It’s great to be here–I consider it an honor and privilege to be asked to participate! A few quick introductory comments that may be useful:

I capitalize words such as Awareness, Consciousness, Self, Being, etc.–all of which are treated as synonyms. This is done only to emphasize that what is being referred to, or pointed to, is entirely impersonal. As is probably crystal clear by now–always, It is Awareness Itself that is being aware, never a “me.” Capitalization also is a way of making a distinction (for any who may be new here) between boundless Awareness or Consciousness as It is meant in
nonduality, and the typical “on the street” meaning, which usually refers to so-called human inside-the-body-consciousness.

If you’re not familiar with my book or work, you can go to
http://www.consciousnessisall.com where you can read 5 free chapters from the book, along with the blog, Reality Check. There are also free videos (including clips from a new DVD with Chris Hebard), and a free 90 min. audio with Scott Kiloby, who hosted here recently.

As you know, much has been said here already by Stanley, Scott, Greg and Rupert,in clarifying the nature of objects, sensation, thought, and other forms of phenomena. It would be very hard to improve upon that.

So–it might be fun and exciting to now get more into what Awareness is to pure Awareness. After all, this is Its Awareness, isn’t It? Most emphatically, this does not mean to get more and better concepts about Awareness, or to create a “me” who’s going to think differently about Awareness. It’s just using the words here to “get beyond words” in some new ways, even though You already are beyond the words.

It’s like Jeff Foster says: “…The wonder of this, the aliveness of what’s happening, cannot be spoken of…and yet still, as I always say, why not try. The Tao that can be named is not the eternal Name, but that doesn’t stop you from writing the Tao Te Ching. When the why goes, all you’re left with is the why not, and that’s the freedom in this expression.”

One more important point–and the basis from which I will be responding to most questions. It is taking the stance that Awareness is utterly history-less. As you’ve seen from the examples of “direct experience” given here and elsewhere,any notion that there has been a past, a prior time–isn’t really past at all,but would be merely a thought trying to arise in what seems to be the current moment. (And if that’s not already clear, we’ll certainly discuss it, too!)

Sometimes we will be clear on this, but will unwittingly continue to assume that, “Well, yes, thoughts are arising just now–but Awareness Itself–well,It’s been here forever.” Not true. Even the notion that Awareness Itself has been present and aware before–this, too, would be just a thought trying to arise now. This means that, as Present Awareness, You have no history whatsoever! There is no history, period! How new, how pure, how unlimited is This?!

Direct experience seems to be a very useful tool. Do you realize even the notion that you’ve had prior experience in using direct experience–even that, too, would be a mere thought arising now! As pure Awareness, you’ve done no such thing because Awareness really has no need for it. That doesn’t mean one won’t continue to use it, but the “ultimate” use of direct experience is to see there has been no prior use of direct experience!

So what is this Present Awareness that has zero history? This is You! You are so Free, so naked of concepts (even the concept of nakedness), it is indescribable!

Let’s do our best to speak from, or as, This because, after all, This is the One that is presently conscious. Words may get difficult, and they may fall well short, but again, why not try?

Peter Francis Dziuban to OAStudyGroup