“Just to stand up with presence is liberation.” Robert Burton

Freedom for someone on a spiritual journey is not the liberation to do–but not to do.

Awakening starts with the profound realization that I do not have to react to external stimuli. My only freedom is to remain unattached to anything going on in or beyond my inner world. Can you stop reacting? Can you create a small space within you where life’s madness does not touch? Our ability to separate as quickly as possible from the impacts of the outside world is an indication of being. 

In my understanding, even conscious beings are not immune from reacting to a negative occurrence. But they have gained the skill to let it go very quickly. I can see in my development that the duration of negativity shortens. A previous outburst might have lasted for an hour or more. Now, I can shorten the time of insanity to a few minutes and sometimes seconds. 

Seeing Oneself – A First Step

People typically ask what they can do to be more awake, believing that shedding one’s shackles is an active process. As we start to understand more about the laws that hold us in bondage, we realize that the first step is to let go and to see ourself.

It is a liberating and yet devastating discovery that what we want to become has nothing to do with who we are. We are not becoming better people through our convictions but only through our Being.

It is easy to mistake consciousness for something that appears by doing good deeds. We do not realize that the same underlying motivation drives virtuous and misguided actions. Being present is a gift we earn. And we earn it by letting go of the belief system that governs life and keeps people asleep.

Freedom and Lies

The journey toward enlightenment often detours through pursuing imaginary freedom, a trap the ego weaves. People tell themselves lies to maintain a sense of control. These self-deceptions create a fanciful sense of false hope and prevent one from truly looking in the right direction. It is easy to lose the understanding of awakening by allowing the ego to hold the reins still.

One common trap is the tendency to tell oneself comforting lies. These lies create an imaginary sense of elusive freedom detached from reality. Thoughts arise of superiority and pride in pursuing a life of meaning, making oneself better than the rest. Such lies can also manifest as false beliefs about the anticipated future of bliss or an idealized version of oneself. They keep us unaware that everything we seek is already available in the Now.

These delusions obscure the humble work required for actual growth. To stay grounded in the present moment is the only tangible achievement that counts for a seeker. And this grounding must be achieved without comparison or judgment.

To do this, we must be aware of the danger of imagining something that does not yet exist or is still far away. While it is good to have aspirations, fixating solely on a distant future can lead to dissatisfaction with the present. A perpetual cycle of longing and discontent appears. This prevents us from fully embracing current circumstances and hindering our progress toward genuine awakening.

Freedom from Ignorance, Embracing One’s Divinity

This elusive freedom, in its purest form, is understanding consciousness as liberation from ignorance, recognizing one’s inherent divinity. In this awakening, there is no separation between oneself and the universe. And this leads to a deep sense of interconnectedness and freedom from the limitations of the ego.

To touch the ocean of cosmic consciousness, we need only decide to be present at any given moment. We relinquish our rigid concepts and attachments. This connection is always available to us, like the air we breathe. Seekers can be detained by the programming of their former life to demand concrete forms and dogmas as they search. Such thoughts restrict one’s ability to embrace the expansiveness of consciousness fully. It is essential to remain vigilant and not let these attachments become new forms of bondage.

The ego enslaves us continually, forcing us to identify with our thoughts, emotions, and desires. This identification creates a narrow perspective. Freedom from this slavery needs self-awareness and the recognition that the ego is merely a construct of the mind. By observing the ego and cultivating detachment, we experience true freedom. Our liberation unfolds in embracing the full spectrum of human experience without judgment or limitation. Our deeds must resonate authentically and inspire us to break free from societal constraints.

To experience freedom from preference or dislike, one accepts what the moment brings without resistance or attachment. This paradigm shift requires cultivating equanimity and surrendering to the flow of life. By letting go of personal preferences and embracing the present moment, we experience a profound sense of freedom and inner peace. It is through this acceptance that we can fully engage with life and embrace the inherent beauty and wisdom that each moment holds.

“Neither preference nor denial” – Walt Whitman