The Great Forgetting & the Path to True Awakening
What if everything you believe about yourself is an elaborate illusion?
What if the very sense of “I” that narrates your daily experience is nothing more than a persistent mirage obscuring your true nature?
Right now, as you read these words, there’s an awareness present that witnesses your thoughts, emotions, and sensations.
This awareness has been with you since childhood, unchanged by the countless experiences that have shaped your identity.
Yet most of us live our entire lives without ever recognizing this fundamental aspect of our being.
From birth, layers of conditioning gradually veil our true essence, creating a sense of separation that feels so real we rarely question it.
We mistake ourselves for the character in our life’s story rather than the consciousness in which that story unfolds.
But what lies beyond this veil?
What if the seeker of happiness, the one who suffers, the individual navigating life’s challenges was revealed to be a case of mistaken identity?
Drawing from profound insights in Awaken The World’s documentary “Awakening Mind Part 2: The Mind Unveiled,” we’re about to embark on a journey that challenges everything you think you know about consciousness and reality itself.
This isn’t philosophical speculation but a direct invitation to investigate the very foundation of your experience.
Are you ready to look beyond the familiar boundaries of the mind and glimpse the infinite awareness that you truly are?
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The Great Forgetting & the Nature of Mind
To enter the human experience is to embark on a journey of great forgetting.
At birth, we are one with the infinite, but as we grow, the veil of the conditioned mind obscures the truth of who we really are.
This veil casts us into a world of separation, limitation, and doubt, where our true nature becomes hidden behind layers of conditioning that we often accept without question.
As we begin to explore what creates this forgetting, we uncover the dualistic nature of the mind itself.
Throughout history, humanity has sought to understand the mind through various lenses: spiritual, philosophical, and scientific.
Commonly, the mind is perceived as something residing within the head, associated with thinking and cognition.
However, the mind is much deeper, representing duality itself.
Known as Maya or Illusion in various traditions, the mind’s very nature is to create the sense of separation that defines our experience.
This duality becomes the foundation upon which our entire perception of the world is built, dividing our awareness into subject and object, self and other.
It is this fundamental split that perpetuates the great forgetting, keeping us trapped in the illusion of being separate entities navigating an external world.
Understanding this initial separation and the mind’s role in creating it is the first step towards reawakening to our true essence.
The Ego: Formation & Illusion
The ego, derived from the Latin word for “I,” is the persistent idea that we are individual entities separate from the whole.
This illusionary self is not our true essence.
Our true self is infinite awareness; consciousness itself.
Yet most of us become entangled in the content of experience (thoughts, images, feelings), creating an illusory self that we identify with.
This ego formation begins remarkably early in life.
From a young age, we develop this sense of separate self through identification and conceptual thinking.
The process starts with recognizing ourselves in a mirror, around 6 to 18 months old, and continues as we form a personal identity.
As children, we are taught to see ourselves as separate individuals, distinct from others.
This identification with the body and mind strengthens the illusion of a separate self, leading us to believe in our individuality as we grow.
This sense of separation becomes deeply ingrained, shaping our thoughts, behaviors, and interactions.
The ego, while giving us a sense of individuality, is ultimately a construct that veils our true nature.
The more we identify with this false self, the more we reinforce the illusion of separation, leading to a life driven by fear, desire, and a sense of incompleteness.
What begins as a natural developmental process becomes the very mechanism that keeps us trapped in the forgetting of who we truly are.
The Process of Awakening
Awakening involves transcending the dualistic mind and recognizing our true nature.
It is a journey of peeling back the layers of illusion to uncover the infinite consciousness within.
This process often begins with questioning and direct investigation into the nature of thought and the self.
As we delve deeper, the sense of being a separate thinker dissolves, revealing a state of pure, unbound consciousness.
This awakening can be gradual or sudden, but it always involves a profound shift in how we perceive ourselves and the world.
Suffering & Psychological Pain
Psychological suffering stems from the belief in being a separate entity.
Every instance of psychological pain can be traced back to this fundamental mistake.
Unlike physical pain, which serves a protective function, psychological suffering is unnecessary and rooted in the illusion of separation.
Recognizing this can lead to profound liberation.
