There are many egos and many souls but only one purpose, one dharma, one consciousness, one Self, one Natural Being.
If you are reading these words, you probably see yourself as someone with an undefined sense of spiritual responsibility; perhaps to yourself, to others, the planet, the Divine or the Oneness of Life. Wherever your consciousness sees from at this point in time will dictate what form that responsibility takes, and this will change and broaden as you continue in your awakening.
There are many views and opinions on the meaning of responsibility, which can be seen to resolve in the truth that we have a sacred duty to ourselves and others to realise our deepest, fullest sense of who and what we are.
This sacred responsibility begins as you bring awareness to any obstructions and blockages, which by their very presence restrict you from being aligned with who and what you really are. Once these obstructions are met and resolved, you will probably glimpse what it means to be in harmony with your universal essence, the serenity and aliveness you feel as you become aware of Natural Being.
Eventually, perhaps following many such glimpses or peak experiences, you realise that Natural Being doesn’t require effort, because it is the truth of what you already are, here, now and effortlessly present. When you harness this you honour life by being in conscious harmony with All That Is.
The route to uncovering this fundamental Being-ness can be understood as 3-step process of recognition, realisation and actualisation. Firstly, recognition of who you really are, followed by the realisation of what you really are, an innate combination which organically leads to naturally being the Self.
As a human being, you are Being in human form, just as a tree is Being in the form of a large plant. So what does a tree do? Simple, it lives from, within and in tune with Nature, an individual expression in symbiotic relationship with the One Life. It is itself quite naturally. Is one tree ‘better’ than another? No, it’s impossible! Life is life is life.
As a human naturally Being, you are part and simultaneously one with, the natural order of Existence, realising your responsibilities arise and resolve naturally as a consequence of your consciousness. The old way of the ego is recognised as defunct, and the subtle consciousness of Natural Being is the effortless arising of who and what you really are.
Being in harmony with the flow of life is freeing and fulfilling. There’s no need to weigh up what to do next, there is no plotting, scheming or planning, for your ‘doing’ has a natural order, it’s organic and intuitive, a by-product of being in the flow of Life. Doing comes from the root of Being and not from the old egoic mind. You can feel this Being-ness as the presence in you and all things, the silent momentum of an inseparable unified field of consciousness.
Living as Natural Being doesn’t mean dismissing the mind, for in reality when you live from this innate intelligence, the mind still functions, but at an intimate, subtle and aware level. Thoughts do not end, they are simply seen to be what they are, which is just thoughts. Once your mental commentary has been put in its place, thoughts naturally resolve and Being runs the show. It’s direct and very clear, and a free-flowing consciousness.
So do you need to reach enlightenment or some final perfected state? No, this stateless state of awareness is alive and present within you now, and, as I’ve already pointed out, you just need to remove what’s in your way. Only you know what’s in your way, so take a long, good hard look and be honest with what you find. You are your greatest teacher if you keep letting go of what you think you know.
If you’ve been on your spiritual journey for a while, you may be ready to use the direct method. The direct method is also called Self-enquiry and has been a practice in many cultures for thousands of years. It’s a simple mindfulness practice in which you ask yourself a question or questions in order to uncover the essence of who and what you are. When you use this method, you are taking responsibility for your perceptions and beliefs, showing a willingness to know and grow beyond your present opinions, beliefs and understandings.
Typical questions are; Who am I? What is this? What is my True Nature?
From Ancient Greece, to Zen Buddhism, to Advaita Vedanta, the trail of this self-questioning can be traced throughout history. If you persevere with this practice, you will be sure to heal, learn and grow.
As consciousness deepens, you become aware of the transparent responsibility to be honest, open and true, and that organic integrity comes from being yourself; Natural Being. As part of the Universe’s manifestation, you were not created to be left dangling, to suffer and feel incomplete, you were made whole, a wholeness uncovered by being your whole true Self.
So contemplate responsibility and what it really means to you. In the end, I realise our responsibility is a singular One; to find our True Nature, the Self in All, and to be That.
Natural Being is the ultimate responsibility.
Article by Jonathan Harrison
Jonathan Harrison is an Elder and regular contributor for More To Life Magazine. He focuses on helping people recognise, realise and actualise their most complete sense of self or Being.
