Whether you are beginning a spiritual path or whether you have been on a spiritual path for many years, the power of silence is paramount for the seeker.

In its truest form, silence is communication. While we are conditioned to believe that communication can only come in the forms of our five senses, we are never taught to just to sit with ourselves, to embrace the silence of our being.

The first time I started to consciously meditate in silence, I was overcome with the roving thoughts of my mind. As I sat with my eyes closed in front of the homemade altar in the living room of my apartment, I started to experience myself in ways that I never had before. While I was sitting with an intention to meditate, I started to see the many ways in which my mind moved. As soon as I sat down to consecrate my meditation, the first fifteen minutes were always quite difficult and as I became accustomed to my meditations the difficulties gradually subsided.

As my apartment was on the street side of a main thoroughfare in town, there was always the ambient noise of people and the constant sound from cars passing by. Although I wasn’t sitting in a cave in the silence of the Himalayas, I learned to appreciate these background sounds, and eventually they disappeared as I went through many layers, deeper and deeper within myself. As I had never before taken the time nor effort to sit with myself in silent meditation, I was surprised to find that it was as an easy intention to set and accomplish. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed this special time of the day, whether I would meditate straight out of bed in the morning or whether I sat in the evening, as I continued on my path with the intention to be liberated I made silent meditation a daily ritual in my life.

The profound discoveries I had found in my silent meditations made me question myself as to why I had to wait so long into my life to participate in this beautiful experience. From my earliest memories of being raised in a Western Christian background I remembered that I was told that meditation was an action of the devil, that it was somehow bad but there was never a greater explanation as to why. As I came to start a spiritual path I gave myself the freedom to let go of my past beliefs, this was a challenge but if I was to achieve liberation as I intended to, this was the only way.

Now as I see everything as total unity, before I could only see fragments, a projection of what the picture is but not the picture in its entirety.  Silence was an invitation to see beyond my interpretation of what I thought I was and with it I could observe myself and my surroundings without judgement, perceiving life through an unblemished mirror.  As my spiritual path took many twists and turns, I made a sacred vow to always abide in this immovable state, the silence within and to let this impenetrable silence permeate the totality of my being, in all actions and non-actions.

Once I was posed with the question, “Why are we not teaching our children and teenagers the fundamentals of how to be silent, how to meditate so that when they grow up they can enhance the relationship that they have with themself and thus affect the quality of their life and the lives of all those around them?” This is an important question and after investigating I found the answer although it was difficult to accept. Our existing societies do not want liberated beings, it would disrupt the Status Quo and defeat the purpose of perpetuating a system that is designed to use everyone of as a commodity. Ask yourself, “When was the last time I sat with myself in silence?”

Entertained by the constant exposure of external stimuli, we live in world where the experience of silence is no longer valued or appreciated but it is often seen as boring or uncomfortable. Perhaps if we were living in a society based upon collective intention, compassion and cooperation rather than competition, ignorance and greed, the advantages of silence would be shared individually and in groups thus enabling the potentials for conscious and liberated beings which would become a synergistic benefit for all humanity, wildlife and Nature.

As I have traveled extensively around the world, I have enjoyed the experience of learning many languages but despite my greatest attempts to speak the tongue of every country I have visited, I have found that the simplest and most effective way that everyone can communicate is through the heart, through the silence of being. In the power of silence you can truly meet, beyond the distortions of the mind, into the source of who we truly are. If you possess the attribute to truly listen, if you can allow yourself to feel intuitively, you can hear everything that cannot be said in the limitation of sounds and speech.

I have heard that there was a remote monastery secluded deep in the woods where all of the monks followed a devoted vow of silence. This vow of silence could only be broken once a year on Christmas, only one monk could speak and the monk who spoke was only allowed to speak one sentence. One Christmas, Brother John had his turn to speak and said, “I love the delightful mashed potatoes we have every year with the Christmas roast!” Then he sat down. Silence in the monastery ensued for another 365 days. The next Christmas, Brother Jacob got his turn, and said, “I think the mashed potatoes are lumpy and I truly despise them!” Once again, silence in the monastery ensued for another 365 days. The following Christmas, Brother Paul rose and said, “I am fed up with this constant bickering!”

