We’ve all been through shifts in developmental stages, be it from toddler to school-aged or perhaps into Unity. Stage shifts can be significant milestones as our sense of who we are changes, and with it, our perspective of the world.
However, the awakening shift into Self Realization can need a bit more support. It’s a shift from experiencing ourselves as a person (mind, emotions, body) to being consciousness experiencing itself through a person. (Others will use different words as they relate to it a bit differently.)
Even if we’re well-versed in how this process happens, our concepts of it never meet the actual experience. Even more so if we’re in a tradition that describes it happening differently than it does for us.
There is a wide spectrum of possibility.
Clarity
First, there is the clarity of the shift. Here, the shift happened after 30 years of witnessing. It was very clear but didn’t match ideas about it. But inner clarity came after a short time.
For many people, the shift is less clear, and the mind’s doubts can interfere. Often, the mind will try to step back in control by casting doubt. But if the shift is solid enough, it will remain and the mind will wind down.
For some others, the shift is vague. Uncertainty is then greater. But when I was consciousness, when someone shifted nearby, I felt their shift as it’s the same consciousness. So I knew they’d opened. But did they know? In such cases, it can take longer to have that inner certainty.
A common factor complicates this with awakening. After we shift, we’re an open space of awareness. This is the optimum for healing. It’s like we’re now meditating 24/7. What is unresolved can rush forward to be processed. Add in the mind trying to regain control and there can be a dance for a time while we’re processing and the grasping winds down. It often takes several months, but can even go on for years.
This is further complicated by people having openings to their deeper nature, then falling back into ego. It may sound and feel a lot like an awakening. I’ve met people who were told they’d awoken when it wasn’t abiding. Ego identification was still there. It is a great sign that we’re getting close, but close is not it.
Style
Another variable is the style of the shift. Some people have a sense of ego death into a no-self emptiness. Others have a sense of ego death into a cosmic Self fullness. Some don’t have a sense of ego death, they simply the shift to Self or no-self. These are all the same shift, just distinct qualities of experience.
(Note: Adyashanti has taken to using the term No-Self for the Brahman stage. This is not the same no-self, referring to the loss of ego-self.)
A smaller number experience the self expanding to become cosmic.
We also have those who have a devotional surrender.
And finally, we have the vague shifters, where there’s a shift, but it’s not subjectively clear enough for certainty. The recognition can take its time, along with the clearing.
Context
And finally, we have context. Is the shift something they knew about prior? Or did it drop out of the blue, like with Eckhart Tolle or Byron Katie? Do their circumstances support sitting with the experience, or are they in a period of responsibilities? Does their experience match the teaching or are they an outlier?
There are many variations in this first shift and it’s not something we’ve experienced before, so it’s common to be uncertain. But once we have clarity, we have the platform for the further stages in consciousness.
Davidya
I’ve nothing to add to this David, except to say, you’ve explained it beautifully. Really the best exposition of this territory I’ve seen. Kudos.
Thanks, Jerry. That means a lot.
Finally I feel I should write just to say what a relief it was to come across your stuff several years ago. I hail from the same tradition as you and although descriptions of more expanded states were not wrong, the actual experience, although it felt natural, was not as expected, the fallout frankly uncomfortable for a good year and the few people I mentioned it to didn’t get it. Fair enough it was my experience but very lonely. Weirdly I no longer pursue vedic knowledge and comparing experiences which I would have thought I’d do. I read kindle novels and go out to lunch. Just enjoying this incarnation. However often your posts just hit home and I SO enjoy and appreciate them.
Thank you for being you
Hi Anne
Thanks for sharing. Yes, when the mind lets go, some things become much less important. We can simply enjoy our lives. And I can relate. The motivation to share is partly because there was no support. I was surprised this took the form of writing, as I didn’t think it was a skill. Turns out it’s dharma.
This is great David. I second Jerry. This is expressed with such clarity and nuance. I had a conversation with Gareth and he cleared a lot up for me but most teachers express this shift as it’s either black or white and it most definitely is not.
