When we slow down, and are able to observe ourselves in that moment, I call it finding our Middle Ground. It is the first step in spiritual self inquiry. It’s when we look inwards, asking ourselves the ultimate question”Who am I?”
In this space we become a curious observer of ourselves and develop witness consciousness.
“The witness is your awareness of your own thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Witnessing is like waking up in the morning and then looking in the mirror and noticing yourself — not judging or criticizing, just neutrally observing the quality of being awake. That process of stepping back takes you out of being submerged in your experiences and thoughts and sensory input and into self-awareness.” ~ Ram Dass
For me, the practice of yoga and meditation brings me to my Middle Ground. As I learn to be here more and more, I realize that the true nature of us all is awareness. I am the perceiver of myself and the world around me, and happen to live in a thinking, breathing, physical and energetic body.
Yet, finding our Middle Ground is only the beginning. The next step is to stay here, and come from this place every day.
“Along with that self-awareness comes the subtle joy of just being here, alive, enjoying being present in this moment. Eventually, floating in that subjective awareness, the objects of awareness dissolve, and you will come into the spiritual Self, which is pure consciousness, joy, compassion, the One.” ~ Ram Dass
As we practice being present and aware, a new sense of being emerges. We become less attached to external objects, and we feel a sense of connection with everyone.
Living in our Middle Ground, develops compassion for others, and for ourselves… just the way we are.
We feel less disturbance and motivation. There is no longer a feeling of lack, or anxiety. We recognize that everything passes and we are no longer attached. There is no worry or fear.
Yet, staying in our Middle Ground continues to be a practice. There will be times when I am brought back to feelings of fear or uncertainty, or become attached to something pleasurable. This seems to be way of human beings.
With awareness of this we can bring ourselves back to the first step once more.
And that’s okay. Its simply an opportunity to find our Middle Ground once more and sense the spiritual Self that is there for us to keep connecting to.
Namaste
I don’t know when Ram Dass wrote or said those quotes, but given that he came face to face with his human mortality a few years ago when he suffered a massive stroke, I am sure it helped him with present-centeredness. Struggling with illness myself, I am more aware than ever of mine. Being in the now is a way to stay out of the “wreckage of the future” or hark back nostalgically to the “perfect” days of the past, which of course never were.
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I agree Sunny. When we face our own mortality it changes our perspective on life and what matters in each moment. Thank you 💛
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😘
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I enjoyed the peace and ease of this post, Val — thank you.
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Thank you Jet 💛
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Lovely post Val.
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Thank you Lorraine 💛
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The next step is to stay here. That will stick.
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Thanks David 💛
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Staying centred and focused definitely needs practice in this hectic busy world we live in. It’s so easy to be drawn in to negative or unrealistic thought patterns, no matter how simple our life we think we have.
Re-finding that Middle Ground after being drawn outside it becomes more easy as time and practice goes by, but that doesn’t mean we never stray and lose sight of the path.
Great post, Val.
(and great photo too).
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Thank you Vicki for sharing your insight and being here. 💕
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First step, stay there. Wake up first step, stay there ha! I’m getting better with loads of practice. Thanks Val 💚💕
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The practice to nowhere and everywhere …. glad you enjoyed the steps Karen 💕
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Key here for me, ‘neutrally observing the quality of being awake.’ I was raised judgmentally and had to silence the inner critic. Once that was accomplished, I quite happily embraced mindfulness. It’s ceased to be a practice and is simply life as I know it. Witnessing, at least to me, is simply being awake. Aloha, Val. Good post. 😉
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Your journey sounds profound for one young in years. I do love how you embrace all of life Bela .. in a wild and authentic way ❣️😎🌺
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Val, you are so sweet – you do know I turn 64 in 2 weeks(?!) But thanks, girlfriend 😉 And yes, I did begin in earnest when quite small to understand the life I was given. Blessings to you, dear Val ❤
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In and out of awareness, hopefully moving towards staying awakened with practice! Encouraging post, Val.
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Thank you Eliza 💛 The more I experience being human, the more I understand how much practice is needed!
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I’m out of practice, and I’ve known it, but have refused to acknowledge it. This was a good read today and helped me, so thanks Val!
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Come back and take the next step once more. You are on the path Kate 💕😎💕
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Back to practice it is!
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Smiling …. yep! 💛
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This is so good Val. I’ve had a few experiences while practicing my Qigong where I’ve reached that place of pure awareness – it’s truly the most wonderful state of being. Thanks for sharing this. It’s a gentle nudge for me to get back to my practice. ❤
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I’m glad it was a gentle reminder to come back to it Julie. Enjoy dipping your feet into the stillness again 💛
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Here’s to being awake and aware!
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And when we fall asleep again, being aware enough to wake up. Thanks Nancy 💛
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I’ve found that “Witness consciousness” is the single most important thing in raising our vibration to higher states. I used to fight with my brother a lot and found meditation allows me to rise above this nonsense and wasted energy. Anyone else find that our loved ones to be our greatest spiritual teachers?
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Some say that our souls choose our family before we are born in order to learn the lessons we are ready to learn, and to transcend into a higher state of being. Thank you TJ 💛
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