As words can hold innumerable meanings and definitions according to context and interpretation, in silence there is a beauty and power where there are no misunderstandings. No matter where you go, where you are coming from or what you are doing, the silence within me is the always same as the silence within yourself. The power of silence is entirely independent of any differences that we may perceive ourselves to be, for it is in this foundation of true recognition, of timeless reflection that we can build and grow within ourselves and with each other. ~ ༺ 𝓖 ༻

As the Zen Proverb goes, “Before Enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After Enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.” It is easy for one to assume that according to the proverb, if the action is unchanged, then what changes?

Herein lies the paradoxical explanation, nothing changes, because there was nothing that needed to be changed. The action is untouched but it is the perception of the action that appears to be changed. Upon realizing your True Nature, the action is seen for what is. Before Enlightenment you were identified with your mind-body apparatus, but after Enlightenment you have realized that you had assumed a mistaken identity. Previously when you watched yourself chopping wood and carrying water, you were thinking that you were chopping wood and carrying water but essentially you are doing nothing, for you are the immovable apperception that is perceiving the perception of movement arising.

While this may be interpreted as confusing, the very nature of the Mind is to create this confusion, because the essence of what you are, the occurrence of Enlightenment isn’t a thought or an understanding but it is a realization. While the concept of Enlightenment can be intellectually understood, the direct experience of Enlightenment cannot. For this specific reason, expressing anything about Enlightenment, as an attainment or as a subject matter is merely prattle. This is why many Sages, Sadhus and Buddhas alike have taken to a sacred vow silence because through the duality of speech and text, words alone cannot touch the true essence of what Enlightenment is, let alone describing the direct realization of being Enlightened.

Since there are many texts written about this subject, the devout seeker who has taken to acquiring this wisdom through books and literature will find a multitude of contradictions and varied expressions on what Enlightenment is and how to attain Enlightenment. Even this article, which is intended to shed light on this subject, it may contradict the knowledge that you have already acquired on your search. Discernment is paramount in utilizing the information that you intuitively feel will be a benefit to you as a seeker on your path to awakening. Naturally as you accumulate this wisdom, you can refine your path through several different methods, discarding what is unimportant and keeping what is.

The subject of Enlightenment becomes packed with several connotations, most of which is conditioned by society, media and religion. Depending on how you were raised, by awakened or unconscious parents or within a compassionate or ignorant society, these factors and others included will alter your perception of Enlightenment. Either it is a significant goal for you to achieve or it matters not in the least, but if you are here reading this, then obviously this subject matters to you. To whatever extent that you will take these words, as a reflection or as an initiative for you to proceed forward upon your path or whether these words will serve as mere entertainment, fodder to feed your roving mind, this is all entirely up to you.

Before I became aware of my True Nature, I was asleep and ignorant to the fact of who I am. As I became familiar to the conceptual understanding of what Enlightenment is, I did everything in my power to facilitate this realization as my direct experience. Naturally, as a sincere seeker I was engaging in many methods until the realization hit me, like a thunderous bolt of lightning, completely shattering every concept, belief and value that I was conditioned to identify with. The world, myself and all that I had considered to be separate and important, instantaneously become void of any meaning, purpose or distinction. As my mind and body were groomed in the making, several months in preparation, it happened suddenly and without warning. When the moment of Enlightenment came, I was truly ready to surrender and accept it as per the fulfilment of my destiny.

Marked in the relative measure of time, I can say now that there was a moment that came, a resounding occurrence that changed my entire life but on the converse, from vantage of the Absolute, nothing has ever changed. It is in the convention of language in which I am expressing myself and as all language is in duality, everything spoken about It can never be It. Seemingly as you continue further and further along your path, you will see that all words inevitably become superfluous. At best words can only be pointers, external references guiding you within yourself. Any advice unsolicited or requested can only be regarded with as much benefit as you are intuitively destined to receive, notably suited to wherever you are at currently upon your path.

