Hello,
And welcome back to Luminous.
Meditation 4 You are the happiness you seek.
In the last meditation,
We recognized ourself.
Not just as the witnessing presence of awareness,
To which all experience appears,
Or with which all experience is known.
But also as the space of awareness within which all experience arises.
And we began to explore the qualities.
That are inherent in that space.
That is,
The qualities of our essential self.
We discover that it is open.
Empty.
Spacious.
Transparent.
Silent.
Still.
We saw that it is never changed,
Moved or affected by experience.
Our true nature of simply being.
Being aware.
Or awareness itself.
Is the changeless presence behind and within all changing experience.
In this meditation.
We will continue to explore the qualities that are inherent in our true nature or essential self.
Just allow your experience to be exactly as it is without attempting to change it in any way.
Be sure to allow the full spectrum of experience.
Without any preference for any particular aspect of it.
Thoughts,
Images,
Feelings,
Sensations and perceptions.
Now soften the focus of your attention from the content of your experience.
And be aware of the space within which it arises.
See clearly that while our thoughts may be agitated,
The space of awareness with which they are known.
And within which they arise.
Does not share their agitation.
Just as the space of a room cannot be disturbed by anything that takes place within it.
So the space of awareness within which our experience arises.
Is not itself disturbed by any particular experience.
The space of awareness within which all experience arises simply allows every experience to arise without resistance or opposition.
It is a resistanceless space.
Allowing or accepting all experience without preference or aversion.
We do not have to work.
At accepting our experience.
Our true nature of awareness is inherently open.
Allowing.
Accepting.
Simply notice this.
Be knowingly this openness without resistance to all experience.
Be careful not to turn the quality of openness.
Which is the very nature of awareness.
Into a practice that you undertake with your mind.
This is a way of recognition.
Not a way of discipline or effort.
See that the space of awareness within which all experience arises.
And with which it is known.
Is imperturbable.
It cannot be disturbed.
Thus its nature is peace.
Not a piece that is dependent on what is or is not happening in our experience.
A piece that is prior to.
And independent of.
The content of experience.
The peace that passeth understanding.
See clearly that your feelings may be intense,
But the space of awareness within which they arise does not share their intensity.
People may be dancing or fighting in a room.
But the space remains unaffected.
We may be feeling hurt.
Lonely,
Upset or anxious.
But the space of awareness in which these feelings arise.
Remains open.
Silent.
Still.
All psychological or emotional suffering.
Is resistance.
Holding on.
And seeking.
Awareness itself never resists any experience.
Never holds on to any experience.
And never seeks any experience.
It is simply open without resistance.
To the current experience.
Therefore,
Awareness is inherently free of suffering.
Suffering is always for the mind.
That is,
For thinking and feeling.
Never for awareness.
Our true nature of pure awareness is never enhanced or diminished by anything that does or does not take place in experience.
Just as nothing that takes place in a room.
Adds anything to or removes anything from the space.
Just as physical space always remains in the same condition.
So our true nature of awareness is always in the same pristine,
Luminous condition.
It does not stand to gain or lose anything from the content of experience.
It is full.
Complete.
Hull.
This fullness,
Completeness and wholeness.
Is the experience we know as happiness.
Every time we experience happiness.
We are tasting our true nature of awareness.
Happiness is the quiet joy that lies in the depths of our being.
As our very own self.
Irrespective of what is taking place in experience.
We are always and already.
The peace and quiet joy for which we long.
We are the happiness we seek.
Most people seek peace and happiness in objects,
Substances,
Activities and relationships.
Anyone who is listening to this meditation is probably doing so because their search for peace and happiness in objective experience has failed them often enough.
That they have either understood or are beginning to understand.
That they cannot be found there.
Sooner or later.
We must return from our happiness-seeking adventure in the world.
To ourself.
We must come back to our being.
That is the place of peace.
That is the source of happiness.
That is the Kingdom of Heaven that lies within us.
This is the great open secret that everyone should know.
