Who Is the One Looking for Freedom?

To be aware of awareness, it does not maZer what content is playing out, is it? You say I am aware of body sensaHon, let’s say for example. So, in that statement first you are saying I am aware that I am aware of. Yes or no? This is an important point; we can take a minute on that. If you say you are si^ng on a couch, you are aware of what si^ng is and what couch is, isn’t it? When you are walking on the street, you are aware of walking and the street. You are not making either side up. But when you are aware of, most will tell me ‘I am aware of’ only that part which comes aeer the ‘of’, this aware I am unaware of. Then, how would we be able to say it? Then, you would be just making it up. But you are not making it up. You are aware of awareness. You are aware of yourself. Only reality can know reality. The mind cannot know reality, the senses cannot know reality. But reality, always only itself it can know. And only it can know itself. Only it can know itself. [Silence] You know yourself, whether you like it or not. [Smiles] Whether you say mentally that there is a lot to go, it is not complete, all of these, I am sHll seeking — all these stories you may believe. But your knowledge of yourself is never incomplete. [Silence] If you ever get confused about who is aware of this percepHon of the hand, then talk to me and say that you lost your Self. Are you confused about that? About who it is, you are not confused. About where it is, what it is, why it is, when it is, all these, you are confused. But not about who it is — that you know. You do not need your mind to tell you that, you do not need any experience to tell you that. You know. Yes or no? [Smiles] If I tell you, you are not perceiving the hand, you are not perceiving the hand, what will you say?

Ahh?

You are.

But you are not.

[Smiles] See, this is the thing. [Chuckles] So then, you know your Self. How do you confirm with so much confidence?

[Chuckles] Very good. Now what is needed? [Smiles] You are aware as Awareness itself. Did you find somebody else who owns awareness there? You say I am aware. Did you find anything other than Awareness which is aware? That is why Bhagwan [Sri Ramana Maharshi] said Awareness is your name, another name for you. Now, this Awareness — what problem does it have?

Ahh, it has?

It is condiHoned? Is it?

Is it?

AZenHon is…?

CondiHoned [Smiles] I keep repeaHng everything [Chuckles] In this quesHoning way. [Chuckles]

So, do not take anything to be the truth like this, unless you have really looked. And you really look at it. Because the half-truths we bought, we have taken them to be true and we have caused ourselves enough suffering now. So, rest in the not-knowing. And if something comes as a claim that this is true, then really invesHgate it. I am happier to hear truth being spoken, I have never spoken it myself. The truth that I found cannot be boxed in anything I could speak. And the truth that you know about yourself also cannot be boxed in any concept that you may have. Now, because we got used to school and being made to feel stupid if we did not have right concept to answer, then we seem to be stuck.