Isn´t Awareness Just Here? (Guided Inquiry) - 9th Sept. 2015

Before any word can be said, before the pointing, you are. You're already very familiar with yourself, more than intimate, more than close. It's only that our definition about ourselves has been misplaced. It's only a definition problem. You can call it definition, you can call it identity, but basically, it's just an idea—the idea of separation, the idea of separateness. So even before I say 'don't refer to the mind,' there is a 'you,' there is an 'I' that can refer to the mind. Who is this one? You are. You are here, present, and this is all there is.

And then it is said, 'this is all there is.' Notice that there is content that is appearing and disappearing, but also there is an 'I' which remains in spite of the appearance and disappearance of content. Only because the habit has been to try and find everything in the realm of content, that's why it seems so troublesome that I cannot find myself. What else is here besides the content? Who is the content appearing to? It is that obvious. It takes no effort to see that all of this is appearing to me. Who is this me? Is it not just this witnessing which has always been here? Is there anything besides this content and awareness of it?

Don't go on any mental adventures right now because very quickly the mind will try to become smart and say, 'Oh yes, but even appearance is part of awareness, isn't it?' No, forget all that for some time. Just stay with this: there is awareness of everything that is appearing and disappearing. Now, is this awareness having to work at being awareness, or is it just present naturally? Before, during, and after all content, isn't awareness just here?

Now the mind will say, 'My only difficulty is that I don't see myself as this awareness.' But this is not true. I cannot step away from this awareness. I cannot separate myself from this. You are completely aware of this right now. Even when the mind is screaming 'No, no,' you are aware of it, and you know that 'I am aware of it.' I know I am aware. I know there is no separation between 'I' and awareness. Who can understand this? Nobody. Who can see this right now? Everyone.

There is all of this content which originates and is experienced by my own being. I am aware of all of this, including the presence of my own being. Therefore, we can say that it is one world of appearance which is appearing. There is only awareness and the appearance of this appearance. Can I be that which is just appearing and disappearing? Where am I? That which this appearance is appearing to. No training is required. I see that so many of you are needlessly trying to make some mental effort. Just simple: all that is appearing is appearing to me, to this 'I'. You know this already. You see this now.