Through the records of history and the advancements of technology, we have the luxury to have documented examples of beings who have realised Enlightenment both past and present. With sufficient research one can find a colourful myriad of beings who have shared their path, their unique pitfalls and consequently the moment when their Enlightenment arose. And as there are many perspectives that reflect the various distinctions and interpretations of Enlightenment, the essence of the direct experience speaks for itself, for it is always the same absent of all inference. There are many different paths to the mountaintop but no matter what path you take, when you reach the top, it is the same top that everyone else reaches.

Relatively so, spiritual pursuits hold no greater merit than the counterpart of material pursuits, for it is your intuitive decision to take this path and to stop at nothing until you have acquired your goal. If you are willing to do whatever it takes to become Enlightened, then most assuredly you will. Just as it was my destiny, so is it yours. If you are ready to start your path or if you have already started your path, and you are seeking encouragement, and clarity then I am here to support you. Give yourself the permission to accept The Invitation and find the answer to your question:

What happens when I cease doubting myself and
I start giving myself the freedom to be everything that I could ever imagine? 

The distinction between that which is spiritual and that which is material is advantageous for the beginning seeker to note. Due to the conditioned influences of living in a material world, and the consistent enabling of the identification to the ego, the references that we use in our language plays a large part on how we see the world and how we see ourselves.

For greater understanding I prefer to create significant differences in these dichotomies such as the distinction of material actions and spiritual actions. For those who feel attracted to pursing a spiritual path, the roles are usually divided into that of the seeker and that of the householder. For the latter, those who have taken to adopting social responsibilities and civic duties, the challenge is that the actions labeled as spiritual are usually considered unimportant. Often times spiritual intentions are referred to as less valuable or even invaluable in accordance to the role of the householders participation in society.

In the infancy of my personal spiritual path I was a householder working a 40 hour a week management job with a sole proprietor business on the weekends. The intention I had set for myself as a seeker was to practice, study and meditate everyday in balance with my daily responsibilities. Naturally, I had to be mindful of time management and proper organization to achieve my short term and long term goals. Depending on the day, I would either wake up and meditate for an hour in the morning, divide my meditation into two 30 minute increments during the day or my main preference was to meditate for an hour at night before sleeping. The meditation that I practiced was a silent, sitting meditation before an altar that I had allocated as a sacred space.

Despite having no guru or spiritual advisor every time I had come to an obstruction on my path I had to investigate possible solutions and take the initiative to adjust my practice accordingly. As I was conditioned and raised to identify with a belief system, I was confronted with the fact that I can either stay in this system, confined in the beliefs that left with me with more questions than answers or transcend them entirely. Riddled with feelings of shame and guilt, I had to confront myself as I was faced with a crossroad. I had to decide if I was leave the faith of which I had been adorned with since my birth. This was the biggest obstruction I would have to overcome. With appropriate contemplation I decided that I wanted the Truth more than anything and I took to taking the first steps upon my path, the path that would change my life forever.

Obstructions upon the spiritual path are natural elements and they can be quite varied dependent upon the uniqueness of the individual seeker. Whether you are confronted with a previously adopted belief system, or whether you have past traumas, psychological, physical, emotional or otherwise or whether you come from a social background that criticizes the spiritual pursuit, every obstruction offers an opportunity to transcend and discover a new part of yourself. With the acknowledgement of every obstruction you continue to forge the path as you rise into your power and fulfill your destiny to awakening. While seeking external guidance from another to assist you is beneficial, it is also necessary to take the appropriate time to contemplate all of the choices that are presented to you and to also explore the direction and pace of which you will proceed forth. Everyone has to walk their own path, and all the choices that you watch yourself make on your path can only be completed by you, as the seeker.

