Chapter 24 of Realized Serenity
The Deepening Principle of Spiritual Awareness
As our journey unfolds and we become grounded in the practice of perseverance, a natural and beautiful shift begins to occur. Our focus gradually moves from simply managing the challenges of our lives to actively cultivating a richer, deeper inner world. This brings us to the eleventh principle: Spiritual Awareness. This is the conscious and intentional commitment to improve our conscious contact with our higher power, our own true nature, or the silent, intelligent presence of life itself. It is the practice of learning to quiet the endless external noise and internal chatter so that we can finally hear the deep, inner wisdom that has been there all along.
A Story of Spiritual Awareness
As our journey unfolds and we become grounded in the practice of perseverance, a natural and beautiful shift begins to occur. Our focus gradually moves from simply managing the challenges of our lives to actively cultivating a richer, deeper inner world. This brings us to the eleventh principle: Spiritual Awareness. This is the conscious and intentional commitment to improve our conscious contact with our higher power, our own true nature, or the silent, intelligent presence of life itself. It is the practice of learning to quiet the endless external noise and internal chatter so that we can finally hear the deep, inner wisdom that has been there all along.
The Antidote to Distraction and Disconnection
Spiritual Awareness is the direct antidote to the defining malady of our modern age: the habit of distraction and the resulting pain of feeling disconnected. We live in a culture that glorifies busyness and provides an infinite buffet of distractions. We use our screens, our schedules, and our constant stream of entertainment to numb ourselves and to avoid the discomfort of our own inner world. We are terrified of being bored, because in the quiet spaces, the uncomfortable feelings we have been suppressing begin to surface.
This constant outward focus leaves us feeling scattered, anxious, and profoundly disconnected from ourselves, from each other, and from the natural world. We live on the surface of our own lives, skimming from one task to the next, without ever dropping into a state of deep presence. The practice of Spiritual Awareness is the radical act of returning home. It is the choice to turn our attention inward, not to escape the world, but to connect with the source of peace and wisdom that will allow us to engage with the world more fully and lovingly.
The Practice of Conscious Contact
The term “conscious contact” is important. This practice is not about achieving some far-off, mystical state of enlightenment. It is about improving the relationship we have with our own deeper consciousness, here and now. Like any relationship, it deepens through consistent, quality time. It requires us to consciously set aside time to be present and to listen. This is the role of formal meditation.
Meditation is the core training for spiritual awareness. It is the gymnasium where we strengthen the “muscle” of our attention. In meditation, we are not trying to stop our thoughts—that is an impossible task that only leads to frustration. We are simply practicing the art of noticing that we are thinking, and then gently, compassionately, guiding our attention back to a chosen anchor, such as the breath. Each time we do this, we are performing one “rep” of awareness. We are learning to distinguish between the voice of our thoughts (the ego) and the silent, background awareness that is noticing the thoughts (the Observer, our true nature). Over time, this practice creates a space between our thoughts and our identification with them. In this space, peace is found.
Finding Presence in the Mundane
While formal meditation is the foundation, the ultimate goal of spiritual awareness is to bring this quality of presence into the ordinary moments of our lives. The path to a serene life is not found by escaping our daily routines, but by infusing them with a new quality of attention. This is the practice of informal meditation, or mindfulness.
Daniel’s breakthrough in the woods was an experience of this. With his usual distractions removed, he was able to be fully present with his sensory experience. We can cultivate this in our own lives by choosing simple, routine activities and performing them with our full, undivided attention.
When you wash the dishes, just wash the dishes. Feel the warmth of the water on your hands. See the iridescent soap bubbles. Hear the sound of the plates. When you drink your morning coffee, just drink your coffee. Smell its aroma before you sip. Feel its warmth in your mouth. By bringing this level of mindful attention to one or two mundane activities each day, we bridge the gap between our meditation cushion and the rest of our lives. We learn to find moments of profound peace and connection in the midst of our everyday reality.
Listening to the Voice of Intuition
As we create more moments of inner quiet, both in formal practice and in our daily lives, we begin to notice a subtle but powerful shift. We become more attuned to the “voice of our intuition” or our “inner wisdom.” This is not the loud, anxious, or judgmental voice of the ego. It is a quieter, calmer sense of knowing. It can manifest as a gut feeling, a gentle nudge in a certain direction, or a quiet thought that feels deeply true and peaceful.
In a world saturated with external advice, opinions, and information, the practice of spiritual awareness is the practice of learning to trust our own inner compass. It is the recognition that the deepest wisdom we need is already within us, waiting to be heard. By consistently choosing to create moments of silence, we are saying to our inner self, “I am here. I am listening.” This cultivated relationship with our own intuition becomes our most trusted guide on the path to a life of serenity and purpose.
Putting it into Practice: Cultivating Conscious Contact
- Commit to Formal Meditation: This is the core training for awareness. The Anchor of the Breath Meditation is the foundational practice. Make a consistent, compassionate commitment to this practice, even if it’s just for five minutes a day.
- Find Presence in the Mundane: Turn everyday activities into informal meditations. When you wash the dishes, just wash the dishes. Feel the warm water on your hands, see the soap bubbles, hear the sound of the plates.
- Connect with Nature: The practice of Natural Connection is one of the most powerful gateways to spiritual awareness. Nature effortlessly pulls us out of our self-obsessed thinking and into a state of awe and wonder.
This Week’s Practice
Choose one mundane activity you do every day (like brushing your teeth or making coffee). For one week, commit to doing that one activity with your full, undivided attention. No phone, no podcast, no mental planning. Just be fully present with the sensory experience of the task.</
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