The Expanding Awareness: A Journey Beyond Ego Identity

Expanding awareness is at the heart of our quest to understand ourselves and the world around us. As we explore the nature of consciousness, we often find ourselves grappling with this elusive yet fundamental aspect of existence — one that shapes our perceptions, beliefs, and interactions. Today, we embark on a profound exploration of this underlying awareness, delving into its nature, its relationship with identity, and its role in shaping our reality.

The Nature of Awareness

At its core, awareness is the awareness of our own existence and the world around us. It’s the canvas upon which our experiences are painted, the stage on which the drama of our lives unfolds. But awareness is not merely a passive observer; it’s an active participant in shaping our reality.

Consider the redness of a rose. While there’s a certain objective reality to the colour, our perception of it is shaped by our awareness. The thought structures we build around this perception – our associations, memories, and emotions,  all contribute to our unique experience of the rose’s redness.

This interplay between objective reality and subjective experience is at the heart of awareness. It’s what allows us to navigate the world as distinct individuals while simultaneously being part of a greater whole.

Understanding True Fulfillment

True fulfillment comes from a deep sense of contentment with what is, right here and now. In Sanskrit, this state is called “santosha,” which is often mistranslated simply as “contentment.” However, santosha goes beyond mere acceptance or settling for less. It’s a profound state of inner peace and joy that arises when we align with our true nature.

This alignment allows us to love what is, to find beauty and wonder in our present circumstances, regardless of external conditions. It’s the ability to say, “I love my life,” whether you’re sitting by a serene river, in a crowded hall, or even on a bumpy bus ride in India.

The Illusion of Separate Identity

As we journey through life, we naturally develop unique preferences, beliefs, and ways of being. These characteristics form what we often refer to as our identity. Whether it’s our dietary choices, sexual orientation, political affiliations, or cultural background, these aspects of ourselves help us navigate the world and connect with others.

However, there’s a fine line between acknowledging these aspects of our identity and becoming rigidly attached to them. When we cling too tightly to these labels, we risk shutting ourselves off from our universal nature. This is where the ego structure comes into play.

The ego can become problematic when it leads us to view the world through a narrow lens. Whether we identify as straight or queer, vegan or omnivore, liberal or conservative, these labels can become limiting if we allow them to define us completely.

The Fluidity of Identity in Modern Times

In our current era, often referred to as the Dwapara Yuga in yogic philosophy, we’re witnessing an increasing fluidity in identities, particularly when it comes to sexual and gender identities. This shift isn’t the result of any individual or group’s efforts, but rather a natural progression of our collective consciousness.

As we evolve as a species, we’re becoming more open to diverse expressions of identity. However, it’s crucial to remember that these labels, while potentially empowering, don’t determine our capacity for happiness, compassion, or spiritual growth. A person can be miserable, angry, or manipulative regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other label they might adopt.

Transcending Identity: The Key to Expanded Awareness

The key to navigating this complex landscape of identity lies in understanding that our true nature transcends these labels. Our universality can include our individuality without being limited by it. This doesn’t mean abandoning our preferences or denying aspects of our identity. Rather, it’s about holding these identities lightly, recognizing them as part of our human experience without allowing them to constrain our awareness.

Take, for example, a spiritual teacher born in India. While their Indian heritage may provide certain insights and perspectives, if they limit themselves to thinking only as an Indian, their teachings cannot be universally relevant. The challenge – and the opportunity – is to use one’s specific background as a springboard for expanding awareness rather than a limitation.

The Limitations of Democracy and the Evolution of Governance

This principle of transcending narrow identities extends beyond personal growth to societal structures. Democracy, while currently the best form of government for our level of collective consciousness, is not without its limitations. It often relies on manipulating people’s differences, fears, and prejudices, pitting neighbour against neighbour in a constant struggle of opposing viewpoints.

As we progress as a species and our collective awareness evolves, we may find more efficient and harmonious forms of governance. The ultimate goal is a form of self-governance that doesn’t waste resources on constant conflict but instead harnesses our collective wisdom and unity.

The Path to Unity: Patience, Understanding, and Wisdom

As we navigate this journey of expanding awareness, it’s crucial to approach what we don’t understand with patience and openness. Instead of rushing to judgment or desperately clinging to being “right,” we can strive to be wise. This doesn’t mean we’ll always succeed, but by setting this intention, we create the space for growth and understanding.

When we catch ourselves investing all our energy in being right, even at the cost of our inner peace, we have the opportunity to learn and evolve. By recognizing these patterns, we can gradually stop repeating the same mistakes and move towards a more expansive state of awareness.

The Three States of Peace

In yogic tradition, the mantra “Om Shanti” is often repeated three times, representing peace in the three states of awareness: sleeping, dreaming and awakening. This can also be interpreted as peace in the past, present, and future.

True peace isn’t just about feeling calm in the present moment. It’s about having a sense of peace when we look back at our past and when we contemplate our future. If we carry unresolved conflicts or fears from our past, they linger like shadows behind a curtain, disturbing our present peace. Similarly, if we project anxiety and uncertainty onto our future, we rob ourselves of peace in the present.

Cosmic Consciousness: The Ultimate State of Peace

The state of ultimate peace is often referred to as cosmic consciousness. This is a state where our awareness expands beyond the limitations of individual identity, embracing the interconnectedness of all things. In this state, we’re no longer confined by the narrow bandwidth of awareness that comes with a rigid attachment to specific identities or viewpoints.

Cosmic consciousness is characterized by an absence of inner conflict. When we’re not at peace, it’s often because we’ve forgotten the truth of who we are at our core. We become too invested in temporary stories and fleeting identities, losing sight of our fundamental nature as conscious beings.

The Practice of Expanding Awareness

Expanding our awareness is a lifelong journey, but there are practices we can engage in to support this process:

1. Mindfulness: By cultivating present-moment awareness, we can observe our thoughts and emotions without becoming overly identified with them.
2. Self-reflection: Regular introspection helps us understand our patterns of thinking and behaving, allowing us to make conscious choices rather than reacting automatically.
3. Meditation: This powerful practice helps us experience awareness beyond thought, touching the underlying consciousness that is our true nature.
4. Cultivating openness: Approaching new ideas and experiences with curiosity rather than judgment helps us expand our perspective.
5. Practicing non-attachment: While we can enjoy our preferences and respect our identities, we can practice holding them lightly, recognizing their impermanent nature.

Conclusion

By cultivating awareness of our underlying consciousness, we can move beyond the limitations of rigid identities and narrow viewpoints. We can enjoy the richness of our individual experience while simultaneously touching the peace and unity of our universal nature. This journey of expanding awareness is not always easy. It requires patience, courage, and a willingness to question our deepest-held beliefs. But as we progress on this path, we open ourselves to a profound sense of peace and connection – not just with ourselves, but with all of existence.

In the end, the underlying consciousness is not something to be achieved or attained. It’s always there, waiting to be recognized. Our task is simply to clear away the obstacles – our rigid identities, our limiting beliefs, our fears, and our attachments that prevent us from experiencing this fundamental truth of our being. As we do so, we may find that the peace we’ve been seeking has been with us all along, pulsing quietly beneath the surface of our everyday awareness. And in that recognition lies the potential for true transformation, not just of ourselves, but of our world.