Just Awareness
Just Awareness
Here we go with another video. I decided to record this rather than just write about it. If you don’t want to watch the video, I’ve copied the text below so you can read it.
This topic, “Just Awareness”, is the result of something that’s been on my mind. This is my attempt to find some clarity.
Here’s a link in case the embedded video doesn’t work for some reason:
Oh, if you’re watching the video and it wants to skip and stall, just put it on pause for a couple of minutes so the stream can catch up to itself.
Have a great and peaceful day — and here goes ….
Just Awareness from Ron Rink on Vimeo.
JUST AWARENESS
Many people who are practicing Buddhist meditation will often refer to their “sitting time” as “just awareness”.
Of course, many teachers will be quick to remind you that meditation is more then just sitting with our bodies in some certain posture. I happen to be one who does believe that the purpose of meditation is just being in the present – except that we’re not a lump of clay or a rock or a stone – we’re aware beings. Since there is little doubt of the fact that we are aware beings, then the term, “just awareness” does describe meditation rather well. The question is, aware of what?
Many people feel that meditation can be learned – sort of like learning tai chi or yoga. We just have to learn how to concentrate – or focus as in focusing on our breath. If we do our practice faithfully, day after day, we will get better and better at staying in the moment.
I have a problem with that reasoning. Can we ever get better at being in the moment? Is this a skill we can learn? I don’t think so. Let’s face a fact – from the very first moment of our life to the very last moment, aren’t we always “just here”? All we can ever be is in the moment – moment after moment. Our lives do consist of one moment after another. In any given moment, there is no place we can possibly be except in that moment. Our pure awareness doesn’t change – it doesn’t grow old or grow up. It always “just is”.We’ve learned that everything of true value on our spiritual path will aways be found in the “Now”.
So, there we are. We’re sitting in meditation. We’re holding our focus on the breath – or a thought – whatever – we’re being mindful — we’re being in the present. It’s quiet. The silence is complete.
Suddenly, a thought pops into your head. Is this it? Is this the fundamental point?
I’ve been a daily meditator for many years – I started taking my practice seriously in the early 1980s. I’ve studied the teachings for almost as many years. Most recently, I’ve begun to learn that no matter how good we get at something, like meditation for example, we eventually will grow old, become sick and die. Learning how to be in the present is learning how to be in a certain state of consciousness that we go into and then come out of. Is this pure awareness?
When we think about a child – we see how a child merely becomes the present experience. The child isn’t thinking about getting ahead in the world – or being different. They’re a great example to follow.
When I think about how a child is, I also think about the Buddhist teaching, “Do not desire to become a Buddha”. Don’t try to be something – or do something. Be like a child – be joyous – be naturally aware.
There’s only one awareness that’s deep enough and broad enough to encompass all of us, and that is the awareness of “just awareness” — just being here.
You know, so many times we think of living a Buddhist lifestyle as being boring, not having any fun. Just serious sitting and contemplating. Not true! People who live this lifestyle should not be sucking the joy out of life and existing in a black-robed lifestyle. Rather, they should be rounding out their lives so they can become truly compassionate and joyous. This includes the whole ball of wax – joy, sorrow, birth, death, delusion, and enlightenment.
Could this be the answer to how to be “just aware”?
Yes and no. As human beings it is difficult for us to trust the fact that something so relatively simple could bring us all the way to awakening. We humans are complicated and it takes us a long time to trust the practice fully.
And yet, there are many, many people who have succeeded and refined the practice. We’re the beneficiaries of their work. Sure, we live in a world of confusion, strife, wars, suffering and terror. But, don’t forget, Gautama the Buddha lived in a world not unlike ours of today. He got through it, and so can we. He wasn’t a super-human or a god. He was no different than you and me. When his moment came – when he reached enlightenment, he said, “All beings are just like this – all beings are intrinsically buddhas.”
It’s up to us to learn to trust the practice and embrace it fully.
Be well – be in peace.
Ron Rink
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Hope you have a great day!
Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)
Ron Rink
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