In order to have clarity regarding today’s reading, it is helpful to remember that there are two states of mind and beyond mind.
The first state of mind is deluded. When one is deluded, she believes she is a person in a world. She values mental chatter as her real thoughts.
The second state of mind is true perception. One who perceives with true perception is disengaged from mental chatter. He follows spontaneous intuition. He has the experience of being human in a world, but he is aware that everything is consciousness. In today’s reading, one who experiences this state of mind is referred to as Self-realized.
Beyond mind is beyond perception entirely. As we learned on Day 292, there is no sense of self in awake reality. The body that is perceived by others as the awakened one is moved by consciousness—by “the code”—but there is no sense of ‘I am.’ There is no interpretation, no mind and no world beyond mind. Only the absolute exists.
In order to move from deluded to Self-realized, it is helpful to live as if you are Self-realized before you are Self-realized. By living as if you are Self-realized, you awaken into the Self-realized state.
How do you live as if you are Self-realized?
- Remember that fear (upset) does not come from circumstances in the world, and resolving situations in the world does not transcend fear. You transcend fear by remembering reality. When you experience fear, practice rest-accept-trust, awareness-watching-awareness or look at your thoughts with clarity.
- Practice surrender as it was taught in yesterday’s reading. Live by following intuition instead of mental chatter.
- When you find yourself caught up in thoughts about the world, let go of mental chatter by practicing the mantra. Thoughts about the world include thoughts about your personal life, your work, the personal life of others, politics, and etcetera.
Today is a good day to begin living as if you are Self-realized. That doesn’t mean you should pretend you are Self-realized. That doesn’t mean you should be dishonest with yourself about your state of mind. It simply means this: Live your life by following the three recommendations above.
Thoughts of Awakening # 297
Judgments are a symbol of attachment.
When the mind is judging
it has a vested interest
in specific outcome in form.
Allowance, acceptance, release
is the opposite of judgment.
It asks for nothing
except peace,
which is the natural flow of God.
~From our Holy Spirit
Homework for this week
- Practice daily meditation for 30-60 minutes each day.
- Practice the “Loving All” Method.
- Thoughts of Awakening, 295-301
- Read Read the following messages from The Teaching of Inner Ramana: Commentary on Mind, The Purpose of Surrender, The Purpose of Surrender Part Two, Instructions for Using the Mantra, The Circus and the Meadow, Look at the False “I” Thought, The Importance of Practice