Author, Philosopher, Spiritual Teacher, A Lead Facilitator at Sacred Media's Integral Mastery Academy, Founder of Yinnergy Meditation/Neurofeedback, Bodhi Mental Care & Wellness, Co-founder of KeMor Centre for Innovative Development
The moment a seeker sets out on the path, a paradox quietly begins to unfold. Every step forward seems to promise arrival, yet what one hopes to reach has never been absent. The illusion of a distance to cross is what fuels the journey, and still, that distance does not exist.
Awakening is not a reward at the end of a road; it is the recognition that the road itself was always part of the illusion. The mind measures, compares, calculates progress, but the truth it seeks cannot be measured, compared, or progressed toward. Presence has no edge, no centre, no circumference. Nothing stands apart from it, nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken away.
Those who search often feel both exhaustion and longing, as if running toward a horizon that continually retreats. Yet horizons retreat only because they were never there to begin with. What is sought is closer than breath, closer than thought; it is what makes breath and thought possible.
To realize this is not to abandon the journey, but to recognize its true nature. Every path walked, every practice undertaken, every longing felt, each is a movement within what has never moved. The path is not a bridge toward truth but a gesture of truth itself, echoing as experience.
When this becomes clear, striving gives way to simplicity. Effort yields to intimacy. What you are searching for does not arrive because it has never been absent. No path leads to what has no distance.
Morgan O. Smith
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In the realm of spiritual discovery, there exists a profound yet often overlooked truth: the state of enlightenment is not a distant reality to be attained, but an intrinsic aspect of our very being. This realization confronts the traditional narrative of spiritual pursuit, where enlightenment is viewed as a summit to be reached through arduous journeying.
Consider for a moment the notion that you are, at this very instant, already enlightened. The idea may seem counterintuitive, especially in the context of Eastern philosophy which often emphasizes a path of gradual awakening. Yet, this perspective invites us to reconsider our approach to spiritual growth. It is not about acquiring something new or transforming into someone else; it is about recognizing and embracing the wisdom already within us.
The journey of self-discovery, then, turns inward. It becomes an unfolding, gentle unveiling of the layers of misconception and illusion that cloud our perception of our true nature. This process is not about adding more knowledge or experiences but subtracting the unessential, peeling away the narratives and beliefs that have limited our understanding of ourselves.
In this light, every moment is an opportunity for enlightenment. Each experience, no matter how mundane, carries the potential to be a window to our true selves. The challenge lies in our ability to remain present and attentive to these opportunities. It requires a shift from seeking externally for answers, to turning inward and listening to the silent wisdom that speaks in the stillness of our being.
This perspective also reshapes our understanding of the spiritual path. The path is not a linear progression towards a defined end, but a deepening into the ever-present reality of our enlightened nature. It is a journey without distance, where the destination is already where we stand.
Reflect on this: What changes when you start acting from the understanding that you are already enlightened? How does this shift your perception of your spiritual journey?
In embracing this paradigm, we find that enlightenment is not a state to be achieved, but a truth to be realized. It is not an exclusive domain of the few, but an accessible reality for all. Our task is not to seek enlightenment, but to recognize and embody the enlightenment that we already are.
Morgan O. Smith
Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!
**Introduction**: In spiritual exploration, nondual experience and nondual awakening emerge as pivotal elements in understanding the nature of consciousness and reality. Often used interchangeably, these terms hold distinct meanings and implications for those on a spiritual path. This blog post aims to unravel the differences and delve deeper into the profound implications of nondual experiences and awakenings.
**Nondual Experience – A Glimpse Beyond the Veil**: Imagine a moment where all distinctions between you and the world dissolve. This is the essence of a nondual experience. It’s a temporary state where the conventional boundaries of self and other, inside and outside, cease to exist. Such experiences often occur during deep meditation, contemplative practices, or even in spontaneous moments of profound insight. They offer a fleeting yet intense glimpse into a state of unity and interconnectedness, challenging our usual perception of reality. However, as profound as these experiences are, they are transient and do not necessarily result in a permanent shift in understanding or consciousness.
