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Enlightenment Journal | Spring 2012

Self-knowledge often comes 

first as intellectual understanding 

when we can discern that our 

individual lives are expres-

sions of one Reality. Then, as we 

contemplate this understanding, 

intuitive insight arises. We know 

this to be true—at the core of 

our being, we are spiritual, we 

are whole. Through meditation 

practice, we come 

to experience 

the Self directly. 

As we lift our 

attention beyond 

identification with 

mind and body, 

our awareness 

expands to abide 

in the Self. We 

experience our 

innate wholeness, 

sufficiency, and the sense of well-

being that emanates from it. 

There is a Zen saying: If you 

cannot get it from yourself, where 

will you find it? The power for 

transforming our lives, for living 

in harmony with the higher 

Self, is within us. It is simply a 

matter of turning our attention 

to that which we truly are. Most 

of us know what it is like to be in 

harmony with the Self or to be 

at odds with It. When we live in 

harmony with the soul, following 

the dictates of our conscience 

and the promptings of our intuition, 

we experience life as grace-filled. We 

are at ease with our self and peace 

pervades our mind. We sense that life 

itself is supportive and we are one with 

the One. When we are not attuned 

to the inner Self and we act in ways 

that are not consistent with Its deeper 

wisdom, our minds tend to be clouded 

and restless. We are working against 

our deepest Self, and 

do not experience It 

as a supportive friend. 

We are uncomfortable 

with our self and often 

feel that life is unsup-

portive. 

There are two prin-

ciple ways to befriend 

the Self. The first is 

to practice Supercon-

scious meditation on 

a regular basis. In the temple of silent 

meditation we experience the Self 

directly and Its the uplifting influ-

ences freely permeate the mind and 

body. Through this daily practice, 

soul force is more strongly influential 

on all levels of our being and we are 

naturally inclined toward choices that 

are beneficial to our well-being. The 

second way is to use our discernment 

to seek a healthy, balanced lifestyle and 

positive, uplifting thoughts that are in 

harmony with the truth of our being. 

The Buddha used the example of 

how a jar becomes full to the brim 

“...we uplift or  

degrade ourselves, 

 little by little— 

through the thoughts  

we entertain, the  

words we speak and  

the actions we take. ”