Normally, when we speak of consciousness, we are referring to particular states of awareness—being aware of something or not being aware of something. Here I am pointing to the awareness itself. Because our energy and thoughts are all based on states of individual consciousness, the truth of pure consciousness, what is always here, is overlooked again and again.

For instance, when we experience focused attention, we usually consider that as “being aware.” When attention is unfocused, we usually consider that as “not being aware.” But pure awareness is fully present in both states, focused and unfocused. In one state, we experience clarity and presence with focused objective attention. When unfocused, we may experience no sense of time, no thought, no attention on an object. If we stop valuing one experience over the other, then we can easily see that the awareness itself, consciousness itself, is continuously present. Awareness itself is unchanged by any mental, emotional, or physical state occurring within it.

This is a radical invitation: do not try to reach any state of awareness, whether focused or diffused, and do not try to keep any state away. Rather, recognize what is always present. The wonderful result of this recognition is that objective states become clearer, subjective states become softer, and peace is found in all states.

While it is useful to develop your mind, your body, and your work, attempting to develop consciousness is a huge mistake. If your attention is on “developing” rather than on recognizing what is always and already here, you go in a circle, chasing your tail and searching, searching, searching.