As I continued to advanced on my spiritual path, I started to incorporate different meditative methods into my daily duties, such as silent observations, reciting verbal and non-verbal mantras and consistently reminding myself to be completely present in the moment no matter the frequency of which my mind was constantly roving about playing with thoughts and ideas. There are several methods to practice upon the path to awakening, the truth is that all methods are not only traps but all methods are filled with traps. Absent of true clarity upon my own path I found myself in a myriad of traps pertaining to the use of specific methods but as my devotion was paramount and my conviction was unwavering, I took to finding a way out of every trap that I inevitably encountered.

One evening as I was sitting on the floor in front of my altar for my daily silent meditation, with my eyes closed I could see the faint glow of the candles cascading in the darkness, the flickering light cast their shadows as the encapsulating fragrance of sandalwood incense decorated the room. As I sat for an hours time, the first fifteen minutes would be the introduction to the meditation, getting acquainted with my body and my intention. The perception of time became quite distorted when in deep meditation and I went deeper and deeper within myself I felt as thought I was flooded with rapturous lights. I could feel my body convulsing, shaking back and forth as my breath seemed to stop and I was immersed in an ecstasy I had never known before. I felt myself letting go, going deeper and deeper into the void, as though I was disappearing into pure nothingness. As the pleasurable sensations continued to pulse and heighten I felt as though I was existing no more and just as the peak arose to sweep me away I had to open my eyes so that I could see that I was still here.

As I felt my body with my hands, I regained composure and I remained once again with my eyes closed. I continued my meditation and afterwards as my meditation ended, I took the time to processed my experiences and acknowledging the fact that it was quite difficult to comprehend. Despite my best attempts to find an answer to what had happened, I desired to recreate this experience and alas this was my first trap. It took some time but I soon realized that I did not specifically intend to bring about this ecstatic, rapturous state of meditation, indeed it came about spontaneously, without any effort on my behalf. After this recognition I had learned through my own trial and error and as I continued with my meditations I was no longer bound with the trap to recreate such pleasurable states. In past retrospect if I had a guide it would have been a great benefit in bringing understanding so that I could overcome this trap.

Coupled with the sincere devotion of the seeker, the offering of having an external living spiritual guide is not only considered a blessing but also a great asset. While the path must be walked alone by the seeker, the living guide can offer insights which are often overlooked by the perspective of the seeker. Each seeker has their own path, there are no two paths that are alike. While some may be short, others may be long, but regardless of the length, the end of every path always comes to the same realization.

As you advance on your spiritual path, recognizing material actions, as the intentions to acquire the necessary resources needed to sustain shelter, clothing and food for your body, and recognizing spiritual actions, as the intentions that will encourage your destined path to awakening, it will no longer be necessary for you to create such distinctions. In observing yourself and the world around you, you can be passionately engaged but also detached from the outcome of any and all actions, as you will come to the realization that all actions are the same. The recognition of unity will be perceived in all actions and non-actions, for it is the nature of the mind that creates these distinctions, as all actions are derived from the source, all consequences are dissolved into the source, the source that You Are.  ~ ༺ 𝓖 ༻

As I have traveled around the world sharing in many conversations about awakening, the most common misconception I hear about awakening is that it is difficult. This seems to be the illusory boundary that most seekers inevitably come to upon their path because the result they seek has yet to come to fruition, even through they have devoted time, effort and they can intellectually understand the concept of awakening.

To truly understand what awakening is you must first look at the nature of mind, to see that it truly doesn’t want to awaken, because the mind is designed to create separation and distinction where none exists. We have all been conditioned with a lie that we are a name, a body, and that we are a story of the accumulation of our life experiences, which is a story that is contunuously being enabled by our parents, family, friends and society. But this could be further from the Truth.

Coming to this crossroad, this is where the seeker must each other decide that they are going to give themself the freedom to look past, to go beyond their story or if they are too afraid they inevitably they will retreat back into their story, fearful of losing their social identity, which can result in drastic life changes. Side note; the path to awakening isn’t paved with sparkling gold, dancing rainbows and laughing unicorns, but I can tell you from direct experience that in the end, it is worth all of the sacrifices, however they may or may not come upon your path.

