Awakening of Spiritual Awareness (35)
I am often asked a question that may constantly trouble those who are newly awakened: which comes first, work or practice? Or perhaps, once one enters the path of practice, they become so disturbed by messages from the spiritual realm that they cannot work. Or they lose interest in work, leading to numerous obstacles in daily life.
What is spiritual awareness? Simply put, it is the consciousness of the soul. In Western psychology, it is referred to as the subconscious. To use a metaphor related to our body’s nervous system: everyone possesses both peripheral nerves and autonomic nerves. The peripheral nerves are conditioned by consciousness, while the autonomic nerves operate independently of consciousness; they function autonomously. Therefore, when you feel hungry and eat, that is the action of spiritual awareness. However, distinguishing between tasty and unappetizing food involves conscious awareness. Thus, activities like eating and sleeping are actions of spiritual awareness; you just do not recognize them as such. When a person is in a favorable situation, their spirit feels more relaxed. Spiritual awareness and consciousness each perform their roles without interfering with one another. Conversely, when a person finds themselves in adversity, their spirit bears more burdens; worries and stress weigh heavily upon them. The attachment to self-awareness leads to mental confusion (consciousness does not recognize its own spiritual awareness; fear arises from “fear” and doubt). The body and mind cannot bear this weight; hence spiritual awareness takes control—this state is referred to as the awakening of spiritual awareness (this awakening occurs without formal study).
The subconscious (spiritual awareness) accumulates many good and bad seeds within it. When spiritual awareness manifests, it stirs up these hidden seeds of goodness and badness. Coupled with personal confusion and weakened spirit due to lack of recognition of one’s own spiritual awareness, those who have just awakened often find their hearts unsettled—constantly filled with fear and doubt. Therefore, for those newly awakened in spiritual awareness, the primary task is to stabilize their hearts—resolve doubts and untie the knots within their hearts so that peace can be restored naturally. However, most newly awakened individuals do not know where these knots lie or how they are bound; how then can they untie these knots? Without contemplation or self-reflection on how one’s views and attachments bind them—feeling connected to all things through emotions—how can one achieve tranquility? Goodness and evil arise from worldly attachments; love and hate originate from the heart—how can one find peace? It must be shown equally to all beings.
For those newly awakened in spiritual awareness, the first step is learning how to find peace within oneself. This means recognizing that awakening phenomena are manifestations of one’s own spiritual awareness—facing it sincerely as part of oneself—and finding methods suitable for personal tranquility because only you know where your emotional entanglements lie or where your desires bind you. One should constantly seek introspection regarding oneself—to subdue this deluded desire at heart because only one’s own heart can be subdued. If there is no self-reflection or thoughtfulness about oneself, there will be no resolution. As for work—it is merely a part of life; if your heart remains undisturbed you can manage your life well enough—doing what needs to be done without being confused by phenomena arising from awakening or fixating on practice as if it were the only path forward at this moment. If your heart can find peace then practice and maintaining a livelihood can achieve coordination and balance rather than becoming obsessed with practice alone because moving from awakening to enlightenment cannot be achieved overnight. Without good conditions or wise guidance from others—and relying solely on self-effort for understanding—the path of practice becomes long indeed! If one cannot even manage daily life properly how can they speak about practicing?
by – Teacher Liu Hongming
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