Psychology of Consciousness (Part 2)

Let’s continue on with our discussion.

After this realization of oneness and it is a realization, because we suddenly become aware that this new understanding has always been there. Psychologically, we feel both found and lost. We hear a lot about the “found” part of being awake so let’s discuss the “lost” part.

Where has my god gone, is a common expression in this new state. We may experience a strong sense of Nothingness, even loneliness. No guru. No god. No reference points of any kind. Psychologically, you’re a mess.

If you choose to say to yourself I am now everything then that works for a while. However, at some point you also wake up from that because in the final analysis Everything-ness is realized as being an illusion of stuff you have ignorantly given value to. So what’s left? Basically, nothingness (haha).

In chapter 13 v 12 of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna states, that the highest (para) brahman is (na sat) not existence, nor (na asat) non-existence. This is an understanding of the highest state of awareness from the prospective of negation. Not this. Not that. It really bends the psychology. This is the “lost” I spoke of earlier. It’s really hard to live in such a state, that's why the enlightened usually don’t accept it.

Wow, here you have been gifted the ultimate state of awareness and somehow you say “no” to it?!

Yep, I see it in so many truly enlightened souls.

So what’s happening?

Even in enlightenment many of us are pulled back by habits and environment. All our lives we have lived by our own private world of nature and nurture. Those habits go deep and when faced with this new state of huge nothingness with no real reference points it’s not uncommon to step back from it. We step back into a place of psychological safety. Safety in religion or politics are common landing zones. Yeah, I know that's weird especially the religion choice. You have experienced being god how can you now allow yourself to listen to an interpretation of god but it happens.

I personally find it comical to witness. The seeing of a highly enlightened soul trying to make religion or politics fit their new realization. However, I can understand the reason. In the world around us there is very little that supports this grand state of nothingness. And if you are a person of action with strong conviction it’s tough to find a place of safety in nothingness. So you end up putting that beautiful enlightenment to use on a lesser plain or cause. In some ways it's like fighting an addiction. An addiction to ignorance.

Those that find a way to cope use surrender as their tool. Relax into the uncertainty and witness the happenings. You end up becoming very ordinary. With basically no attachment to any one thing. It’s all fine wherever you go. Sure you have options and preferences but usually you aren’t really attached to them. When life around you changes you change too. No big deal. I like to say I’m fully engaged and fully not engaged, simultaneously. Sounds impossible but it’s not.

Beyond Witnessing Part I

Witnessing happens when we identify with the big Self and watch our five senses, thinking, emotions, small self (ego) function amongst the phenomenal world. We sit back as it were playing the part of the observer. The observer to everything. As the silent witness we stand unattached to our actions. We allow our senses, mind, feelings to interact with the world. Initially, the separation is a big gap. You find your small self interacting in the world yet the infinite-you is uninvolved. The Real-you is resting in its own contentment unaffected by the goings and comings of the actions of the small self.

There is both joy and discomfort in this state of consciousness. The big Self is fulfilled and content but the subtle currents of the small self feels a sense of guilt due to a sense of responsibility. Responsibility for our charges. Without a plan, direction, intent - how will things get done? However, the attraction to the big Self is so satisfying and feels so right that in the end it wins out. The small self gradually sees success in this new mode of operation. Things get done, people we are responsible for get handled, we continue to make a living all without a formal plan, somehow almost by itself. This gives us confidence to let go even more.

After sometime of functioning like this the gap between the big Self and the small self starts to close and we slowly begin to recognize a change. We start to appreciate the phenomenal world and the value of our involvement in that world. And through this subtle bond of acceptance and harmony, love begins to blossom. This love becomes so strong that the heart begins to override the head's sense of separation to deliver us to Unity, rendering us Whole. It’s such a blissful state that everywhere we look we see heaven in all its golden essence. This golden vision echoes back our love to fill our hearts again and again in lovely waves of bliss to the point where our hearts can only open. The love pangs are almost unbearable.

There’s more but this moment is too full to not rest here for a while and allow ourselves to be washed over by it. Just fall back and enjoy. ❤️❤️❤️