Thank you for your penetrating insights and stealth like ability to break things down for us.
Hi C,
Yes, there’s a big difference between the simple explaining of ideas and supporting the direct experience. Some confuse the map with the road. Sometimes, there can be phases when the ideals arise. We can have periods of clarity and bliss, or feeling immersed in Divine love and golden light. Those descriptions are not wrong. I have articles here on the blog about them. But most of us live in the world and continue to enjoy unfolding karma, purification, and less pleasant aspects of the material.
Still, experiencing all that from an awake perspective is much superior. And gradually gets better and better. 🙂
Thank you for another nuanced article. Metaphorically speaking, going up the mountain of spiritual development, the view changes, with the views closer to the top being more inclusive and recognizant of lower views. If the view does not seem familiar, probably one’s journey has not arrived at that place yet. There is no point to argue about the view – self or non-self.
It seems that all these identities are valid in a certain context. Here the shift came after some decades of spiritual practices done because it seemed the right thing to do in a journey of self-exploration. There were little expectations as “enlightenment” seemed to be for yogis practicing in Himalayan caves. Each shift has been not something new, but a realization, a noticing of something present all along, and somehow missed until then. The inner guidance points to these realities at flexing points.
I wonder if the clarity of the shift might have to do with the level of purification, while the style might be related to the level and quality of attachment/non-attachment.
Well put, Blanche
Clarity is related to purification but also refinement. That transformation of tamas into sattva.
The style also relates to clarity, the person’s background and makeup, practices, and ways they’re attached.
It can be nuanced and there’s no way to predict how it will unfold for us.
Someone with an extended effortless meditation practice usually experiences a shift into Self whereas someone who follows a path of inquiry tends to experience no-self. But there are no hard and fast rules. Past life development, lifestyle, and many other factors can influence variety.
How wonderful: Clarity comes from purification and refinement.
Yes, it seems that effortless meditation is associated with this shift – an expansion into Self. Here before that, it was a clear falling-away of the sense of self, the sense of individuality. There is awareness of the roles played in this life, on this stage, but there is no attachment to an individual identity. It is like an actress playing a role on the stage, but she does not believe that she is this character.
It seems that clearing attachments has a role in this shift. I see a lot of people in the yoga community with good levels of purification and lots of attachments and judgement. While there are many practices promoting purification, there are few dealing with attachments. At the other end, non-attachment appears as an attitude that everything goes and a lack of discrimination.
I wonder if you can write an article on attachment/non-attachment and the power of discrimination.
Thank you for your service by pen and keyboard!
Hi Blanche
Yes, effortless meditation helps culture consciousness (presence) via transcending (the essence of Yoga), which is what wakes up to itself here. It also helps culture that clarity through purification and moving up and down through the refined layers. Further, transcending triggers soma, which accelerates refinement (and nature’s support).
And yes, experiences of our deeper nature soften attachments which allows the shift to happen.
mmmm – good point on attachments. A lot of what’s out there is pretty conceptual too, like you’re going to think your way out of attachment when that’s what’s doing the attaching. Even with effortless meditation, we can have habits of being in activity that block letting go. We let go in practice, then jump back in in activity. Especially, if there’s no one we’re being exposed to that’s otherwise. There’s nothing to reflect a different experience.
And yes, when non-attachment is cultured from a conceptual lens, there can be a lack of responsibility and discrimination. Especially when it’s mixed with descriptions of world-as-illusion and the falling away of ego motivations as if these are goals rather than a phase. We can get attached to non-attachment.
Good idea. Will draft something. I have a batch of articles in the cue, awaiting polish.
‘It’s not something we’ve experienced before’ – I really appreciate this articulation. It occurred to me that the ‘unknown’ is actually deeply known on an experiental level. It’s been a slow process over here, there’s a penchant for nuance. The integration feels sacred. I feel grateful for the experience.
Thanks, Jen.
Right. When there’s enough clarity, we realize that the “unknown” is deeply known and has been with us all along.
Beautiful!