When we understand that our suffering is a result of mistaken identity, we can begin to let go of the ego’s hold on our lives and experience the freedom of our true nature.
Transcending the Dualistic Mind
The dualistic mind is characterized by the separation between the witness and the witnessed, subject and object.
Awakening transcends this split, allowing us to realize the ever-present primordial awareness.
This realization dissolves the boundaries of the ego, merging us with the flow of life.
By seeing through the illusion of duality, we come to understand that all experiences arise within the same field of awareness, and that this awareness is our true self.
Resistance & Surrender
The mind’s resistance to life creates suffering.
Attempting to conquer the mind with the mind leads to endless struggle.
True liberation comes from surrendering to what is, without resistance.
This surrender allows life to flow through us, unhindered by the ego’s preferences and fears.
When we stop resisting, we open ourselves to the natural intelligence of life, which guides us toward peace and fulfillment.
This process of surrender is not about giving up, but about letting go of the need to control and allowing life to unfold as it will.
The Role of Suffering in Awakening
Suffering often acts as a catalyst for spiritual inquiry, prompting us to ask deeper questions about the nature of self and existence.
This introspection can lead to moments of profound realization and the eventual awakening to our true nature.
Through suffering, we are driven to seek answers and find meaning, which ultimately brings us closer to the truth of who we are.
This process transforms suffering from a source of pain into a powerful tool for growth and awakening.
The Unity of Consciousness
Consciousness is the fundamental reality underlying all existence.
This understanding transforms our perception of life, shifting us from an ego-centered existence to one of service and harmony with the whole.
Recognizing consciousness as the foundation of existence brings a sense of profound relaxation and liberation from personal anxieties, changing our relationship with the world and helping us see that we are not isolated beings, but expressions of a greater whole.
This recognition leads us to non-dual awareness, the profound realization that there is no separate self.
Everything we perceive is an expression of one infinite consciousness.
This understanding dissolves the illusion of separation, allowing us to experience life directly, without the filter of the conditioned mind that has kept us trapped in the belief of being individual entities.
In this state of non-dual awareness, we understand that we are not separate from the world around us, but intimately connected to all of existence.
This awareness brings a deep sense of peace and fulfillment, as we no longer feel the need to seek outside ourselves for happiness.
We discover that what we have been searching for has always been our very nature, the consciousness in which all experiences arise and pass away.
Living from Awakened Awareness
Awakening transforms our personal goals and lifestyle in profound ways.
We move from ego-centered ambitions to a life of service, aligning with the natural flow of life.
This shift brings about a deep sense of peace, fulfillment, and connection with all that is.
Our actions become less about achieving personal success and more about contributing to the well-being of the whole, affecting every aspect of our lives from our relationships to our work.
The ultimate realization in this journey is the recognition of our oneness with universal consciousness.
This understanding eradicates personal and collective suffering, revealing a life of profound harmony and peace.
By seeing through the illusion of separation, we free ourselves from the constraints of the ego and live in alignment with the truth of our being.
This liberation is not an escape from life, but a deeper engagement with it.
When we live from this awakened awareness, we experience the joy and beauty of existence in every moment.
Life becomes a continuous expression of our true nature, where each action flows naturally from the understanding that we are not separate individuals trying to find happiness, but consciousness itself celebrating its own infinite creativity through the dance of existence.
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We understand the yearning for balance, purpose, and deep-rooted well-being. Together we can make a difference, and create a sanctuary where these aspirations inspire mindful living. Your support magnifies our shared impact. Gratitude for journeying with us.
Final Reflections
The journey of awakening is a profound and transformative process.
By recognizing the true nature of the mind, transcending the illusion of the ego, and embracing our infinite consciousness, we uncover the deep peace and fulfillment that lies within.
As we awaken to our true nature, we not only transform our own lives but also contribute to the collective well-being of humanity.
The path to awakening is an invitation to remember who we truly are and to live in harmony with the flow of life.
Through this journey, we discover that we are not separate from the world, but an integral part of the magnificent tapestry of existence.
Watch Awakening Mind Part 2: The Mind Unveiled
Looking for Awakening Mind Part 1: Know Thyself?
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