the splendour of self-awareness

Self-awareness alone leads to self-knowledge or wisdom which is, knowing oneself from moment to moment. Without understanding ourselves, our thoughts and activities will bring only greater mischief and misery. That is why it is very important to know oneself, the way of one's thinking, one's moods, motives, and reactions from moment to moment. In choiceless self-awareness alone the duality created by the mind: subject and object, thinker and thought, good and bad, can be transcended. In choiceless self-awareness there is no one who is aware, but there is only awareness without being aware of anything. Similarly, self-awareness is pure consciousness in which there is only consciousness without being conscious of anything.

Awareness is pure and lucid perception of what IS which is ever new from moment to moment. Awareness is turning the searchlight inward to see clearly and know ourselves as we are. Awareness is to keep open the windows of the mind and heart and let in the fresh air of peace and happiness. The heaviest burden being the burden of the self, whenever we feel disgusted, disturbed and tyrannised by our own thughts, it is then that we should be fully aware to understand the beauty of self-awareness. Then we shall be able to feel an instant transformation taking place in us. It is like a heavy load suddenly lifted from the head; it is like letting sunshine and fresh air into a dark and ill-ventilated room. It is like coming to the cool shade of a tree in the scorching heat of the sun. When we are fully aware of our own greed, hate or anger, that very awareness sets us free from it. When we are aware of our jealousy, it is at once erased from the mind. In constant choiceless awareness, we shall be able to walk in life with open arms, with a care-free mind and loving heart. Awareness is to let the light of life shine in us with all its lustre and radiance.

(8-9) A Garland of Forest Flowers by Swami Nirmalananda

wake up to the weather problems

"the world is warming up and we are floating away! the world is warming up and we are sinking, into the sea . . . "

The main concern for new yorkers this 'winter' has been deciding which coat to wear while walking around. Most people are used to wearing their fuzzy winter coats but now people are complaining about the fact that they're sweating all day in the coats. . . . we've all felt it. No one wants to be too cold but then what can you expect when the seasons no longer make much sense. I'm wondering - how warm is it going to be next year in new york? There were days this january with a low above 40 degrees F - most days have been in the 50's - I can't remember the last day when the temperature was below freezing. I think it's time for people to take action on a personal level - there is no time left to rely on the biased opinions of our 'leaders'.