Spiritual Awakening

Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy

www.KatieDavis.org
Awake@KatieDavis.org
Copyright © 2008 by Katie Davis
 Table of Contents

1. Practicing Presence

2. What Is Satchitananda?

3. Intimate Relationships, Love and Emotional Reactions

4. What Have You Realized About Compulsive Thinking?

5. Making a Sense of Self out of Emotional Pain

6. The Second Step toward Enlightenment

7. Emptiness, Enlightenment and Awareness

8. About Katie Davis, Private Consultations, Scheduling Events

Book Reviews and Book Orders
Practicing Presence by Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy

Questioner:

One question that I have been pondering is: How should we actually practice the
presence, awareness or tranquility in everyday life? I guess that should become very
natural for us, but as we have opposite tendencies that we are accustomed to, it is not so
obvious at all!

If I practice being present, how much of the awareness should be in the outer 'things'
and how much should be directed inwards? Should I be aware of details in my sensory
experience or should my awareness be kind of diffuse and not fixed on particular things
(if that is not needed in a particular activity)?

Does being present require psychic or mental energy? I ask this question because I have
not found a way of being present that does not make me strained after some practice. I
guess that I am doing something wrong as I have an intuition that awareness should
come very naturally. How does the awakening to that kind of natural presence happen?
Just by grace only?

Just yesterday I read an excerpt from Osho and he wrote that happiness is always
fleeting but bliss can be found constant. How can I realize that bliss or inner joy is
constant?

Katie:

Presence is natural and does not require anything more. In other words, Self-realization
is not an attainment or something you strive for. This Being-Consciousness-Bliss that
you are is ever-present. It is right now.

The situation seems to be that the thought "I" arises. In the old world, out of habit alone,
we misidentified with the concept of "me;" the "I am the body" idea. When this
misidentification takes place, the "dreaming" I has extraordinary pulling power and
suddenly all the other thoughts appear. So the thoughts are really not problematic. It is
our misidentification that is at issue. "I" is just another word. Where is the word
pointing? We were taught that it was pointing to the body. This is true on a relative level
of course. But is it true that your identity is limited to the body? I say this is not so, but
this will be for your direct investigation. It requires great curiosity, because you want to
know the ultimate Truth. Ideas and concepts remain philosophical … instead we need to
notice directly through authentic experience.

When this misidentification with the "I" thought occurs, a veil drops and we are unable
to be conscious of the being-consciousness-bliss that we are. To remove the veil, it
requires that you seek this "I." Sit quietly for a few moments right now. Just close your
eyes and be aware of how exquisite the air feels as it moves in and out your nose. Then
ask this question, "Who am I?" and listen with every cell in the body. We are not looking
for a thought in reply. If a thought arises, such as "I am Katie," ask the question again,
aware of your breath, "Who am I?"

That question alone will lift the veil to perfect peace.

It is beautiful that you are practicing being present. The best tool for this is attending
the breath. Breathing is always occurring right now and the present moment is the
portal to the perfect peace within. The body's sensing is another tool. What do you hear
right now? Do you smell anything? The body is part of the content of the present
moment and therefore the key to the inner body.

But let's take this a step further. The "I" that is practicing is the ego, the separate sense
of self that needs more time and experience to realize. This is actually a postponement
strategy of the ego. The more appropriate question might be, “who is practicing?” I am.
“Who am I?”

You are aware when you are driving your car, aware when you are shopping, aware
when falling asleep. Are you aware that you are always aware? You are this Pure
Awareness that is closer and more intimate to you than even your given name and your
body. You are appearing within this Awareness. You ARE this Pure Awareness that is
beyond your name and form.

So we are naturally present all day long during everything that is being done. However,
most often, we get carried aware by compulsive thinking and lost in the thought stream
in the head ... instead of being in the body. The resolution? 1. Bring the "I" thought home
by asking "Who am I" and then truly listen. 2. Are you aware of breathing? 3. Are you
aware of sensing?

It does not take much effort to become aware of breathing all day long. It is always
happening in every day life.

This is a first step and perhaps even unwise to move forward from here. Eventually the
outward going mind (on its own accord) will remain as the Heart. Of course eyes are
looking outwardly; the body is functioning and sensing as it does, we are just deeply at
rest … being still … while the body does what it does.

