For any spiritual seeker, self-liberation is a foundational practice.
But, what, exactly, is self-liberation? What does it mean to be free from the trappings of the world, and free from your perceived self? In this post we’ll take a look at some of the foundations of personal freedom, and how you can attain them.
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What Is Self-Liberation?
When pondering self-liberation, it is easy to become confused before you even begin. Are we talking about liberating a particular form of 'self' or freedom FROM the self?
It is a great question for contemplation as the goal in my quest is enlightenment, and consequently we often do not think it's feasible or realistic or not understandable.
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The truth is, there are many ways to be spiritual in the modern world, and self-liberation is one path. While it is not synonymous with enlightenment, it shares many of the same core principles.
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Understanding “I am.”
The 1st, and one of the most foundational,
ideas behind self-liberation is a proper
understanding of the word "I" vs "I AM..."
what are you inferring has manifested?
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The point is... You exist.
YOU ARE YOU
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Adding anything after AM is manifesting something, you just are so why not just love it?
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The very fact that you are reading this is evidence of your existence. An appreciation of the present moment is a form of life-mastery and the foundation of (I) self-liberation.
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Certainly, the circumstances of how you exist change and we can learn how to evolve our 'ways' into 'Ultra-Being' present and become excellent examples of enlightenment.
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This expression by excellent example demonstrates for others a path towards this ideal.
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Understanding this point has tremendous potential for self-liberation. It moves you from thinking of yourself in egoistical terms, and moves you into a higher loving perspective.
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In short: you shift from thinking. “I am [name/thing].” to NO thought, just the observer “I" no longer "I am.” In perfection "I" exists independent of having to be named.
"I" awareness is broader, more encompassing, and more accurate. It is your innate essence, because it exists beyond the physical plane, and identifies your core energy as Ultra-Beingness, or Is-ness. One becomes more attuned to source and no longer is controlled by one's 'stinking thinking' or lesser habits that cause DIS harmony and vile.
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Freedom from Duality
Another aspect of self-liberation is to gain freedom from duality.
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In many regards, healing division is also constrained by the ego and the physical world. The physical world is a dualistic system. There is up and down, here and there, cold and warm, lack and abundance, yin/yang and love and fear.
Each of these ideas is like a two-sided coin. So long as you remain focused on one side of the coin, you cannot realize the other side, nor can you see the entire coin as a single thing. We become more 'whole brained' in our processing of information and realizing.
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Moving beyond dualism is a move beyond physical perception, to begin to see the unity, the wholeness that is present in all things. You can appreciate that light exists because we also have darkness, so each is embedded within the idea of the other.
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Buddhism discusses this concept through the use of the four worldly dharmas, which are 4 pairs of ideas that cause suffering, for example, the idea of pleasure versus pain. The ability to recognize the existence of one element implies the existence of the other.
Thus, the goal is never to get your circumstances to look a certain way, or to achieve anything on the physical plane, but rather to get to the point at which you can conceptually move beyond the idea, so you are not constrained by it.
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Becoming Present In the Here & Now
Whether you are just starting your spiritual journey, or have been practicing mindfulness and meditation for years, the foundation of self-liberation rests in the present moment.
In order to accept this, you must learn to release all notions of past and future, in order to rest more firmly in 'present' moment and here dwells mastery. Where else is it?
This eternal Now is the true essence of your existence, and brings with it an ineffable state of joy, peace, and love. Liberation is the act of becoming one with the 'current' moment. It is a practice to stay present and the more pristine we become we evolve us.
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When you are "mindful", when you sit to contemplate, 'attuning to source' allows one to reduce unnecessary thoughts and find inner peace, you empower yourself to experience the wonder and bliss of your own presence - this is self-liberation.
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Just as with the understanding of “I am” mentioned above, this act will allow you to experience more directly your own Being-ness.
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This is the foundation of Ultra-Being present and the opportunity for us to come together in community and bring forth a vital Self-Liberation movement for all.