BE-AWARE......

I'm fascinated to hear recently that my brain contains about as many neurons as there are stars in the entire galaxy. What an amazing coincidence! So much for the brain.

But what about the Mind? When I ask my grandchildren, “Where is your mind?” they point to their heads. That's understandable, given the information they've picked up from the environment so far. But ask most adults to point to their mind and you'll get the same answer. That kind of ignorance is crippling. But don't get despondent. Everything you needed to do to find out who you really are, you have now done. It's

time for the final stage... Are you ready to know what you are?

Our Mind is not our brain, nor is our brain our mind. Mind is the craftsman; the brain is one of its tools.Another analogy I like to use is that our sensory apparatus, nerve system and mind are the camera, but who or what is the cameraman? What is looking into the viewfinder?

Now, let's look at Awareness. Awareness is not the camera, nor is it a product of either your mind or your brain: rather, your mind and brain (the camera) are creations of Awareness.

“Sailor” Bob Adamson, who really has an amazingly down-to-earth ability to communicate Awareness, has said “Who or what is doing the seeing? Who or what is hearing, and so forth with all the senses? Who? What? Is your eyeball seeing? No. What is being seen is being seen through the eyeball, translated into electrical pulses, then filtered through a thought of “I am seeing”. So is this filtering thought “I am seeing” doing the seeing? No. Neither is whatever holds that thought in place (ego). So what is it that is seeing? What is it that is hearing? Smelling? Touching? Feeling? That thoughtless awareness that is infused in every cell of us.” Awareness. The One without a second. The One with no superior or inferior. The one with no other.

You and I are the same essence. We may be quite different in appearance, but that's all separation is – an appearance. Apparently.

Awareness - relaxed, unlimited and uncommentated attention - is the organising principle behind everything that arises in It. Consciousness is infinite Awareness with the limitations that go with being the apparently separate Me, You and That.

What if the purpose of this life, with its apparent separations and limitations, is for Awareness to become aware of Itself? If that were true, then all our struggles, victories, tribulations and joys would be perfectly OK, as long as we remain aware.

A Master was meditating in his hut one evening when a robber suddenly burst into his room and demanded money. Without pausing his calmness, the master said, “It's over there in a bag by my bed. But please leave me some coins: I have to pay my taxes tomorrow. The robber took some money, then said to the Master, “Just like that? Aren't you going to give me a lecture on the evils of stealing?” “No,” said the master quietly, “Stealing is your game. Keep stealing, but become aware. That is all I ask.”

Later on the following night, the master was once again meditating when the thief burst into his room. He was livid with anger. “You've fucked me up,” he hissed. “Tonight I broke into the King's treasure chamber. The entire wealth of the country was within my grasp. Then I remembered what you said to me last night – Keep stealing, but be aware.” I froze. I couldn't move. You've fucked me up. I can no longer be a thief.”

Keep stealing. Keep stealing from your wellbeing, keep stealing from your happiness, keep stealing from your health, keep stealing from your relationships – keep stealing, but be aware. That is all I ask.

[Steal the Light – The Cat Empire (A) – 3:45]