Body movement and activity can become Zen-like. During the morning shower, be
aware of every movement. If there is a set habitual routine, change it. How does the soap
feel as you pick it up in your hands? How does the water feel? Are you breathing? You
become consciously present, without rushing to the future about anything. Even if
rushing is required, we are consciously present with that.

You soon find that the real effort is the misidentification with thought, having to
maintain all of the ego's ideas; constant thinking is exhausting!

Practicing presence is a relaxation and not intense. Your attention is relaxed, yet alert.
This does not require psychic or mental energy. All is appearing within the Awareness.

What you shared about Osho's words is true. When we misidentify with "I," we move
into time and space and then are caught in the world of duality. Relative happiness will
eventually cycle to the opposite duality of sadness. Then, sadness will once again cycle to
happiness after certain duration. Neither is stable … whereas the bliss and unending joy
are permanent. Now, don't go looking for it. You ARE it! When you are seeking, it
cannot be found, which is why I say be STILL and notice what truly already is. Only still
permanence can realize that which is permanent. Be still.

Questioner Report:

I am so grateful for your kind reply. I have read it now a couple of times and I think that
it is very close to what is required at the moment.

I have observed an interesting phenomenon after the question I posed about practicing
presence. During last two weeks or so I have found that I have been resting in peace
more often. As I have attended to this peace, now and then I have investigated the
question "Who am I?" Replying to this question feels utterly impossible and absurd. It
feels that there is no "I" but just a vast presence. I guess that is probably how the
question is meant to work; to leave the thinking mind disarmed so that it can surrender
to the consciousness that it is born of. In gratitude ...

Katie:

Thank you for letting me know. Excellent, what are you attending right now? While your
eyes are reading, attend the peace within. Are you aware of breathing? Who is reading? I
am. Who am I?

I am so grateful for this report. And you have now realized directly through asking this
question “who am I?” that when you seek it, the ego “I” disappears … nowhere to be
found … only “vast presence.” Delightful! At ease. And yes, that is the point of asking the
question. The false “I” disappears into the Heart of all being … the Pure I that is the Pure
Consciousness … unending joy … perfect peace … free of time.

Now when you notice once again that you are lost in the head (habits are sometimes
hard to break!), just silently ask the question and there you are once again … being
peace. Or, just for an instant notice the breath … notice sensing. Then we are in a type of
meditation all day long during all that is being done. Being peace … paying bills … being
peace … taking the shower.
What Is Satchitananda? By Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy

When speaking of awakening and Self-realization, we often hear the Sanskrit term
"satchitananda" or being-consciousness-bliss.

Reality is always Real. It never changes and is free of names and forms. It is the only
enduring supreme Reality ... and you are That.

You are beyond your given name, beyond "me and my thoughts," "me and my
emotions," "me and my form."

You are the single immanent Reality and it is being experienced within you right now.
The question, are you conscious of it?

When speaking, I often refer to this Reality as the Self, Essence, Heart, Pure Awareness
or Pure I. They are only words that point to the supreme principle that is ever shining
within and available for direct realization.

The Self is pure being and this being is not personal. The Reality is also conscious, so we
speak of Pure Consciousness. The direct experience of this Pure Consciousness is
unbroken happiness, uncaused joy and Pure Bliss.

While being-consciousness-bliss may appear to be separate attributes of the Reality, this

is not true. It is one homogeneous field of intelligence that is absolutely inseparable
from who you are.

My invitation is to be still and notice what is shining deep within.

Intimate Relationships, Love and Emotional Reactions

By Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy

"Friends of the Heart Katie Davis" Facebook Group

Before awakening, my intimate partner would say something really critical and I
would react with anger (or sadness, guilt, etc.). I would say something in response in
order to defend myself. The argument would escalate as our pain bodies would become
activated and we would fight. Pretty soon we were saying things that we didn't really
mean and talking about similar circumstances from our past. I blamed my partner for
how I felt. He/she makes me angry, hurt, and sad.

1. I ended our relationship

2. I continued to feel guilty or angry or hurt

3. I forgave the situation and stayed in relationship, but I know we will have another
round of this sometime.

4. Next time, I will react stronger or perhaps not say anything at all, but hold it inside
with angry thoughts and feelings and still blame my partner for how I feel.