If you have gotten this far on your path, then you intellectually know and agree to the fact, that your name, your body, your story is nothing but a figment of your imagination. This identity has been presented to you as truth, and through the conditioning of your mind, you have taken it to be true, when in fact is not. Now you know it is false, but still you haven’t realized it.

There are times when you are playing your roles in your story and you get so caught up into the emotions, the drama, the conflict of your story that you again forget that it is a story. You identify with your role, whether it be for a day or for a moment and then you catch yourself in the act. This is an opportunity for you to stop, collect yourself and remind yourself that this is nothing but a story. The principle to remember is that you are playing a role, nothing more, and although you are observing yourself play this role, you are not limited to the role itself.

Whether or not you engage with others or if you choose to take a devout path of silence or isolation, the difference matters not in the external environment but only in the perspective through which you are seeing yourself function. Taking the initiative to look at yourself from an objective perspective, rather than subjective will be a great benefit in merging knowing into realizing. The true essence of living the awakened life is to be passionately engaged with all that life presents itself to be but to also be completely detached from all experiences and all outcomes.

From being a parent, sibling, family member, friend, lover, enemy and stranger, all these and more are the colourful roles through which we portray ourselves to be in the story of our life. These roles however taken are not meant to be identified with. As such, the actor on the stage, puts on his mask, decorated in the appropriate costume of his character, present and poised he fulfills his role for the duration of the play but when the play is over, the mask is taken off, the costume is discarded and the actor naturally returns to being himself.

This mistaken identity is often referred to the most difficult part of awakening, letting go, completely letting go of you as you think you are. While it may comes as a gradual understanding or a sudden shock to the psyche, the impact of not only knowing but also realizing this Truth will change the course of your life experience in ways that you cannot comprehend. But your intention to awakening, living the Truth of who you are, this will enable you with all of the strength and power that you will need as you continue to walk upon your path.

The consequence of my awakening took me on an adventure all around the world, while this may not be the most typical outcome, rest assured that your awakening will serve you in the hightest as you watch yourself fulfill your destiny, wherever your path may take you. There is nothing that can prepare you for the uncertainty that will come, however drastic it may or may not be, your unwavering devotion to living the awakened life will be all that you truly need.

Once you see the false as being false, then you are living life awakened. You no longer see yourself as being limited or flawed, you no longer see everyone as a being separate from yourself and you no longer see life as an experience of never-ending suffering. On the contraire, you see yourself as unlimited and perfectly imperfect, you see that everyone is a reflection of yourself, and you now see life as an absurd, mesmerizing play of beauty, inspiration and uncertainty, an evolving ecstasy of incomprehensible awe.

Before you were awakened, everything seemed so difficult as desperately tried to grasp at the beliefs, meanings and purposes that you projected upon the world but ultimately in the end, it just wasn’t enough. This movement compelled you to look further, to ask questions that no one asked and as you started to seek and question, what you were seeking was also seeking you. You weren’t looking for a replacement to your beliefs, or a way to rationalize your thoughts but what you were looking for was something more, something deeper, the True Nature of who you are, beyond the mask, beyond the play, beyond the mind. This why you are here, reading this, to remind yourself of what you already know from within.

It is all simpler than the simplest, for what what you are truly seeking is yourself, the seeker is the sought. ~ ༺ 𝓖 ༻

Spoiler Alert: If you want to discover the Absolute Truth on your own, or if you are on  a spiritual path but you aren’t ready to accept the Absolute Truth of who you really are, then heed this disclaimer and read no further.

Truth be told, even though we are all destined for Enlightenment, Enlightenment isn’t for everyone. If you find yourself questioning the Nature of your existence, or if you have already started a spiritual path as you are passionately seeking the realization of Enlightenment, then the following steps may be advantageous to manifesting your intention into fruition.

10. The Rabbit Hole Never Ends

Just like in the popular story of Alice tumbling deeper and deeper into her dream Wonderland, the Rabbit Hole is a metaphor describing a surreal state of absurdity, lack of purpose and meaninglessness of our existence. Your experience on Earth is this Rabbit Hole, even this article is a part of this Rabbit Hole. You can take a myriad of psychedelic, substances, you can travel all around the world acquiring vast experiences as you look for the end and indeed you will not find it. If you think you have gone far enough, then you still have further to go.

