Awareness is of two kinds

There are two kinds of awareness. One is an awareness that is very keen, alive, tense, the ready-to-pounce, do-something kind of awareness. Another is a watchful one. The first one seems to be a more effective weapon. But actually not. Like a knife, when it is sharpened too often can become too thin, bend when it must actually thrust, this gross awareness fails when the actual action must be done. The other (subtle) awareness is a state which is aware of this `overzealous awareness'. In that sense it a consciousness, a state of mind -- not intense, but a stepping-back. Because it is very subtle, like a sword hidden in a scabbard we often worry it will not be effective in the hour of need. Also, most of us don't even know that this subtle awareness exists. Just as only a trained soldier can skilfully draw a sword out of the scabbard when it is needed, so also only an involuted, intensely aware mind can see the subtle states of consciousness within oneself. Since this consciousness is very subtle it is also difficult to whip it up in an hour of need. It cannot be cultivated. But your own awareness of this subtle awareness may, however, be cultivated. Through meditation.

When there must be something done, as your mind begins to crowd with things which need to be done (first, gross state of awareness), you must become intensely, continuously aware to tell your own mind to back off. This is very subtle, but powerful way to actually do anything in life. I have noticed, when I write something elegant it does not happen because I am agonising about the words. It happens naturally. My hard work is only involved in becoming aware of the information I wish to project. I often do not need to organise this info even. At a very subtle level, the sub-conscious has actually done all the organising, so that when I write it (the mind) automatically organises everything. In such cases, you can say I am not working, but enjoying the act of writing. So, though the action may be the same, the state of mind or consciousness are different. This is what decides the quality of work: as happens when two people do the same thing the results may vary due to their different mental awareness while doing it. If you transpose this image of two different people, and accept that we ourselves keep switching between several states of awareness, you will appreciate that a continuous state of subtle awareness which watches this constant make-overs we do to ourselves, is a more important thing. In that state, you reach a level where you do not become tired, but are in a flow. I am afraid I cannot even say it is a super-fun state because that would again bring it back to a very mundane level of words and normal experiences. Such a state of awareness is beyond all that, beyond such props. It is a state of steadiness, very pure.


So, the sum of what I have said is that we must, those of us who want to be spiritual, healthy, balanced, content, productive in life, must cultivate an awareness which is not a rajasic one, but a subtle state of consciousness which has stepped back, watching the action unfold in front. In this state there is no fear.