I
have a question. Is the witness consciousness the same as the soul? What is it
that’s watching us?
That is the question. What is it
that is watching us? That is something for you to really explore through your
own experience. Going into witness consciousness is bringing your consciousness
to another place. This place is neutral. It is not judging, evaluating, drawing
conclusions, or making projections; it is just simply observing.
What is it observing? It is
observing what is. That is why I always say, it arises, it is, it dissolves. Everything that we think is so
real, is not real. It arises, it is, it
dissolves. That is the wave, the energy of waves of emotions and waves of
thoughts. If you can observe them neutrally, they arise, you observe them, and then, if you sit with them and observe
them long enough, however long that may be, they will dissolve.
But who is observing? Sit in witness
consciousness, and witness yourself witnessing; see what you see. It is a
wonderful, lovingly detached place where, if you can really arrive there within
yourself through sustained practice and purification, you will never take
yourself so seriously again because everything is changing all the time. Not to
take yourself seriously is another way of saying you will not be so
self-absorbed, but you will be much more attuned to the flow of light and love.
You will be carried on these currents which are peaceful even when there are
difficulties and challenges; there is a peace and steadiness there, no matter what is going on
around you.
So your question is one that every
spiritual warrior, seeker, or student should explore. If I
wanted to answer from the head, I would say that the witness is the part of our
consciousness that merges with God. But those are just words. It is better to
watch what you are feeling and thinking when you are practicing the witness. It
is better in that expanded state of consciousness to observe what that feels
like, what the qualities of the witness are, and to learn how to be swift in
going there.
The witness place is the
only place that can save you from your perpetual reaction to the stimulus of whatever
or whomever in life. Do not be like
Pavlov’s dog, salivating instantly at the stimulus and thinking you have no
control over it, because you do. It is time to stop acting like a salivating
dog (unconsciousness) and start realizing your highest potential of spiritual
awareness (consciousness).
Sometimes it seems that the reaction is so quick that only after
the fact do I remember to witness it.
That is just you thinking
your reaction actually means something so that you can tell yourself, “Oh, I
didn’t catch that, I wasn’t quick enough.” I know when I feel a reaction; I
don’t have to think about it. Just as quickly as the reaction is there, I feel
it, and I know instantaneously that this is the work. When your practice is
sustained, your reactions turn into responses. Let us say your husband says
something to you and it presses a button. You know instantly that your button is pressed, and you know instantly that you
have a choice: are you going to raise your voice, get frustrated and mad, or
are you going to control yourself and breathe and be in witness? Find the fire
to be beautiful. Find the fire to forge your life in every moment. You do not know
how many moments you have; every one is a jewel, every one is so precious.
With all of the current
events and other issues we bring up here, it is always the same. It comes back
to personal responsibility and finding what keeps your heart open so you can
continue to love and feel and find your own points of balance for the best
integration you can possibly create for yourself. It always comes back to being
responsible for your thoughts, words, and deeds. It all comes back to that
place. Nothing else is within your means to change, but you can change
yourself, and when you do, it affects the whole.
People join
organizations, go on marches, and participate in protests in order to bring
about change. I am not saying that none of that is good, but it is not very
effective. What happens there is that issues become polarized: this is good,
and this is bad. Then your position becomes reinforced and you get into a
fight. That is war.
So there is no place to
go, there is nothing to do, and it takes everything you’ve got. You are already
here, you are it, Thou art that. Over
and over and over again, to the same place. There is no new technique, there is
no new channeled information. All of that may be interesting, but none of it is
going to make any difference except to take you off point. It will not do the
work for you, but sitting everyday in meditation will, living life as a prayer
will, and living life as a meditation will. Saying thank you and being grateful
every day will. All the really simple things will sustain you. The beauty that
is all around us is astounding and so very sustaining. The heat of the fire is
sustaining, the thirst-quenching water is sustaining, the food is sustaining;
there is so much that sustains us. We are so blessed, so blessed.
(October 19, 2014)
Maresha's next blog will be published February 24, 2015.
Messages of Light is published by the Sanctuary of Universal Light on Snow Dragon Mountain in Meredith, New Hampshire. A snail mail edition is available bi-monthly, free of charge. www.snowdragonsanctuary.com