9. The Red Pill is only the beginning of the Trip

If you possess the courage to not just stick your toes in but if you are willing to dive in headfirst, you will definitely find what you are looking. Even though the invitation is easy to accept, the will to accept it is usually the most difficult part. Once you know, you can’t unknow. When the veils of illusion disintegrate before your very eyes, it is not only the seeing that changes, but it is the “who” that sees which makes all the difference.

8. Using your mind to transcend your Mind

Intellectually you may be able to comprehend many of the definitions, labels and concepts associated with spirituality and Enlightenment. You may be well versed in several schools of Eastern thought and Western Science, from Buddhism to Taoism and from Hinduism to Quantum Physics but all of this is only a game within a game. The very nature of the mind is to create distinction and separation where none exists.

There is acquired knowledge and there is the knowledge of Being. Many seekers can intellectually understand this fact but rest assured, knowing about it is not the same as Being about it. The paradox of using the mind to transcend the mind is one that cannot be explained, only experienced through self discovery. When the moment comes where you can say that you know nothing, then you will truly know all that there is to be known.

7. If it comes and goes, that isn’t It

Throughout my travels I have met many seekers alike who have had glimpses of the Truth or perhaps they have taken one mushroom too many and they were supposedly Enlightened for a day or two, sorry to bust your bubble, but that isn’t Enlightenment. In the convention of words to say that Enlightenment is an attainment or even a realization is saying much too much. Once you experience the stateless state of Enlightenment, it will be absolutely permanent. Don’t fool yourself, if you think you are, you aren’t … but if you “know” beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are, well, then you most assuredly are.

6. Eventually you have to drop all the books

As many seekers enjoy the sanctuary of reading spiritual books by notable authors and gurus alike, including articles such as this one, it is easy to start identifying with the principles and the so-called teachings of teachers and guides from past to present. Whether you have a living guide or your Guru is dead (in the flesh), the words and interpretations of another can only be a pointer to assist you on your path. What is often said correctly in one moment may be entirely incorrect in the next moment. What is clear in one answer maybe confusion in the next.

There is no rhyme or reason when it comes to reflecting that which you truly are. It is not so much the context of what is being shared that is important, but what truly matters is the power through which it is being shared. You can’t find yourself in a book, but you can let every word take you into the silence from where all words arise from.

5. Every method is a trap

Everyone has their own method, or a bouquet of methods as in my experience. Whether you enjoy meditations, mantras, songs, Satsang, Tantric Sex or any other forms of worship or devotion taken with the intention to become Enlightened, inevitably as it is, you will find that there may be pitfalls decorated upon your path.

If you have a living guide, they will make the necessary adjustments to your practice but if you don’t then you have to take the initiative to dig yourself out of the hole. Some holes are bigger than others such as the big, ol’mighty cognitive dissonance. Depending on your sincerity to become Enlightened you will not let any obstruction become a hindrance. In the end it’s all about what you want and what you are willing to do to get it.

4. Don’t kill the Buddha on the road

The spiritual path is full of many twists and bends. If you are open and ready, having a bonafide Enlightened Being in your presence may be a great benefit to assist you upon your path, but if your skepticism and doubts cloud your judgment, then you will get absolutely nothing from the experience or advice of another.

While there are many charlatans and imposters alike touting all sorts of claims and systems to be sold to the highest bidder, there are 3 distinct ways to tell that someone is Enlightened, One, either they tell you, two, someone else tells you or, three, you tell yourself.

While there are many attributes to being Enlightened, there is no one size fits all litmus test to prove or disprove anyone’s realization of being Enlightened. Enlightened Beings are just a reflection, a spotless mirror for you to see yourself as you truly are. While the external appearance and personalities may differ, the immovable realization is the same in all Enlightened Beings.