The Awareness Continuum

(first of the three-part series)

Breathing in, I calm my body.
Breathing out, I smile.
Dwelling in the present moment
I know this is a wonderful moment.

--Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace


Once, an insight came to me in an intuitive flash, when the words awe and air seemed to split apart out of the word aware. I just heard the word broke into two syllabicated sounds and transformed into distinct words and meanings. It was quite surprising to uncover a greater insight on meditation, though I set aside it for some time. Then, some weeks had passed, on one of my walking meditations, I was a little torn between focusing on my breath and focusing on the natural surroundings that moment. I have usually understood meditation either as breath-centered or moment-centered. But I felt a little confused; because, whenever I wanted to focus on the moment, I veered away from breath. After several steps, I realized that I was doing well, free of internal pains and external concerns. In that very state I was able to appreciate more of the moment: the steps of my feet, the coolness of the morning, the beauty of trees and the flowers.

There, I was immersed with awe of the moment. Immediately, I became aware of my breath, which I couldn't put more focus awhile ago, yet I felt it anyway. It was followed by a recollection of my recent restlessness, wherein I became more focused on my breath as the air passed in and out of my nose. In an instant, another insight emerged: meditation is actually a continuum of awareness, from the breath I breathe to the moment I witness. There is no need to be torn between the two, because they are both in the same dimension. While in the wonder and flow of each moment, there's awe. While in pain and discomfort, there's air. As facets of awareness, both of them transform me in this never-ending inward quest.

In one of his talks for the meditation retreat, S.N. Goenka stresses the vital role of Equanimity during meditation; but, as he reminds us, this is just one wing of a bird. A bird cannot fly with just a single wing. Same goes with meditation, which would not be possible without Equanimity's inseparable twin: Awareness. In truth, one cannot be equanimous without being aware. I have mentioned some points on the article Equanimity Paradox, wherein one can have "equanimous awareness." In this regard, being equanimous is being aware, and vice versa; they are experiences with the same magnitude and often manifesting both in the long run of meditative process. Both equanimity and awareness are two distinct consciousness yet indeed unmistakably one single process by which enlightenment is already happening. And to understand more about this process, just as how we have understood Equanimity, we are now going to delve into Awareness, not as a separate aspect, but as a unique entity crucial to reaping the benefits of meditation.

I have observed that throughout the long history of meditation and its wide array of techniques coming from different ancient traditions, meditation falls into two categories: Awareness of the breath, which is foundational in all eastern forms; and Awareness of the moment, which characterizes most western prayers, creative activities and even Zen-like concentration. And basically, this cultivation of awareness in each meditation is always sacred. Nothing can be more sacred than being in the moment and aware of each breath, for both exhibit this fundamental truth in the spiritual path. Mystics and sages of the ancient world provided us different ways to approach these two kinds of Awareness, and the their sacred quality has allowed thousands of unknown people to realize unfathomable spiritual consciousness.

Let us explore how these two sacred ways of Awareness meet in the same continuum. Breath exist in the framework of any moment, while each moment gives chance to heed the breath. I will discuss them separately, so we can see different context in what ways both of them interact dynamically and yet remain quite experientially distinct. On the other hand, understanding them in context can elucidate how the continuum works in the process of meditation, may it be in sitting or in daily activities, so as to put them into practical use at all our life's situations.

(to be continued)