AWARENESS – Ken Wilber’s view

AWARENESS – Ken Wilber’s view

Enjoy 3 breaths after each section and frequently through your week

POINTER INSIGHT: There is only awareness.  We are aware even when we say we aren’t aware.

COMMENTARY: Many spiritual teachers use the term Awareness quite often as a synonym for consciousness. I reserve consciousness to mean ‘not in a coma’.  Ken Wilber plumps for awareness where he says; The one thing that we always are already aware of is….awareness itself.  We already have basic awareness in the form of the capacity to witness whatever arises.  As an old Zen master used to say, “you hear the birds?  You see the sun?  Who is not enlightened?  None of us can even imagine a state where basic awareness is not because we would still be aware of the imagining.  Even in dreams we are aware.  Moreover, these traditions maintain, there are not two different types of awareness, enlightened versus ignorant.  There is only awareness.  And this awareness, exactly and precisely as it is, without correction or modification at all, is itself Spirit, since there is nowhere that Spirit is not.  – One Taste: p. 130

KEN RELAYS THE INSTRUCTIONS: recognize awareness, recognize the Witness, recognize the Self, and abide as that.  

Any attempt to get awareness is totally beside the point.  “But I still don’t see the Spirit!”  “You are aware of your not seeing Spirit, and that awareness is itself Spirit!”   You can practice mindfulness, because there is forgetfulness; but you cannot practice awareness, because there is only awareness. -0- One Taste: p. 130

Enjoy 3 breaths

PRACTICE/s FOR THE WEEK: Smile more, take time out for three conscious breaths, give a helping hand.  

BREATH-MANTRA: In-breath; “Awareness” –  Outbreath; “No boundaries.”

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IF YOU DO WANT TO  READ MORE: Read the June chapter in Ken Wilber’s One Taste: Daily Reflections on Integral Spirituality .

Author: Roger - Dr Roger Prentice

Now I write, teach and coach mainly self-understanding. At advanced levels About 21stC 'interfaith as inter-spirituality' - and how we can grow closer to our True Self. In the past I : . 1) I ran courses and give talks at conferences and in universities and colleges in the UK, China, USA, Canada, Scandinavia etc. . 2) I provided materials, outlines and lessons for Schools. . 3) My range of interests include personal development, learning and teaching, photography and film, the arts generally, spirituality and educational practice and theory. . 4) At the same time I continue developing the human-centred studies SunWALK PDS (People Development System) - a whole-person, high-achievement model for individuals, and for use in, NGOs, schools and other organizations. . 5) The key question that continues to animate me and my work remains, "What is it to be fully and positively human?" . Contact me via onesummit AT gmail DOT com (replace At with@ etc.). . All good wishes Roger (Dr Roger Prentice) . For those interested; My first degree is in English and Education. My masters is in Adult and Community Education. My doctorate presented a new holistic meta-model of education called SunWALK. View all posts by Roger - Dr Roger Prentice