What can we focus our attention on? We don’t actually ever focus it on objects, it’s too abstract. The brain always processes any sensory data well before we are even aware of the object. It is how it is supposed to function. Matter isn’t a valid choice for awareness focus.
So seems we are in a fix? Or are we? It’s interesting that studies show our action comes before awareness. What motivates our action? There is no such thing as action without motive and do we make up our motive? Does a made up motive work? Those patterns we call beliefs are in the subconscious mind. Instinct counts as sense.
Are we not motivated by our state? Distress motivates, affinity motivates. Our experience of these things triggers our instinct which is encoded action/reaction. So focus on being “centered” to allow the natural to arise. But we aren’t very centered beings are we? Where is the space to move from center? Can we identify those states we call off center? This is why so many spiritual paths give us meditation. There is common ground in spiritual practice for a reason. There is something very real there and there is something we can do about it.
And yes, consciousness is required to examine the belief. Awareness definitely is but thinking doesn’t do it. Thinking sorts our sensory impressions, gives us a picture that we act from. Is really all it’s capable of. The Brahmins, and the Buddha and the Christ, really all of the worlds spiritual teachers warned about what can be called in a general sense “the passions.” The extremes of human action. They didn’t all villianize the passions and really, with reflection, none of them did. But that active state, being blindly active, attached, engaged constantly, it’s a bit maddening isn’t it?
Can we be said to really be aware like that? It is possible to be aware in the midst of that but being enslaved by it… What is really the only outcome? Basically, energy cycles between action and rest. This is a universal proven fact
There is also a lot of talk about the human rest state. Nirvana, samadhi, satori, ecstasy, union with god, bliss. Every spiritual seeker seeks the same thing and when they find it they change and returnees find it sort of involuntarily. But often they don’t translate it well. They don’t reconcile the urge to action with the bliss they felt. They see only their conditioning and feel beneath that state. They get caught up in how far away from it they are and thus often never experience it again. That isn’t necessary. It’s really pretty available, but while we still live we have to reconcile both states or we just keep going to extremes, and driving ourselves a bit bonkers. It’s worse for those who have had strong experiences. The issue is more clear to them and thus it’s less clear. It’s too simple to be easy.
The scientific discovery of biophilia. The proof of entrainment of biological systems. That is proven. It points to something much deeper and it scares materialists, but I think we have brave people here. There is a crossover and it’s easy to experience, though those who do might feel uneasy with how easy it is.
Your thoughts are welcome. Be well friends.
Travis Saunders
Dragon Intuitive
~science,spirituality,mysticism~