**Nondual Awakening – The Enduring Shift**: Contrastingly, a nondual awakening is not just a momentary experience but a fundamental transformation. It represents a deep and lasting shift in how one perceives and interacts with reality. In this awakened state, the illusion of a separate self is continuously seen through. This awakening brings about a sustained awareness where separation is transcended, not just in isolated moments, but as a continuous experience in daily life. It marks a paradigm shift from a life experienced through the lens of duality to one of ongoing nondual perception.
**The Journey from Experience to Awakening**: While a nondual experience can be a catalyst for a nondual awakening, the journey from one to the other is often gradual and requires deep inner work and exploration. The fleeting insights provided by nondual experiences can sow the seeds for the more profound, sustained realization of nondual awakening. This journey involves not only the mind but also the heart and soul, leading to a comprehensive transformation in one’s approach to life and existence.
**Conclusion**: The exploration of nonduality, whether through transient experiences or enduring awakenings, offers a radical shift in understanding the nature of self and reality. These moments of insight and periods of transformation challenge our conventional perceptions and invite us to experience life beyond the limitations of duality. For those on a spiritual path, understanding and integrating these experiences can be a gateway to a more profound, interconnected existence.
Morgan O. Smith
Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!
A Contemplation on Enlightenment and Distractions Along the Path
In our intrinsic pursuit of enlightenment, myriad entities, experiences, and spiritual phenomena often unveil themselves, presenting a paradoxical tapestry where understanding and distraction intertwine. When such entities or guides emerge along our path, they necessitate neither fixation nor rejection. For if they come, let them come, and if they decide to part, let them go. They are merely visitors, not permanent dwellers in our spiritual quest.
The venerable aphorism, “If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him,” underscores the necessity of liberating ourselves from attachments and anticipated experiences in our spiritual pursuit. For, anything that becomes an object, a tangible or conceptual entity in our path, is not the ultimate truth. Therein, even the luminous light, an experience that many consider synonymous with spiritual ascension, is merely an objective reality, one that still exists within the domain of duality and separation.
The spiritual path unfurls itself as a journey where psychic powers, or Siddhis, may develop. If they do, they are not to be clung to. Enlightenment is neither a culmination nor an accumulation of powers or experiences, but a transcendence that paradoxically both surpasses yet includes all phenomena. It is an unceasing journey toward non-duality, where there is no seer, no seen, and no seeing – only a unified, unblemished consciousness that permeates all.
Phenomena, be they seemingly mundane or extraordinarily mystical, are to be acknowledged, witnessed, and permitted to drift away without attachment or aversion. They are waves on the surface of the ocean of consciousness, significant in their momentary existence, yet ultimately rejoining the vast, undulating expanse from whence they came.
Our ego becomes the most subtle, pervasive, and potentially pernicious impediment in this spiritual journey. It distorts, distracts, and sometimes destructs, coaxing us into traps that appear as enlightening experiences. The seductive allure of these experiences has ensnared many seekers, captivating them in a web that is woven from the threads of spiritual materialism.
The aspiration is not to annihilate the senses but to transcend and include them, to experience them in their fullest, most vibrant expressions, and yet remain unbound by them. It is to dive deep into the very essence of existence until all dichotomies, dualities, and senses converge into a singular, unified experience where distinctions cease, and all that remains is the unbounded, immeasurable expanse of Being.
Hence, the spiritual path might be perceived not as an endeavour of attaining or achieving, but as a continuous unfolding of letting go, a perpetual surrender. For in this surrender, we do not become devoid or nihilistic, but rather, we open ourselves to the entirety of existence, unshielded and unbounded.
All is a dream within the mind of God, and you, the dreamer, are no distinct from the dream you conjure, for at the ultimate level of who and what you are, is even beyond the luminous, beyond objectivity. To witness without becoming witnessed, to experience without becoming experienced – this is the path to enlightenment, where letting go is the ultimate embrace.
Morgan O. Smith
Yinnergy Meditation & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!
Morgan O. Smith 