THE VALUE OF SELF-AWARENESS

THE VALUE OF SELF-AWARENESS

The value of Self-awareness is a prominent aspect of Truth. Like all values, Truth has many facets, which can be grasped step by step, as we learn more about it and mostly experience its meaning and wider scope.

Self-awareness begins with becoming conscious of one’s own feelings, attitude and behaviour. This is a fundamental process of maturity. When we are not conscious of ourselves, e.g. of what we say and why, of what we do and why, we act unconsciously, without awareness, without being fully present.

How to become more conscious of oneself

We have all experienced how, when we are in a state of quietude it is easier to observe the flow of thoughts and emotions that sometimes take over and mislead us.  Our mind is always moving outwards, and it is the nature of the mind to attach itself to whatever it encounters; thoughts, opinions, objects and sensations pull us continuously between our likes and dislikes.

To balance this ongoing mental and sensorial activity we can learn to direct our focus within. This “turning inward” allows us to become more aware of the possibilities we have to reinforce and improve our strong points, talents and potential. It also triggers a new capacity to experience and focus on the present moment by learning to bring our mind back to where we are “now”. By so doing we become more and more self-conscious.

As we move deeper into a process of self-inquiry, we discover a luminous state of being, and in its silence can hear the voice of our Conscience, i.e. of our Higher Self that fills us with Truth and Compassion. By connecting daily to this dimension of ourselves, the love, wisdom and inner strength that spring from it guide us towards the realization of the spiritual essence of our being, and towards our unity with the fundamental Reality of Universal Consciousness.

The Delphic maxim “Know Thyself”, inscribed on the Temple of Apollo, implies these three steps of Self-awareness, which, in the words of Sathya Sai, take us from conscious, to conscience to Consciousness.

How to develop Self-Awareness in children

It so follows that if our aim is to help children build a good character and raise their awareness with respect to the inherent Human Values residing in one’s heart, we need to help them first become conscious of “how they behave in the world”, and then gradually take them deeper.  The tools that can assist them in this practice are Silent Sitting and Meditation on the Light. By observing one’s breath they learn to bring it into balance with the natural rhythm of life, fostering inner peace. A state of mind which grows and ripens in the presence of the Light, until they gently tune into a vaster understanding of themselves.

To familiarize children with the triple steps of “Self-awareness” in ways comprehensible for them, is a fundamental  practice, without which they may lose the precious chance of living the life they are meant for.

Don’t Chase the Shadow but Hold on to the Being

On a hot day a man was walking along the road. The afternoon sun was scorching and the shadows had already started lengthening. The man was thirsty and could not see any water source to quench his thirst. Fortunately for him, he saw a tall coconut tree throwing a long shadow in front of him. There were lots of coconuts visible in the shadow and he thought he would quench his thirst with some coconut water. He went to the top of the shadow and tried to pluck a coconut from the shadow. Obviously, he could not get one. He realised his stupidity and with great difficulty he climbed up the real tree and got hold of a coconut and started drinking the water sitting on the top of the tree itself. When he accidentally looked down, he was surprised to see his own shadow on the top of the shadow tree sitting and drinking the water! Then a great truth dawned upon him. Instead of running after the worldly life, which is only a shadow of the Reality, if we anchor to the Being itself, our needs in the material world will also be automatically taken care of.

Ratan Lal, “I am I”, p. 17 (Sai Tower Publishing, 1999)

A quiet mind is all you need

“A quiet mind is all you need. All else will happen rightly, once your mind is quiet. As the sun on rising makes the world active, so does Self-awareness affect changes in the mind. In the light of calm and steady Self-awareness, inner energies wake up and work miracles without any effort on your part.” 

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj , “I am That”, pg. 297

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