The Hidden Nature of You

You keep asking who you really are. If you want to know intellectually, then you are pure awareness, the changeless background against which all thoughts occur. This pure awareness is a continuum. It is not broken up by time or space–it just is, ever and always.

When you witness yourself, what you are experiencing is your real nature. This is the key to freedom. Freedom is the experiential knowledge of one’s own nature. You already have elements of this. Many times you definitely seem to be witnessing your body and your environment. You even stand aside from your own thoughts.

Far from radiating silence, most of us radiate hysteria, reflecting the mental turmoil inside. When that inner turmoil subsides, it leaves a space for change to begin. Your mind is quiet by nature, but you have to settle down to realize this. Everything sorts itself out correctly and spontaneously once you become quiet.

In the light of calm, steady self-awareness, a feeling of wholeness will wake up inside you. This wholeness is not a thought of any kind; it is simply your own mind, empty of thought but full of you. You do not have to do anything to reach this state; the process is effortless. You do not even have to consciously let go. A quiet mind is all you need.

It takes repeated dips into silence, in and out every day, for a person to accept that this immense, motionless, eternal state of being is himself. Then the door is open for an experience that truly does transform oneself and the world.

Adapted from Unconditional Life: Discovering the Power to Fulfill Your Dreams, by Deepak Chopra (A Bantam Book, 1991).

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Lydia W.

8:14AM PDT on Mar 12, 2012

Self-awareness is simply conscious reality. Usually, this is something that we all try to escape from until we realize that we've become a prisoner of our attempts.

March 12
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Sarah M.

6:55PM PST on Feb 26, 2012

Cool, thanks.

February 26
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Lauramarie W.

5:37AM PST on Feb 23, 2012

this article was very touching xx

February 23
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heather g.

11:13PM PST on Feb 21, 2012

I meditate daily and do a lot of deep breathing. I often surprise myself with my awareness of my calm being - it seems like the meditation certainly has paid off, when I think of the stress I often used to feel in the past.
Reportedly, we are a mirror reflecting our being to others. What puzzles me, however, is that I sometimes come across really agitated older people who are looking for a fight. They're verbally aggressive! I don't feel the least bit aggressive, so excuse myself saying something like : "I'm sorry you feel so angry - however, I'm not interested in fighting" and I walk away. I've also said : "I'm having a lovely day" etc.....
I wonder what Deepak would say about this type of experience?
We read about being like 'a mirror reflecting our thoughts' so many times. Afterwards, I do think : what odd behaviour - but that is because I never came across similar cross-patches in my country of origin. I feel sympathy for them.

February 21
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KS G.

4:25AM PST on Feb 19, 2012

Thanks for the article.

February 19
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Andrea A.

1:03AM PST on Feb 18, 2012

Thanks.

February 18
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William K.

9:54PM PST on Feb 17, 2012

Great article.

February 17
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Jennifer W.

1:48PM PST on Feb 17, 2012

thanks

Claire V.

1:26PM PST on Feb 17, 2012

Thanks for the article. I've just recommenced mindfulness meditation after a couple of years break. Finding inner stillness by following the breath and sitting still even for just 5 mins, has made a big difference by practising several times a day for just a few days. I get what Deepak is saying about the importance of experiencing pure awareness- our true self

Winn A.

12:34PM PST on Feb 17, 2012

Thanks