After awakening, what have you noticed about emotional reactions when your
partner says something critical?

1. When my partner is critical, since I am observing my thoughts, I am aware that my

thinking about the situation is actually causing my own emotional reaction. In other
words, the suffering is self-inflicted. My partner says something; I label, judge and
categorize the statement as mean or hurtful. When I have such thoughts, it causes my
body to emotionally react to my thinking.

2. I have realized that virtually no one has the power to alter my emotional state and if I
do feel sad or angry, it is my responsibility and blame no one.

3. When I do feel angry, I no longer act it out with my partner, nor do I repress it.
Instead, I take a moment to be consciously present with the emotion and feel it in my
body. I also watch my thinking and how it tries to perpetuate the negative emotion or
escalate it.

4. With the willingness to suffer consciously, I am noticing that negative emotion is

disappearing from my life.

5. I am able to hear the criticism, but no longer take it personally.

6. I have recognized that the world is arising within me. In other words, life is only a
mirror that is reflecting my inner state of consciousness. When I see criticism in the
world, I now go within to see if there are ways that I am critical of others or critical with
myself.

7. When I notice self-criticism, I no longer need to change anything or make it a self-

improvement project. I only need to become aware of it and it changes on its own
through the simple noticing of it.

8. As I am free of self-criticism, others are no longer critical. The mirror of life

circumstances changes on its own accord as I free myself from within. I am the key to
the transformation of what I see in the world.

9. Since I am totally free and resting within, if someone says something rude, I silently
feel compassion for them. I realize that it is "their" inner work and has nothing to do
with me, so I am able to compassionately and unconditionally love my partner and
recognize that they are not feeling well. Furthermore, I recognize that how they are
feeling is fleeting and will soon change.

10. Changing how "others" feel is no longer my responsibility. My job is to remain

present and open to the unconditional love within.

11. I have recognized that the ego state of consciousness (the mind-made self, the idea of
"me") is a delusion. It exists in others or within me solely through thinking, ideas,
concepts and beliefs.

12. Underneath the thinking, I am blissful, unending joy that is absolutely

indestructible.

To actively participate in this discussion or interact with Katie Davis and other members
of the Heart community, please visit:

http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=36066600999

Katie meets with nearly 600 people worldwide daily in this Friends of the Heart Katie
Davis Discussion Group. Come and get your questions answered and enjoy the support
of others who are awakening.
What Have You Realized about Compulsive Thinking?

By Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy

Today's Topic at "Friends of the Heart Katie" Facebook Group

1. By observing thought, they can't use me and I am free.

2. My negative emotions are caused by my own thinking ... judgment, sense of threat,
reaction based on past experience or desire based on the future, etc.

3. The first thought is the primary thought "I" (dreaming "I" or what we might call the
mind-made self or the ego) ... and then all of the other thoughts follow.

4. When I am fiercely attentive to the present moment or when I am living now, I have
fewer thoughts.

5. Thought is always based on some sort of lack (egoic fear) or desires of the mind-made
self.

6. Free of the mind-made self, I am free of fear and desire.

7. When I silently ask the question, "Who am I?" the primary thought "I" disappears into
the Heart and I experience peace and harmony.

8. I am noticing that thought does not even belong to me unless I identify with them.
They just freely float by while I remain still and free.

If I am not the thinker, then who am I? Where are these thoughts arising from within
me?

To actively participate in the Friends of the Heart Facebook Group community, please
visit:

http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=36066600999
Making a Sense of Self out of Emotional Pain by Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy

As with all things in life, we begin "understanding" something by experiencing it

directly. Observing is one of the most powerful tools that we have during the awakening
process. We have noticed now that when we watch our thoughts, there is less chance
that we will identify with them.

When we do identify with the voice in the head, they cause contractions in the body and
we call that negative emotion.

Likewise, whenever we are observing our negative emotions, we are less likely to identify
with them. In observation, we notice that once we are spinning emotionally in
negativity, the ego (mind) will try even harder with more and more negative thought to
try to whirlpool the emotions even deeper.

That is what the ego does. It walks hand and hand with the pain-body. Suffering the
original idea of separation from the Heart, it suffers it idea of being a fragment and that
creates the delusion of a pain gap that then will flow into your life situation.

