remains a very subtle aspect of the human being. Consider a human as a composite of elements; the physical body, the mental body, an energy body that fuels the body and mind, and this silent core every person calls 'I Am.' Self-discovery allows a person to recognize the layers of their being, coming into conscious relationship with their aspects and differences. Meditation allows a person to gradually develop a conscious relationship with the layers of their being, and as that relationship blossoms, so do the fruits of the spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
This is a natural blossoming. Where a person can adapt behavior that appears loving, kind, gentle and look like they have self-control, often times such a person is living a sham. These fruits are a natural expression of the soul, and when a person has a strong, conscious, beneficial relationship within, these traits are a natural, effortless by product. There is no trying to be loving, a person simply is loving.
What does a person do to relate to 'I Am'?
Any action of the mind remains in the mind. Same with the physical body and energetic forms. These are never contentless, they operate within the space of awareness. Awareness, itself, remains difficult to directly observe. Anything that tries to get it, isn't it.
As a child learns, the self-seeker must take a similar approach. There will be mistakes, misunderstandings, misdirections, yet one thing must remain present: the intention to know the truth of love. Anything which is a form, that is an action, isn't it. So that just is dropped. There is no set way to come to this discovery, a person has to trust in themselves and be diligent in their search.
Ideally, a person can just know this 'I Am' right now. It is, afterall, always present, even when a person remains unaware of this subtle aspect. Unfortunately, the mind and it's language of identification and forms simply cannot comprehend the silence that it operates within. The mind always has limits and boundaries, operating in a realm of words, concepts and beliefs.
Sooner or later, a seeker becomes tired and drops all the actions of truth-discovering, and in the gaps of mental action remains an opportunity to observe that even though the mind is not active or speaking, even though the body is still operating itself, and though energies ebb and flow within, there is a silent aspect which simply is aware. The first glimpse creates a paradigm shift, and the seeker develops a deeper relationship within, and the inner transformation is accelerated, and the blossoming bears fruit every day.
I Am that I Am.
This article was written by Keith Molyneaux and first posted at PrimalFire Lexicon.
It all gets pretty confusing at an intellectual level, so much can be said about transcending the mind. Nothing compares to direct understanding of a no-mind state, and words remain unable to fully express this level of being.
Every single person on the planet refers to their self as 'I Am.' I am Keith, and I am writing this. I am thirty-three, male, with long hair and tattoos. I am a yoga teacher, web designer, musician, artist, and writer. I am friends with numerous people. I Am able to start all of my sentences about me with 'I Am' and be absolutely accurate. Whatever follows 'I Am' changes, both between people, and for each individual through the course of time. 'I Am' young. 'I Am' old. 'I Am' healthy, and in shape. 'I Am' out of shape.
Also, you are able to say 'I Am' about so many things, and be absolutely accurate in your assessment.
However, 'I Am' remains the same within each person. This is why there is no sense of aging, though the body ages. Anything that can be said about 'I Am' remains a definition, and remains a form that changes in time. All of the descriptions that follow 'I Am' are always different for each person, and changes for the individual depending on their perception. 'I Am', itself, remains indescribable.
Yet, what is this 'I Am'?
'I Am' remains a space of contentless awareness that has no definition. 'I Am' is always present, awake or asleep, sickness or health, male or female. 'I Am' remains translucent, and operates in a paradigm beyond the scope of mental comprehension. 'I Am' remains liberated from the confines of time and space and is at the core of each individual. This is the common element to every human being, regardless of gender, age, race, nationality or belief.
Is 'I Am' the soul?
I really do not know, yet it is quite possible. 'I Am' has a language of feeling based alignment. Acting according to 'I Am' is a seventh sense of alignment, it guides a person into ethical action, and trusting in this non-mental aspect has brought tremendous transformation into my own life. 'I Am', when active in a persons life, becomes a well-spring of love. 'I Am', if it is not the soul, is certainly a different subtle aspect that guides a person into wise action and develops a harmonious relationship with the inner and outer world
How does a person know 'I Am'?
Awareness remains a very subtle aspect of the human being. Consider a human as a composite of elements; the physical body, the mental body, an energy body that fuels the body and mind, and this silent core every person calls 'I Am.' Self-discovery allows a person to recognize the layers of their being, coming into conscious relationship with their aspects and differences. Meditation allows a person to gradually develop a conscious relationship with the layers of their being, and as that relationship blossoms, so do the fruits of the spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
This is a natural blossoming. Where a person can adapt behavior that appears loving, kind, gentle and look like they have self-control, often times such a person is living a sham. These fruits are a natural expression of the soul, and when a person has a strong, conscious, beneficial relationship within, these traits are a natural, effortless by product. There is no trying to be loving, a person simply is loving.
What does a person do to relate to 'I Am'?
Any action of the mind remains in the mind. Same with the physical body and energetic forms. These are never contentless, they operate within the space of awareness. Awareness, itself, remains difficult to directly observe. Anything that tries to get it, isn't it.
As a child learns, the self-seeker must take a similar approach. There will be mistakes, misunderstandings, misdirections, yet one thing must remain present: the intention to know the truth of love. Anything which is a form, that is an action, isn't it. So that just is dropped. There is no set way to come to this discovery, a person has to trust in themselves and be diligent in their search.
Ideally, a person can just know this 'I Am' right now. It is, afterall, always present, even when a person remains unaware of this subtle aspect. Unfortunately, the mind and it's language of identification and forms simply cannot comprehend the silence that it operates within. The mind always has limits and boundaries, operating in a realm of words, concepts and beliefs.
Sooner or later, a seeker becomes tired and drops all the actions of truth-discovering, and in the gaps of mental action remains an opportunity to observe that even though the mind is not active or speaking, even though the body is still operating itself, and though energies ebb and flow within, there is a silent aspect which simply is aware. The first glimpse creates a paradigm shift, and the seeker develops a deeper relationship within, and the inner transformation is accelerated, and the blossoming bears fruit every day.
I Am that I Am.
This article was written by Keith Molyneaux and first posted at PrimalFire Lexicon.