ātma-pratyāvartana 3

Turning back toward the self

One of my teachers used to tell us:

"Change the prescription of your glasses"

Initially I thought it was just a matter of having positive thoughts. This sent me on a positive thinking journey which left me feeling I was missing something. At some point, I stumbled into this question "why do I think the way I do?" This question changed the direction of the journey—it turned awareness back toward its source.

Getting back to the source of awareness is not a short trip. A few years ago, I went back to California. As I drove from the airport to my relative's house where I was staying, I was remembering all the places along the way that I used to frequent when I lived there. Forty-five minutes later I arrived at my relative's home. The journey back to the source of awareness feels like that. As we travel back, we will encounter things we have not thought of in a while—impressions, soft or strong, that have quietly shaped the way we think. These realizations point the way back to awareness.
 
In class, we are journeying to the source of awareness. Every sensation felt, every thought pattern we recognize, every time we come back to the breath are steps back to the source.

I look forward to walking this journey with you this week.

Breathe easy,

Blessings,

Jorge Nihāl