Hello.
Welcome.
My name is Pratika.
Today,
I'd like to explore what may seem A very simple question.
What actually is awareness?
We use the word aware or awareness quite freely.
I'm aware of what is happening.
I'm aware of my thoughts.
I'm aware of what's important in my life.
But have you ever paused to question what actually is awareness?
We tend to think of awareness as something we possess or something that is part of us.
This way of thinking can be helpful,
But let us look further.
A little more deeply.
Could awareness be recognized not as something we enter?
But as something that is already present.
Where we can become more aware,
More aligned,
More in tune.
Simply more aware of.
Right now you are hearing these words and watching this video.
There are sounds,
There is an image,
And you are aware of these.
We could perhaps imagine,
For example,
That there is something inwardly that is watching.
What is happening?
Observing our thoughts,
Our feelings or our experiences.
This could be a logical way to consider what awareness might be.
But can you actually find a separate watcher?
Or an observer.
Can you find something or someone standing apart?
From what is happening.
Observing or watching.
At any moment in life,
There can be sensations,
Thoughts,
Images,
Memories.
All arising within one's experiencing.
And as you look closely,
Is there actually a separate me standing apart?
From all of this.
Or is there simply the natural unfolding of experiences?
Just as they are with awareness already inseparably present.
Within your seeing,
Within your hearing.
Within your thoughts.
Could it be then that awareness is seamlessly present within all?
And if this is so,
Then that can point to something quite profound.
Awareness does not belong to a separate individual.
For awareness is not personal.
It is not something that you create.
Fine.
Or possess.
Awareness is simply present.
Impersonally.
It has no owner.
Belonging to no one.
This draws us to a deeper recognition.
The mind will naturally attempt to interpret or understand what is happening in our experiencing.
For that is what the mind does.
The mind can try to understand an idea of what awareness may be.
But awareness itself is not an object that the mind can grasp or understand.
As it is not part of the separate identity of a finite me.
You don't need to understand what hearing is in order to hear.
You don't need to understand what awareness is.
In order to be aware.
Awareness simply is.
Before the interpretation,
I am aware appears.
And this recognition can point us to something much deeper.
Awareness is not something we need to become.
Or something we need to read.
It is within everything we experience in every moment.
So there is no need to reach for any understanding here.
Simply notice,
There is seeing.
There is hearing.
There are sensations.
There are thoughts.
There are feelings.
And one's inseparable awareness is present within them all.
Perhaps this is what we mean by abiding awareness.
Inseparable.
And all-embracing.
It is not something separate from experiencing.
It is a direct recognition of our fundamental nature.
Inseparable from all experiencing.
The very presence of awareness.
Is seamlessly present.
In all.