Today, I would just ask you notice whether you are unconsciously creating a sense of self
out of that emotional pain ... an unhappy "me."

Once you identify with the pain-body, you have aligned with it. Watch carefully, is there
almost some peculiar satisfaction out being unhappy?

In other words, is there any chance that if you were to eliminate negative emotion, that
you would no longer exist?

An unconscious fear of losing this sense of identity will create a strong resistance to dis-
identifying with the pain.

If you have been deeply aligned with the pain-body most of your life, is there any
chance that you would rather BE the pain instead of taking a leap into the unknown and
take the risk of losing your identity as the unhappy "me?"

Observing emotional pain is instrumental to the awakening. When we take one step
further and make that pain into a sense of self, it is a movement away from realizing
who you are.

Here is a good question that might help clarify this investigation. When you are
experiencing a negative emotion, do you call it "my" anger, "my" sadness, etc?

"Me" and "mine" are the earmarks of ego and "my" pain indicates that a sense of self is
being derived through the identification with the pain.
Couldn't it simply be "human pain" arising? If so, can you allow it to be?

Allowing is slightly deeper than just mentally watching. You see the pain there, body
feels a little heavy, thoughts are rambling ... yes, and I am conscious and willing to allow
it.

ALLOWING is the tool of transmutation. By transmutation, I mean that the pain will be
forevermore released as it transforms from the altered state of consciousness into the
pure consciousness that is genuine, unconditional love.

The pain that arises in the present moment is the accumulated pain from the past and at
a deeper the collective pain that we are also asked to transmute through allowing. In this
manner, you become an ambassador for the Light.

No one can do this for you. Most every sage throughout history has pointed to allowing.

Are you ALLOWING this primary work?

The Second Step toward Enlightenment by Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy

As previously shared, the first step toward enlightenment is time freedom.

Lost in identification with its objects (attachments), the present moment is totally
obscured by compulsive thinking. When the "I" thought arises, it does so in order to
seek its objects. The dreaming "I" or mind-made self is lost in time. Our gift to anchor us
in the present moment is the physical body, because it is always a part of "our" present
moment. We have two tools; conscious breathing and being aware of the body's sensing.

The second step toward self-liberation or freedom from the mind-made self is self-
observation. Self-observation begins before awakening and usually begins after there
have been enough problematic situations in the life story where we have been blaming
others. An example might be when we have had enough events in our lives that make us
angry over and over again. At last, our attention turns and we begin wondering whether
the true problem just might be us! This is a significant step in self-responsibility.
Another example might be an unusual feeling of weariness. We just start feeling tired of
the circumstances in our lives. The story which previously might have been interesting
suddenly starts making us feel dispassionate or weary.

This weariness is such a blessing, since our attention naturally turns within and we
become curious and wonder what is happening within. Unfortunately, the ego often
becomes distressed that something is not right, when in fact it could be a sign of the
upcoming awakening.

Self-observation has several stages however the first step is to start observing our
thoughts. This is totally new since previously we were completed unaware of the
constant thinking. Of course, there are times when we think that we are solving
something, analyzing or interpreting something and at those times we are quite
interested in our thoughts and aware of them. However, we generally are not aware that
all day long the thinking is exhausting the body.

We are not aware of how this thinking is always past or future related and how it is
robbing our enjoyment of present moment awareness where we can feel so alive. The
physical senses thrive when we are present rather than lost in thinking.

Nor are we generally aware of how our thoughts are manipulating our emotional
environment. Happy thoughts manipulate us into a false pleasure. I say false since the
pleasure can only last as long as those thoughts remain happy. Angry thoughts
manipulate us into pain and suffering. That anger will only last as long as those thoughts
remain angry. In this, we ride the mental-emotional roller coaster ride that can only take
place due to time. The cycling requires time and the thinking requires time.
So the second step toward enlightenment is to begin watching your thoughts. I am not
suggesting that you become involved with them by challenging whether they or true or
false. I am not suggesting that you analyze or interpret them. I am asking you to only
WATCH.

When you are observing thought, thought cannot use you. You of course can use them
whenever it is required such as balancing your checkbook or learning a foreign
language, etc.

Starting to observe your thoughts is the second step to ego freedom.

