Awakening sense

hopeful and hopeless

When the ego-mind, the personality self, is hopeful it's a hopeless situation. For then the seeds of disappointment and discouragement have already been planted.

But in awakening's realm hope and its fulfillment are one and the same; it springs unbidden from our core. Keeping expectations at bay is then in our hands. 

Optimism's traps can be sidestepped, anticipations sidetracked. What's the acid test? Not expecting something new to happen and not expecting nothing new to happen; definitely not our usual mode of operation.

Awakening's hope makes the speck we think we are become a mountain. This mountain spirit senses lifeblood's current running deep below the surface of who and what we think we are.

It remembers that though a drop it is not separate from the ocean of Self, the Oneness of the Beloved. 

shifting gears

On occasion we can know beyond our knowing. Then there's a kind of conviction based on recognition, not belief: a hot-wire connection between the changing and the changeless.

It's there even if our intuitive sensing or knowing of it isn't. Like a compass it's invariably drawn to awakening's pull, no matter what direction our movements.

This conviction is a tool to efface, not enhance, ego-mind. Its strength is in invisibility, not intransigence or intrusion upon others. 

It's the gearbox where doubts get transformed into inspirations; where beliefs are discarded rather than depended upon.

It resides in the space between the mind and heart and carries within itself the key to the treasure. Such conviction is unfazed when mind alters, when heart trembles, whenever we falter.

It's a gift of awakening.

sanctuary

Periodically we're afforded rest stops along our inner journeys. It's like arriving at a mountain meadow and feeling more elbow room, more breathing space.

This space opens up when obstructing thickets of our 'impressions' (see glossary) are cleared out. After the travail of our efforts a refuge appears. 

Yet the respite is temporary as a fresh crop of entanglements sprouts up underfoot. The relaxed atmosphere is encroached upon, undermined. 

Above the timberline it's a different story. Underfoot are no more obstructing growths; they're in suspended animation. A more timeless sanctuary is bestowed us, though still temporary. 

Even our arrival seems anticipated. There the very air is alive. Its life-giving fullness pushes illusion's veils aside. A deep and profound renewal of spirit is provided.

Whichever the sanctuary, the action of awakening spirit intensifies and fortifies. Its immediacy erases doubts; its proximity removes hesitations; its presence gives reassurance.  

old conversations

Below are fragments of an old dialog, an ancient conversation:

What's spirituality or a spiritual path for?  To further awakening's preparation.

Through what method?  Calming the mind and opening the heart are a great start.

What have you gained?  A more persistent longing to awaken.

But what else have you gained?  Gaining and losing are in the dream. The point is to lose the dream.

How to do that?  Just loosening the 'knots in the handkerchief.'

What do you mean?  If a handkerchief is the field of consciousness the knots are our kinks in it.

Have you succeeded doing this?  I have no idea.

Why not?  Because I don't want to even have an idea.

How do you know anyone can awaken?  How do you know anyone is sleeping?

If there's no agreement about the possibility we're asleep, further talk about waking up won't get very far. Addressing this point is key to conversations such as the one above. 

Some questions like the innocent 'why' of a child open doors. The same questions in the hands of a clever resisting mind slam them shut. That just prolongs the stalemate. 

The real demand is to step out of the world of our dreaming self before asking any questions or giving any answers.