When we experience circumstances or events that feel unpleasant—or find ourselves caught in repetitive or unwanted thoughts—the initial remedy is to make a clear distinction between Impersonal Being and the personal realm of experience.

In reality, everyone remains as impersonal awareness. Just as the ocean itself is impersonal, so too is our true nature. We remain as this field within which all forms appear.
Language plays a significant role in drawing us into identification with the personal realm. Even the word “spelling” hints at this, as language casts a spell. Language tends to perpetuate a sense of limitation, because every concept is, by nature, a limitation.

If you take the difference between impersonal being—what we truly are—and the personal realm of experience, we can begin by changing the language we use.

Thoughts, emotions, and sensations are always arising in this moment. These forms can be experienced either personally or impersonally. Most of us have been conditioned to experience them personally. For example, if you ask someone whether thoughts are arising, they might say, “I’m thinking about what I’m going to have for lunch,” or describe a recent trip to the supermarket. Similarly, with emotions, someone might say, “I feel nervous because I’m having this conversation.”

These responses reflect personal identification.

However, we can naturally revert to functioning from our true, infinite, impersonal nature by changing the language. When we do this, we begin to see reality as it actually is.

Take thoughts as an example. Thoughts may arise, and they may appear personal in content, but the truth is that there is effortless, impersonal awareness of those thoughts. Saying, “I’m thinking about lunch,” reinforces a sense of individuality. The reality is that there is impersonal awareness of thoughts arising—some of which may concern lunch.

This distinction is key.

By changing the language, we can remind ourselves that we remain as impersonal being. Instead of saying, “I feel this,” or “I am thinking that,” we can say, “There is awareness of thoughts appearing,” or “There is awareness of emotions arising,” or “There is awareness of the body sitting on the seat.”

This is how experience truly is for everyone. Awareness always precedes experience. Awareness is formless, and all forms arise within it. There is first awareness—and then awareness of whatever thought, emotion, or sensation

If you’d like to go into this further, join us this Sunday for our next online event…

With love,
David Bingham