Awareness Just Is as It Is

Imagine the contents of your experience – thoughts, images, feelings, sensations and perceptions – are gradually removed. What remains is the fact of being aware. Notice that it is impossible to imagine the disappearance of awareness. Because if you imagine the disappearance of awareness, you would still be aware of what remains. The belief that awareness is temporary and finite contradicts our experience. Awareness is only said to be infinite in reference to finite things known through thought and perception. Prior to thought and perception, awareness just is. Similarly, awareness is only said to be eternal in reference to the belief that it is temporary. Prior to thought, awareness has no knowledge of time and no age. Once the idea of eternal awareness has uprooted the belief in its temporariness, both ideas can be abandoned. Awareness just is as it is. I simply am as ‘I am’. How time flies when there is no time.

Imagine the contents of your experience – thoughts, images, feelings, sensations and perceptions – are gradually removed. What remains is the fact of being aware. Notice that it is impossible to imagine the disappearance of awareness. Because if you imagine the disappearance of awareness, you would still be aware of what remains. The belief that awareness is temporary and finite contradicts our experience. Awareness is only said to be infinite in reference to finite things known through thought and perception. Prior to thought and perception, awareness just is. Similarly, awareness is only said to be eternal in reference to the belief that it is temporary. Prior to thought, awareness has no knowledge of time and no age. Once the idea of eternal awareness has uprooted the belief in its temporariness, both ideas can be abandoned. Awareness just is as it is. I simply am as ‘I am’. How time flies when there is no time.