7. The Power of Awareness

The power of thinking is well recognised, but not so the power of “awareness”. We may talk of two dimensions of awareness: that of one’s “inner” world and that of the so-called “outer” world, although at the deepest level, the distinctions of inner and outer tend to dissolve. Most of us are unaware, or, at best, superficially aware, of what is going on inside us and around us, and this is because we are entrapped by our ego-selves all the time. Some degree of freedom from the ego-self is necessary to enable both inner and outer awareness.

Inner awareness manifests in looking calmly at oneself, like a witness, with detachment, without judgement and without intervention. It is almost like scientific observation, except that there is no labelling and theorising. Awareness is a dynamic activity, always in the present. It is perhaps more like looking at oneself through the eyes of God –– not a frightening and judging God, but an omnipresent and compassionate One.

Our “normal” mode of consciousness is usually characterised by a complete lack of awareness. We are not in touch with what is really going on inside us moment-to-moment, because our attention is unconsciously projected outward. There appears to be need for a conscious motivation on the part of the “subject” to choose itself as the “object” of attention. Indeed, the very fact that this is possible, suggests that one’s essential reality (subject) is distinct from one’s ego-self (object).

This object manifests as thought and emotion, and when the ego-self disappears (even momentarily) from the field of attention, one remains in a state of “pure consciousness”, which is the ultimate reality that is referred to repeatedly in our ancient teaching. The discovery of this ability to treat one’s own ego-self as an object of attention is the beginning of inner awareness.

However, the ego-self usually ensures that this awakening does not happen by keeping the mind preoccupied with relentless mental activity all the time. It is as though we are possessed by something over which we have little or no control. There is a deep sense of insecurity in its very existence, and it has to make its presence felt somehow, all the time. Awareness can reveal this insecurity, whenever the notion of the ego-self is threatened. This is revealed by the reactions of the ego-self in the form of boredom, anger, jealousy, hurt, worry, etc. These reactions are accompanied by characteristic manifestations in the physical body and one learns to recognise these signals. The mind may say, “I am not angry”, but the body reaction will expose the lie.