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#4289 - Friday, June 24, 2011 - Editor: Jerry Katz
The Nonduality Highlights - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NDhighlights
How to apply nondual awareness to
the phenomenal world
An exchange between Colin Drake and
Hanumandass
Colin Drake: In my books I
have a chapter that discusses the practical application of
awakening, the gist of which is that one needs to become
completely established in 'awareness of, and identification with,
awareness', after which life improves effortlessly.
In response to a
comment by Hanumandass that, "I’ve been
struggling lately with how to apply nondual awareness to the
phenomenal world," I wrote:
As far as I have
experienced one does not 'apply' this in the normal sense of the
word for once one is established in this nondual awareness then
this transforms one’s interactions with the physical world,
requiring no conscious application:
Awakening
is immensely practical,
Transformative
rather than tactical.
Existential angst
does it banish,
This fear and
anxiety totally vanish.
In this life
unfolds with no personal ‘story’.
Then manifestation
appears in all its glory.
When the world is
met with a clear mind,
So vivid and alive
do it we find.
Every sensation
comes on so strong,
When not filtered
through what’s ‘right and wrong’.
Thus seeing things
as they truly ‘are’
Our opinionated ego
cannot mar.
When each moment is
directly met,
The past and future
go we let.
When the mind is
still it does not distort,
So our experience
does not fall short.
Sat-Chit-Ananda is
another name,
For the source and
essence of this cosmic game.
Sat – ‘What
is’, Chit – Awareness of this,
Ananda – of
this awareness the Bliss.
When awake we
respond, rather than react,
To each situation
depending on the fact.
Spontaneously does
the mind our problems solve,
If unclouded by
self it will not ‘revolve’.
So I urge you all
to awake,
Abandon self-image
the great fake.
Investigate,
discover what’s really here,
Leading to a life
with no angst and fear!
Hanumandass responded:
Colin,
Firstly, thank you from the bottom of
my heart for contacting me. I was at work last night when I
received your email. I was familiar with your name but not with
your work. However I read your poem (I assume that's what it was)
quite casually to begin with. By the time I was into the second
or third line something profound happened, or rather didn't
happen.
I can only express it in terms of
experience for I know no better avenue. Upon reading 'Awakening
is Immensely Practical' I experienced two things simultaneously.
The first being that everything in my mind, the whirling caldron
of thoughts trying vainly to unravel nondual awareness, fell
away. The second experience that sort of accompanied this falling
away was that of a deep sense of freedom.
Colin, I wish to neither
underestimate the magnitude of what has happened over the last
hours nor turn the events into some sort of divine impartation of
grace from the beyond. What has happened to me is so horribly
simple that I feel something of regret for the years of seemingly
hopeless searching but at the same instant it's been the most
spiritual REAL thing that has befallen me.
Colin Drake interjected:
No need for regret, the years of
searching have brought you to the point where you were totally
ready just needing a gentle push to fall off the cliff, letting
go of all your supports. Exactly the same thing happened to me
... see 'Spiritual Experience' in Beyond The Separate Self.
Also once you are awake the past is totally irrelevant!
Hanumandass continued:
Was it awakening? My mind is telling
me no, that I ought to sort it all out and label it and find out
if it's valid. Something is different now however. The mind
continues its machinations, but it's like I am watching it all
take place. And this is different because there is no effort to
be a witness like it's a spiritual exercise. Surely I fall back
into identification with the mind and the body but it only
requires a remembrance of the awareness of it all to put me back
into a serene witnessing of it ALL.
Colin Drake responded:
That's exactly what awakening is:
becoming established in awareness of, and identification with,
awareness itself. When the establishment is complete no
remembrance will be required.
Also you have hit the nail on the
head in that awareness witnesses without any(one) 'doing' taking
place. Thoughts and sensations just arise, exist, are 'seen', and
subside back into awareness itself.
Hanumandass continued:
My mind says no, my body says no, but
the core of my being says YES. It feels like home. It's as if
nothing has 'happened' I have merely began to rest in a
recognition of awareness without any effort on 'my' part. When I
reflect upon it it seems like an experience. But what's different
from my other experiences is this state of being, awareness of
'what is' as you have put it, is right here. It only seems like
an experience when I think about it or try to remember it, etc.
Colin Drake:
That's absolutely right, 'awakening
is not an experience' (see chapter of this name in A Light
Unto Yourself) just a deep recognition of the fact that 'one
is awareness'. This may engender many
experiences, but freedom is obtained from cultivating, and
honouring, this recognition.
Also it is a true homecoming, to the
place we can never leave, and actually have never left. For more
of my thoughts on this see 'Home is Where the Heart is' in Beyond
the Separate Self.
Hanumandass:
My point in relating all this to you
is twofold. Firstly I would like to ask you for your analysis
since my mind keeps telling me no. And secondly, I don't know
what caused you to contact me but I want you to know whatever the
reason was you have done something no one else has been able to,
point me to awakening.
Colin Drake:
The mind will keep saying 'no' until
the establishment has taken place, as it is not in its interests
to say yes, having for long held the place of honour (and power)
as who you (think you) are. See ‘Awareness of
Awareness’ in A Light Unto Yourself, the second
half of which deals specifically with this problem.
Hanumandass:
Also, I don't know how busy you are
but if you have the time I would love to exchange emails with you
concerning nonduality, Advaita Vedanta, Buddhism, and mainly this
transformation that has taken place in my life among other
things.
Lastly I would like to have your
permission to post the poem in question on my blog. It has
obviously rocked my world and I feel it could do much for my
readers.
Again thank you for contacting me, it
meant more than you probably intended, but will have lasting
effects on me and those around me. I'm going to download your
books in a couple of days also, the least I could do for you!
Colin Drake:
It didn't mean more than I intended,
in fact the result is exactly what I intended, but it certainly
meant more than I had hoped for or expected .... which is great!
Hanumandass:
Sorry for the lengthy email. I hope
it's reassurance that your effort to bare the simplest message of
all has had an effect!
Sincerely,
Hanumandass
Colin
Drake:
What a wonderful
e-mail, It's such a joy (and relief) to hear that there is one
less mind running around searching for the unfindable. Unfindable
of course because it is always here and can never be lost, just
overlooked to our cost. I sent you my e-mail after discovering
your 'struggles' on one of your blogs. Your reply shows a clear
appreciation of awakening, which if you read it back carefully
will answer all of your own questions!
In Love and Peace,
Colin
The e-books
of Colin Drake.
Visit http://nonduality.com/colindrake.htm
to read long excerpts and to order and download these books right
away.
$9 each,
$14 for any two, or all three for $18.
http://nonduality.com/colindrake.htm