What is the Natural Self? First, let’s explore the words.
Natural: a state of being relaxed, with no resistance to the present moment. We discover we are the present.
Self: our sense of who we are and that we are.
I describe various levels of self that can arise on the spiritual journey: the personal self, the universal self, the cosmic Self. Yet, it’s all recognized to be one. Divine qualities becoming self-aware consciousness which iterates out into zillions of experiencers like you and I.
The Natural Self is a sense of self that is relaxed, present, and self-aware. It is, naturally, and knows who it is. No effort required. It is that wave on the ocean of being.
Good spiritual practices reveal our deeper aspects of self and help integrate them into daily life. This also cultures an attitude of naturalness.
As such, we don’t get to our natural self through control or trying to be some idea of spiritual. It’s about being who we are now. About being able to connect with yourself at ease in any moment, the part of you that is changeless and the part of you that lives and dies.
We start by touching the changeless briefly, usually in meditation. As the ground is cultivated, it gradually moves into our daily experience. We can check in and settle home.
Along the way, we shed boundaries and discover the breath of our personal self. Why we’re here, what gifts we have, and what we can contribute. Just by being ourselves.
And then our natural state of being becomes ongoing. We become our natural self in all its glory.
Davidya
Simple and profound. Thank you. 🙂
Some spiritual approaches or concepts seem to get a little convoluted at times; going back to simplicity (without over simplifying) helps let go of that.
Lovely picture btw
Hi Eira
Yes, it’s simple. But so often, we get caught up in expectations and comparisons. A little reminder can be helpful….
Hmmm, so nice to read, so true, like the flower, it just is, simply unravels to be itself, is itself, doesn’t think or compare, oh I wonder what that is over there, maybe I should be like that, no, what am I, oh I’m a beautiful rose, or I am what they call a dandelion, look how precious I am, and how beautiful it is that we are all unique, yet together we make up thee most beautiful natural garden. Pure bliss. Just peace. The nature of simply being what is. Hmmm. So relaxing even thinking of it, imagining it, being there right now, in the garden, unfolding and watching the beauty of it all unfolding, hmmm I can feel the warmth of the sun, see the flowers in the breeze and hear the bees hum, so beyond words, simply being ✨
Yes, JJ, just simple being. This is both the universal pure being, and that unique expression of ourselves in this apparent form. We’re here to add that unique perspective of the whole to itself through being and doing who we are.
The simplicity of being, I hope they don’t put words or structures on it, and suffocate it’s natural being, maybe a little tender caring, but not bombard it with too much pruning and manicuring
Anyway, whatever is decided it’s still beautiful, no one can take that away
Natural divinity in flow form ✨
Little sparks of light ✨
Actually, words and structure are natural. Structure comes from our wisdom body and allows form to arise. Words help us communicate and share meaning. The issue is when we forget who we are, that simplicity of being, and get identified with the words and structure. Then they act like suffocaters of wholeness. Limitations on our infinite being.
Beautifully put. Namaste from one spark to another!