Emptiness, Enlightenment and Awareness by Katie Davis, Author, Awake Joy

Questioner:

I have been getting to know and surrender into this emptiness. I feel very vulnerable and
beyond ordinary...certainly not knowing or wise....and yet there is this wonderful
stillness that caresses my heart... a balm for the wounds that make my body ache
unbearably. There is nothing to hold onto any more, only a yielding....no reason of any
worth at all...only the mystery...and the breath that keeps on breathing life into this
being. Always, the breath...

Enlightenment could not be about peace...for love knows no peace, only the wild fire of
passion, the joy, the ecstasy...and the pain and ache and longing. Enlightenment must
be about awareness: staying aware and present throughout all of the play and not falling
asleep into old patterns and habits and stories that are not of this eternal moment called
NOW and its ever-changing rhythms of pleasure and pain, joy and suffering, fullness
and emptiness, and on and on forever in this one eternal moment.

Katie:

Thank you for sharing your beautiful message. This wonderful stillness that you are
mentioning IS the Heart of all being ... and it is you. Beautiful ... nothing to hold onto,
since you realize the folly of the individual sense of self that is separate. No sense of self
who can hold on. The longing and ache are only remnants of that concept of me. In its
disappearance, there is only the divine, unconditional Love that you truly are ... the Pure
I.

Just as you say, remain the clear, still Awareness that is ... while all appearances and
their ever-changing circumstances come and go. The life circumstances seem to cause
our attention to contract and narrow. That narrowing gives the delusion of the
conceptual I. Throughout it all, you are the Awareness. Just notice the tendency of
attention to suddenly focus on the specific rather than continuing to rest as the
expansive Awareness.

An example of narrowing might be similar to when we put blinders on a horse so that it

only sees the path directly in front of it. When the narrowing occurs, we are no longer
aware of the vast Totality. We suddenly believe that "I" am separate and therefore need
to acquire or escape. Just notice when the attention shifts to the specific. Noticing is all
that is required. If we begin working on expansion, that only becomes another narrow
focus. So only noticing ... then a relaxation and peace stirs within and we once again
realize the Awareness that is the Totality.

The breath will always allow the narrow attention to relax and expand. You are That
within which all is appearing. The sense of an individual that is separate dissolves in the
amazing broad consciousness that You really are. And YES, you are already That.

Thank you so much for sharing your lovely writing. Please let me know how it goes ...
aware of the expansive, aware of the narrow focus (ego) ... it is choiceless that you are
the Awareness that is forever now and still. We just overlook it every now and then.
About Katie Davis

Formerly from Seattle, Washington, Katie Davis offers talks in spiritual gathers, Advaita
satsang for those seeking enlightenment and Self-realization wherever invited and
private consultations.

In 1986, she had a radical and spontaneous awakening without teachers or spiritual
practices. The spiritual realization took twelve year to re-integrate the body and she
began sharing her message in 1999.

Katie Davis is author of Awake Joy: The Essence of Enlightenment and her husband is
Sundance Burke, author of Free Spirit: A Guide to Enlightened Being, who awakened in
1982 before their meeting with his first teachers, Satoshi (Osho) and Shunyata, named
the Rare Born Mystic by his friend, Ramana Maharshi. Sundance’s website is at
www.SundanceBurke.org. Sundance and Katie travel worldwide offering their message
of conscious freedom and causeless joy.

In 2004, Sundance and Katie moved to Hawaii to write. Encouraged directly by Eckhart
Tolle, author of The Power of Now and A New Earth, their books were intimately
written with their desks side by side and the expanse of the Pacific Ocean before them.
Awake Joy by Katie Davis and Free Spirit by Sundance Burke published in February
2008.

Private Consultations

Katie meets privately with people worldwide either in person or by phone. Instructions
for scheduling an appointment are at www.KatieDavis.org/Private.html.

Scheduling Events or Satsang with Katie Davis

Katie offers meetings in spiritual gatherings with churches, organizations and

universities or satsang with groups interested in enlightenment and Self-realization.
Event testimonials are at www.KatieDavis.org/Testimonials.html.

If you are interested in hosting an event, please contact awake@katiedavis.org.

Book Reviews and Ordering Books

To enjoy reader book reviews or to purchase books, please visit Katie’s store at
www.KatieDavis.org/AwakeBooksKatie.html or click “Store” on Katie’s website at
www.KatieDavis.org.