When the oneness we are notices its nature, what are some of the typical reactions?
In my experience, it depends partly on how and in what context we notice our nature.
NOTICING OUR NATURE
We can notice our nature in a relatively undramatic fashion, for instance through guided inquiry. (Headless experiments and the Big Mind process among other approaches.)
Oneness notices itself.
And because of assumptions and emotional needs, may see it as too simple, too familiar, and not exotic or dramatic enough. It’s not what it thought it would be, so it keeps on looking somewhere else.
Or it may find itself intrigued and fascinated by it and keep exploring its nature. It keeps returning to noticing its nature. It keeps exploring how to live from it. And so on.
The upside of a simple noticing is that it’s often undramatic and simple and we are less likely to be distracted by dramatic experiences. It’s a little easier to notice the essence of our nature – capacity, oneness, love, and so on. And that it’s not about any particular content of experience. Oneness can notice its nature here and now through shifting states and experiences.
The downside is that we may see it as too simple. We expect something more dramatic or exotic, so dismiss it and continue to look somewhere else. Eventually, after some wild goose chases, we may realize that our nature never went anywhere and by neccesity is simple and familiar to us, and we may return to this simple noticing.
FINDING OURSELVES AS OUR NATURE
The oneness we are may also find itself as itself in a more wholesale way, with or without any particular preparation or intention.
This is often a sudden shift, although some seem to experience it as a gradual shift.
The upside of this is that our nature is undeniable. It’s strongly in the foreground of our noticing and experience, and it’s impossible to miss or explain it away.
Even the most dense atheist, like me when this happened, can’t dismiss it.
The downside is that we can easily get caught up in the associated states and side-effects of these more dramatic shifts with fireworks and bells and whistles. We may end up chasing states for a while and miss the simplicity of our nature that’s here across changing states.
MY EXPERIENCE
In my case, the shift happened without conscious preparation and intention and was dramatic, wholesale, and lasting.
Although my nature did notice itself relatively clearly, the drama of the initial shift and the side-effects and states (which my personality found very enjoyable) made me also chase experiences and states for a while. At some level, I was a little confused.
Later, I came to appreciate the simplicity of a simple noticing of my nature – especially guided by the Headless experiments and the Big Mind process.
The simple noticing helped me clarify the essence of my nature and what this is really about.
INITIAL OUTLINE
- Reactions to noticing / finding ourselves as our nature
- if notice through guided inquiry
- may seem to easy, too familiar
- may not see any use for it
- and may get fascinated, intrigued, follow up on it
- upside – is simple, familiar, undramatic, so easier to get a sense of the essence of it
- downside – may seem too obvious, simple, familiar, not exotic or dramatic enough
- if find ourselves as our nature more wholesale, with or without previous practice and intention
- often a mix
- a shock, surprise, astonishment
- very familiar, obvious, simple
- may get caught up in side-effects, fireworks, bells and whistles
- upside – undeniable, grabs our attention
- downside – can get caught up in side-effects, chasing side-effects and states
- if notice through guided inquiry