Pointers to Non-Duality Life lived through unexamined, erroneous and dualistic conceptions of a separate self creates a filter over the immediate experience of living. When these images are given undue belief and reality, and are not seen for what they are, the energy of living is sucked into this mental activity, like electricity drawn into a capacitor or a flowing river contained behind an artificial dam. These pointers are time-tested and definitely work. We are not dealing with intellectual and philosophical speculation, but the direct experience of reality as a practical fact. The notions of either an individual or a universal self are mutually exclusive and are, therefore, a dualistic pair. In other words, these are still concepts operating in duality. What is really being pointed to is something entirely different. Pause all thoughts and realize that there is a naked awareness or pure being here in all of its immediacy. The "I" that wants to be firmly established in reality is still only a phantom concept. That is why such ideas are still operating in duality. We are talking about your natural state, not some temporary attainment for a fictional "I" concept that you never were in the first place. The experience of particular thoughts, feeling or sensations is appearances coming and going to you. Even when those appearances were NOT there, your being was still there. Looking in this way, the sense of identity or fixation on such appearances will lessen. Part of the "problem" comes from trying to grasp this at a conceptual level, which is really impossible. At some point the attempt drops, because we see that the self-evident fact of being present and aware is prior to concepts. In other words, the "answer" and the knowledge of it are already present (and always have been). Returning to the mind overshoots the simplicity of it. Contemplate deeply Bob Adamson's words "What's wrong with right now unless you think of it?" Nothing! Total being, knowing and peace are here. The entire answer is here right now. Doubtless being is primary. It is prior to being known or unknown, as it is the everpresent basis of both. Upon waking in the morning, the knowing that "I am" appears on your natural existence. Clearly, you are prior to that arising consciousness. Then, objects appear in that consciousness. Later, the consciousness and objects may disappear. But this is all happening to you. There is nothing more about it. It is that simple.
The universe comes and goes in consciousness. Consciousness comes and goes in your real, primordial nature. That is timeless, unconditioned reality. The primordial being is also the pure awareness in which consciousness comes and goes. That is always present for everyone at all times. It is so simple we over look the fact of it because we are used to focusing on the mind and objects. In doing so, we miss the constant being. Ultimately, non-duality prevails. Objects are not apart from consciousness and consciousness is not apart from its source. In truth, no divisions have ever happened. You say, "I have read almost all the sages, you included, and I understand that I am awareness, but still I keep returning to the little me". John: The little ‘me’ is only an idea coming and going in awareness, correct? Be very clear on this. Awareness is a metaphysical fact, not an attainment. It is already ‘done’. You are that, in practice and in fact — now. When you say ‘I keep returning ...’ that ‘I’, is also the false ‘me’. You are not returning anywhere. You are that awareness. So do not fall for these mind games, in which one idea is chasing the tail of another. All these ideas are coming and going in the ever-present awareness. Awareness is only a term; synonyms are ‘being’, ‘spirit’, ‘truth’, ‘reality’, ‘God’, etc. We return to the ‘I’ thought due to a lack of confidence on being awareness. So be clear on this. It is not that ‘I’ am ‘awareness’, if there is any implication of separation. Awareness is. And that is what I am, because that is all that is truly existent. Everything else is merely appearance. You say, "I know the final seeing is still to come". John: This is a very, very false assumption. The awareness is the present seeing itself. Time is only a mental concept. So drop this notion completely and realize that you are what you have been seeking — now. This is the simplicity of it. We miss this because we are still prone to follow the erroneous concepts.