Awareness is a popular concept in New Age circles, and is defined en many ways concerning the art of “being in the now” , “mindfullness” , and in many spiritual groups inspired of eastern philosophies! It’s often indicated that modern man is to much in either the future or in the past, and so less present here and now!
It’s easy to understand, that regrets of past mistakes and future worries can fill up our mind, to that degree, that it consumes all our consciousness, so we miss the present…… but let’s go a bit deeper and investigate some paradoxes, that follow these thoughts!
First, let´s put the question: What kind of creature is always living in the present? Yes, Animals! Is it not what make us human, that we have the capacity to expand our consciousness from the now, till both past and future? And is it not an expanded awareness to be able to remember our mistakes and plan for a better future? Humanity is to bother! To be careful not to do the same mistake again, when it comes to our relation with our fellow creatures – both man and animal? To live on pure instinct, as an animal, guided by survival instinct and hormones only, is not the kind of awareness we would like at the present state of evolution!
So the art of awareness is not solely to live fully, here and now, but even to be conscious in both past and future, in a balanced way, so we can learn from our mistakes and create a more human future for all involved, without missing the thrill of now! The paradox is, that an unbalanced indulgence in the now, takes us back in evolution, more close to animal life, where we very easily will consume our fellow citizens now, due to lack of good planning! Poor planning and poor updating of earlier experiences will create more kaos and mistakes, and thus more need for help from others, consuming their chance to recreate in whatever now, they need for health and inspiration!
Of course, the karmic paradox in this is, that helping each other out in chaos and crises, might be just the right focus to help us into the now again! It’s a well known fact that people come closer in times of crises, and the now and the awareness of real human encounters is much more alive then, than in escapism of media, film and literature! So in this way karma do help us out again!
The closest we get to that kind of awareness in daily life, in the present state of earth evolution, might be in therapy groups and other kind of encounter groups, where skilled leaders create such a safe atmosphere, that we can let go defenses and share our most vulnerable side, with no risk of abuse or psychological violation of our integrity. This is where catharsis help us release inner tension and blocks and help us to insight of old trauma and support us in the healing act of forgiveness! Being totally “naked” and open in sharing our inner most, is a unique awareness, that gives us a glimpse of how a totally human society would be like, in the future real human kingdom of peace and harmony.
In the cosmic perspective, the highest form for awareness is cosmic consciousness -the ability to see through the universe in both time and space. This kind of awareness is totally unlimited, it’s the divine consciousness itself! Legends and spiritual traditions talks about this as the highest form of initiation and modern spiritual science acknowledge it as the ultimate goal of spiritual evolution. The forerunners of this natural state of human evolution are what we call “cosmic glimpse” – a very short spiritual experience, often in seconds only, where we suddenly know that life is eternal, the universe is living and infinite, that we are all one and that all is very good!
This awareness of oneness – that all living creatures are linked and in the inner core, the same divine presence, will instantly change our lives! We will know, as clear as bright sunlight, that we are all brothers and sisters -including animals, plants and mineral, and our relation to our fellow beings, will change our behavior and conducts of daily life! Being most concerned of the wellbeing of all living creatures around us, we will do our very best, not to harm anyone – especially creatures with a developed nervous system like humans and animals! Any pain or suffering on a fellow being will instantly be felt in our own organism, due to the extended empathy of this conscious oneness. It’s obvious, that it would be impossible to eat any kind of meat or fish, or even animal products that are waste products of the meat industry, with this kind of awareness!
So it is important to differ between the use of words like awareness and oneness in this deeper concept, and the more common use as a feeling of oneness or awareness in different New Age doctrines and methods! We should be cautious not to fall into new movements of mass suggestion, where the strong sensation itself is taken for proof of higher levels of spiritual consciousness! Man is a highly suggestive creature, and can easily be seduced to believe that a strong ecstatic feeling or sensation is proof enough, but are there not thousands of examples in religious history, of how this strong suggestive sense of “oneness with God” or the feeling of being the chosen one , can turn leaders into the worst kind of inquisitors and crowds into holy warriors? Too many wars are conducted in the name of God, and too many condemnations from spiritual conviction!
So we need to be aware of the difference between a state of mind and a state of evolution. Therapy, encounter groups, spiritual disciplines like meditation and yoga and the suggestive power of strong spiritual leaders, can help us experience another state of mind and higher awareness and feeling of oneness in connection to other beings, nature and everyday life experience. This is like peeping through the keyhole to divine bliss, and can give us good inspiration on our path ahead, but it is nothing compared with the open door of cosmic consciousness, where our nervous system and organism is fully developed and prepared to be aware in Gods prime consciousness.
Humans are eager and impatient, and the longing for inner peace and joy, makes it popular to seek shortcuts to paradise. Art of living could be to find peace with exact that level of spiritual evolution, that comes natural at each step on the eternal ladder. There are no harm in getting inspiration and to peek through keyholes, but if we ever get disappointed of the setbacks of daily life , that can contrast immensely to those rare moments of feeling total aware, we can get comfort in knowing, that there is no hurry – and that we will all get there in due time!
If we are in doubt of our natural state of human evolution, the most dependable valuation is, only to judge the tree from it’s fruits. A true spiritual leader is always walking the path ahead as an example for all followers! His footsteps should be bordered with signs of real human qualities as brotherly love, humbleness, forgiveness and concrete signs of respect for all living creatures on earth. Awareness in ecology and vegetarianism are obvious examples!
So when karma knocks on our door and demands attention to irritating earthly responsibilities and duties, abruptly taking us away from our wonderful meditation of oneness and awareness, it’s a good chance to practice our new talents of humanity, and maybe we can change our state of mind in forgiveness and tolerance, being fully aware, that the annoying person that knocks, is a perfect mirror of our own past, and thus little by little reach the next state of evolution. To be at peace with our own natural state of evolution, is to be tolerant and patient to us selves. There might be setbacks -trial and error -and it might take much longer, than we think; but eventually -as all is very good – we will all get there!
Hermes