Individual consciousness evolves by purifying itself from any sense of duality or separate existence. The purification process happens on its own when the mind perceives itself as whole and undifferentiated.
This drastic purification can only take place as awareness is brought into the core of one’s being. In this state of acute awareness there is no longer any sense of an “I-thought” that is perceived as an external object or phenomenon. Therefore the individual no longer experiences itself as separated from the whole of existence. Thus, one is either self-realized or not self-realized.
The ability to understand that one is the whole, the totality, is self-realization. Awareness itself is of the same quality at the beginning of the journey as it is at the end.
How to achieve a permanent
Is it at all possible to achieve a permanent state of self-realization?
Self-realization has nothing
Self-realization has nothing to do with a self becoming realized! For your very nature, independently from your so called self, is already self-realized. You cannot practice self-realization since its already of the nature of who you really are. You end up just like a dog chasing its tale!
When inquiring about who one is, the mind can only revert to its true nature which is the absolute and this is self-realization. You do not create a bridge from your present state of mind to the one of self-realization. Self-realization has nothing to do with the mind; therefore, when reverting the attention of the mind within in inquiring about who one is, the mind can only subdue and what remains is self-realization which is your own true nature. Therefore, one is self-realized or is not.
Instead of always looking outwardly for your definition as I 'thought', along with thinking, if you ask the question: who is that identity that is not self-realized or what is that space between you and self-realization? You can only come to a place of emptiness which is independent from the thinking process but reveals a presence of being which is of the essence of self-realization. Thus, if you inquire about who you are at the moment, you can only abide as THIS which is self-realization.
To be self-realized is to discard the mind all together. From that point, there are not two - there is no longer any observer divided from the observed, one is no longer perceived as separated from the world as the world do not appear outside of your self no more. Only self-realization remains which is the totality of infinite being.
Momentum
I would like to ask Desthein for his explanation of the momentum of thought-forms, which made me think about the momentum of the practice of self-realization. It seems as if this momentum has two aspects to it. One is the great big question mark “?” of the mind that inquires about the nature of itself and the nature of existence with total openness and sincerity. The other aspect of the seeker’s momentum is the projection of the concept of enlightenment along with the projection of a concept of a being that strives to attain this concept of enlightenment. The seeker’s momentum has both these aspects mixed together. How does one pry the externalized seeking away from that pure inquisitive energy that only wants to see what is real?
The main thing is for the
The main thing is for the mind to stick with what’s genuine within. Until the mind is completely pure and free of the residue of egoistic thought, there will be this situation of mixed motives in the momentum of the spiritual path.
Can you define what is
Can you define what is genuine within?
It is the essential momentum
It is the essential momentum of the universal consciousness itself. The great sages have spoken about being blessed when coming to self-realization, but the fact is that we are already blessed since at the very center of one’s being there is this drive to reach enlightenment, regardless of the evolutionary status of the mind. The only essential distinction between a highly evolved spirit and a less evolved spirit lies in the level of willingness to surrender to that drive. When the mind truly surrenders it will experience an exalted state of consciousness called bliss.
Till one’s consciousness has achieved the full purification of the sense of false identity which is based on the idea of an “I” separated from the world, there will remain a tendency to make the process of self-realization another deviated means of strengthening that separate identity.
As the spirit purifies itself, the truth is that there will appear more subtle ways for ego to strengthen itself, thus making the path of self-realization a path of extreme contradictions. One must come to the understanding that commitment to the path of self-realization is not a way out of suffering, but quite the contrary. It is the actual meeting with all possible causes of suffering. It is the meeting with the origin of all suffering. Therefore, one must be ready to undergo complete and radical transformation of one’s consciousness.
Without a genuine and profound will to transcend oneself, one cannot assume such a path. Complete dedication and commitment is mandatory. It is when the mind is able to meet face to face the worst of itself that it can subdue the root of evil. One must be ready to abandon everything - to let go of everything known, and to totally embrace the unknown. Till then, the mind will be drawn into the belief that its desires are real, thus going round in circles endlessly, from one illusion to the other. However, it is the call of the Supreme that awaits such drastic transformation. Therefore the time is set for each spirit’s evolutionary status to be realigned with the inevitable course of such transformation. The resistance of ego’s consciousness can only go so far until there is only one way out: to assume the path of ascendancy.
The Supreme acts in two ways regarding the path leading to self-realization. On one side the Supreme sets the time for the spirit to encounter the path leading to self-realization. And on the other side, the spirit is asked to take that step, of its own accord. One never goes without the other. When the mind is not ready, any attempts to pursue the path of self-realization will only default in illusion. As a matter of fact, the illusions found along the path of self-realization can be the most deceptive of all illusions.
Contrary to what the mind may tend to think, the path of self-realization is not about becoming more, but about becoming less. However, the fact is that the less one becomes, the more power becomes available. Therefore, the tendency to delude oneself can only be greater.
The Supreme sets the path. To devote oneself to the path of self-realization means surrender to the path already set, and not to skip steps - though there will be this temptation when the mind starts experiencing expansion as a new field of consciousness is laid out before it. To the extent that awareness increases as one proceeds along the path, that much more is demanded of the mind. For that particular reason, till the mind has fully purified itself from all egotistic tendencies, the battle of duality can only increase until a full circle is completed, until the mind arrives at a point where it has mastered the seemingly opposing forces of the universe within its own self. This may seem to be a monumental achievement, when it is in fact a very small step within the planes of cosmic evolution. It is a small step that indicates that the spirit has understood that the plane of manifestation is no longer needed, and that it may step back from the world of form and fully assume its core identity as a pure spirit, aligned with the light of ascendant supreme beings.
So what you’re saying is
So what you’re saying is that all the mind really needs to do is bring itself to the point where it can totally surrender to the path that has been set by the Supreme?
Exactly! The mind surrenders
Exactly! The mind surrenders to the path already set, till it becomes one with that very path. As this is achieved, self-realization takes over.