Aware of awareness

[bimbabruna]

Hi everybody,

I hope your practices are going well. I'm writing here because I've always had a doubt about awareness. I've read and heard many times that the self-realisation of the meditation is to be aware that you are aware -be aware of awareness. I think I've never been in this state but I've had moments of pure awareness in which I've felt like an observer of all phenomena in my head and body, very spaciousness and relaxed. This moments don't stay for long. Now I'm wondering how can I be aware of my awareness when I'm being aware. Does anyone know?

[JonW]

The idea of being aware of awareness sounds over-complicated to me, bimbabruna, and, to my knowledge, is not considered part of mindfulness meditation.
Other forms of meditation are geared towards "pure awareness" but, as far as I understand it, there would be no "observer" in that state as it would effectively be non-dual.

[stacheman101]

I have read of the "observer" turning his or her attention back on awareness itself, thereby somehow leading to something non-dual.

[stacheman101]

I think towards the end of Tara Brach's book "Radical Acceptance" there are some passages which discuss this.

[bimbabruna]

I'm discovering Tara Brach now on the net, thanks stacheman101. I've heard it in many other vids and books, it's quite complicated for me to understand. I'll take a look to the book.

[BioSattva]

I've read and heard many times that the self-realisation of the meditation is to be aware that you are aware -be aware of awareness.

Hi Bibma, I think this just means identify that whatever you do - even 'being aware of something' - is observed by a kind of 'raw' background awareness. Another way it may be framed is by asking "What or who is it within us that witnesses our witnessing?". We know we witness things, but how?

There is an awareness caught up in our thoughts - the thought "I am aware", and then there is a background awareness which knows that one is aware of that even before it has been labeled. Mindfulness, with it's dropping of judgements, and acceptance that we are already perfect so that we needn't 'think our way out' allows us to retreat into our awareness beyond thought and notice how the mind notices itself - as a feeling. It seems this is why Buddhists added mind to the other 5 senses to make 6 senses.

Awareness can transcend our present self-focused notions of what awareness is - to the most basic examples of cognition in insects, and even plants reacting to sunshine and moving towards it, or amoebas identifying chemical gradients left by potential food in the solutions around them and these gradients triggering simple chemical reactions which cause the amoeba to be observed to 'hunt down' it's food. It seems such chemical interaction representing 'awareness' could even be boiled down to a bucket of water being 'aware' that it was knocked from outside due to the ripples within it.

Chimpanzees can identify their own 'aware' face in a mirror and notice a mark on their face and inspect it, but they cannot be aware that they are aware. We are the only animals we are currently aware of ( ) that can be aware that they are aware (and give that process the label 'self-aware').

As long as one watches one's mind, it seems one is being aware that one is aware. It is something effortless - allowing thoughts to drift through while remaining detached - as the thoughts are evidence of our awareness - things we have noticed, and we notice that we notice things.

That's my take on it, anyway. I feel a little crazy now , I wouldn't worry about it too much - often such statements are linked with more exotic reports linked to esoteric mindfulness practices which Buddhists within various schools latch onto and try to recreate. I think mindfulness practice should be very simple - the world is complex and confusing enough already!

[rara]

Bio puts it well

Being "aware" is that sort of thing where all of a sudden, you go "wow...I see things clearly and rationally...in myself and in the world"

It's a mid-way point (for lack of a better term) in the practice when stuff just begins to fall into place BUT then, many get caught up in that and enjoy it all for what it is...which is fine. But there is that bit later when you can...wait for it...all of a sudden see yourself from outside yourself and say "Woah, now I see myself being aware"

Once you reach this, you'll end up being less amazed...by everything. In fact, going back to "regular" life becomes easier. Meditation becomes your way of life, naturally, because now you're aware that you're aware so the mystery and exploration of yourself isn't such a mystery anymore. So you just end up walking around, doing your thing, but in a very confident way (for lack of a better term...again)

Got it? Didn't think so hehe.

Just messing. Hope this helped in some way.