The Non-dual Awakening Society

Why "awaken"?

In normal everyday life our mind is filled with thoughts; memories of past pains and pleasures, regrets of things done or not done, plans for and dreams of future pleasures, likes and dislikes, imagined future conversations, remembered past interactions, etc.

The structure of our thought, and our language, is focused on a subject doing something with/to an object to achieve some desired result, ultimately focused on either obtaining a pleasure or avoiding a pain. This structure establishes a duality between subject and object. "I", the subject am here, and will do an action to the object there to bring about the desired happiness and peace.

Thoughts appear endless. We believe that without our thoughts, nothing can be accomplished, happiness will not be obtained, and we will be unsuccessful in "life" and even in danger for our very survival. At the root of this is the feeling that we are our thoughts, and that the "I", and the mind, are real, tangible entities, that do this thinking necessary for our survival and ultimate happiness. We are driven from first awakening until falling asleep and even in our dreams to think, think, think our way to survival, success, happiness and peace.

Unfortunately, this approach, as all can attest, instead yields dis-ease, unhappiness, struggle, discontent, and confusion as the stream of uncontrolled fragmented thoughts finds itself incapable of delivering the promised happiness and peace. Pleasures are short-lived, and never measure up to expectations, requiring further thoughts and efforts for lasting happiness, which remains elusive.

Is there not another approach to happiness and peace, one that makes it possible to live a sane and holistic life while engaged in the activities of today's world?

If one examines the nature of thought and the structure of the subject/object - thought based approach, it is possible to slow and ultimately stop the constant stream of thoughts and come upon a heightened awareness and acuity that is fully functional, and yet calm, peaceful and happy. This state can pervade our entire life so that our "normal" state is peacefulness and stillness rather than chaos, struggle, fragmentation and confusion.

Thoughts may still be useful for certain tasks, but they are now an instrument in the orchestra, not the ever-present, overwrought confused conductor. It can be found that what were previously regarded as “mental” tasks are done with greater insight, clarity and perception without the confusion from an unending stream of thoughts that insight has to fight its way through.