Four
Gears of Open Awareness
Four Gears of Open Awareness-guided practice
- Open awareness, related to the primary sensory organ*
- Disengaging one's attention from internal objects such as thought and emotion, as well as from external objects perceived through the senses (eyes) and
- Resting as non-three-dimensional open space
- Awareness being aware of itself, without a self-entity
Leads
to:
- Recognition of oneself as conscious awareness, both through sudden awakening (cessation, nirodha) and mind purification (vipashyana, also known as gradual enlightenment) =>
- Cuts down all sense of localisation as a self located in space and time, deconstruction of the self =>
- Calming of the mind (shamatha) =>
- Experiential understanding of both mindfulness (intention) and open awareness (attention)
This
can be called the first gear, the first and foremost step, of
awareness training.
*Eyes
are the primary sensory organ of man. This practice is known as ati
yoga, Ati-meditation, Space Gazing or open awareness meditation in
Open Heart-teachings and by same or similar names in other advanced
teachings.
- Open awareness centered at the heart
Open
awareness recognised through the primary sense organ (eyes) is
connected with the heart/chest area of man. This connection is
revealed through training in open awareness meditation. This is
subtle connection of the energy body (skt. amrita nadi, tib. kati,
engl. chrystal channel), not related to common human emotions,
although open awareness centered at the heart gives self-cognisant
awareness a flavour of warm heartfulness. In the heart open awareness
becomes embodied as love and compassion.
This
can be called the second gear of awareness training.
- Open awareness embodied by the whole bodymind
When
the recognition of the natural state takes place properly and one
trains in it, open awareness not only comes to encompass the abstract
mind and it's various aspects, but also penetrates the flesh of the
body. The self-created mind of man becomes replaced with the ”spirit
of God” which is free and open but also free of freedom, openness
and divinity.
This
can be called the third gear of awareness training.
- Open awareness in action
Here,
open awareness is fully embodied and presented through action, speech
and thought, and also through non-action, non-speech and non-thought.
Here further training of awareness looses it's meaning. Compassionate
action, both in it's peaceful and wrathful forms, is naturally
delivered. This is the stage of the mahasiddhas* or buddhas. When
open awareness is embodied in full bloom like this, all beings in all forms reap
subtle nondual benefits from it as the presence of a mahasiddha
reverberates through all realms** simultaneously. The wow to become a
buddha, a fully enlightened being for the sake of all beings has been
fulfilled and hence is forgotten.
This
can be called the fourth gear and final stage of awareness training.
**All
realms refer to 21 main realms related to the subtle body of man,
that is, chakras. See a diagram of these centers here.
Comments
The
above mapping is one way to explain the aspects and stages of the
path of awareness training. This training can be pursued by anyone.
It is recommended to be conducted in the guidance of a master (here
referring to a mahasiddha) or at least with a person who has attained
the level
of a bodhisattva.
All
should remember that open awareness is the enlightened mind of all
beings. Potentially this can be attained by all men who receive valid
instruction and who have correct compassionate motivation.
This
instruction should not be kept from sincere, honest and open hearted
seekers who wish to blow out the flame of their dualistic ignorance
and embody their natural, truthful, original mind among men and other
beings. This is their right.
It
should be kept in mind that this knowledge is not the property of any
person, any sect or a group. In case a known dishonest or a morally
corrupt person seeks to receive instruction from a teacher, the
teacher should make sure that the relationship is based on honesty
and mutual trust. If this requirement is not met the teacher is
allowed to refrain from giving guidance to such person.
May
all beings realise their freedom.
Thank
you for reading.
-
Baba Kim Katami, 4/2016
Open
Heart,
