[Al Guart]

[DW]

Inner change is often depicted as something that comes from an extraordinary experience or moment in someone’s life. But what about someone whose day-to-day feels unremarkable? Someone curious and observant, who still feels that something’s missing, something beyond a general openness, that would allow them to create this change. Based on your own life, what steps would you recommend for initiating lasting, significant change? Something concrete would be helpful, though I know these things are often hard to reduce to “steps”.

[Alfred Guart]

Excellent question. There’s so much confuson and contradiction surrounding this topic. But the truth is usually simple and direct. I found a pre-verbal awareness exists within. Some make a good living at painting it as something to attain, often through following some program or by negating your thoughts, hopes and dreams. This is unproductive.

It is better to allow this motiveless awareness into your daily life. Listen for things that might normally go unnoticed, such as the sound of a distant train whistle. Look for things like the shadows on your keyboard keys. There is no motive behind this, nothing to gain or protect. In that sense it is pure. We can expand our field of awareness this way. Some may call this meditation, but it is really just allowing the original mind you entered this world with, which existed before you had a name or any experience or language, to operate.

Eventually this simple, innocent awareness will play a larger role in your daily life. You may find it has been overcome by your intellect, which is built on experience and language. Our culture values and rewards knowledge, skill and experience. So there is an overemphasis on those qualities and an ignorance of our original awareness.

Ending this internal battle represents a significant, lasting change. By that I mean having your awareness and intellect operating harmoniously is a major step toward being whole. In sum, the “step” I would encourage is to allow basic awareness to operate more freely while you engage in any daily activity, at any time. No need for lotus position or solitude or incense.

Thanks again for sharing a sincere and probing question.

[Author]

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