How to Settle Your Awareness: Discovering Inner Peace and Clarity
Have you ever noticed how your mind is always busy, jumping from one thought to another? Often, we believe we are our thoughts, feelings, or even the sensations in our bodies. But what if there is something deeper, something subtler, something beyond these constant experiences? This deeper reality is what spiritual teachers refer to as “settled awareness.”
When we say “settle awareness,” we’re talking about discovering that pure space inside you that isn’t limited by your body, your thoughts, or even your emotions. It’s a state of simply being aware, without being attached to anything specific. Let’s explore this concept together in a simple and clear way.
Think about how you usually feel. There’s often a subtle tension, an underlying feeling of being “located” somewhere—in your body, your mind, or your emotional state. Maybe you feel it in your chest, head, or stomach. This sense of being “somewhere” or “someone” creates stress. Why? Because you’re identifying yourself with temporary things—things that constantly change.
Now, imagine if you could step back from all these identifications. Instead of feeling stuck inside thoughts, feelings, or physical sensations, imagine stepping back and observing them from a distance. Every time you do this, your awareness becomes clearer and lighter. You realize you aren’t these experiences—you are something far more profound.
This practice of settling awareness involves gently releasing each layer of identification. Each time you notice a thought, a sensation, or an emotion, remind yourself, “I’m aware of this, but I’m not this.” Each release brings you closer to pure consciousness, a peaceful state beyond description.
As you go deeper into settled awareness, you might start experiencing a feeling of spaciousness, openness, and freedom. At first, it might feel like hitting a boundary—like you’re reaching the edge of a container. Eventually, though, you’ll discover there’s no limit. You become aware of an expansive, spacious state. You begin to experience yourself as awareness itself—limitless and free.
Yet even here, there’s more. If you observe closely, you notice you’re still aware of awareness. You’re still witnessing something—even if it’s subtle. The final step in settling awareness is letting go of even this subtle witnessing. Here you disengage completely from the root cause of all illusions: the sense of separation.
This ultimate subtlety—beyond all forms, thoughts, and even awareness—is indescribable. It’s beyond concepts and words, and you can’t really talk about it easily. But you can feel it, intuitively. It’s a pure knowing, beyond words, forms, space, and time.
Why is settling your awareness beneficial? Because it frees you from stress, worry, and constant mental chatter. When you settle into pure awareness, life feels simpler. Problems don’t seem as overwhelming because you aren’t so deeply identified with them. You become calmer, clearer, and more peaceful. This inner peace then flows into your daily life, improving your relationships, decisions, and happiness.
So how can you practice settling awareness? Begin by taking a deep breath. Notice your thoughts or sensations. Don’t judge or resist—simply notice and gently let go. Drop deeper, subtler, until you sense only pure, peaceful awareness. It takes practice, but it’s worth every moment.
As you master this practice, you discover a profound truth: you’ve always been this peaceful awareness. It was never far away, never out of reach—just waiting to be recognized beneath all the noise.
Quote:
“Awareness is the space in which all experiences arise and fade, yet itself remains untouched, pure, and free.” — Spiritual Wisdom
Deeper with Bentinho: Exploring Awareness and Unity
Have you ever felt like you’re just a point in space, with thoughts and tasks buzzing around you like bees? That’s where many of us start our journey, identified with our bodies, minds, or even deeper aspects of ourselves. But there’s more to us than meets the eye.
Bentinho guides us through this journey. Imagine peeling an onion. At each layer, you find another version of yourself — subtler, less tangible. We often cling to these layers, thinking they define us. But as we breathe deeply and let go, we begin to sense a purer form of consciousness.
This consciousness is hard to describe. It’s beyond time, space, and form. It’s like a vast, blue sky — clear, pristine, and boundless. As we shed our layers, this awareness becomes more evident, more direct. It’s a process Ben calls “purification” or “subtification,” where we become more subtle, more attuned to the essence of our being.
But here’s where it gets interesting. As we delve deeper, we hit a point of Oneness. It’s like reaching the bottom of a lake. You’re no longer just a drop; you’re the entire body of water. This Oneness isn’t about experiencing everything in the universe. It’s a direct, intuitive feeling of being — pure, undisturbed awareness.
Yet, even in this state of Oneness, there’s a distinction. We’re observing this pure awareness, which means we’re still separate from it. This is where the final leap occurs — letting go of even this purest form of consciousness. What remains is indescribable: not nothing, not everything, but beyond all concepts.
Ben’s teachings echo the essence of spiritual wisdom across cultures. For instance, the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” This verse resonates with the idea of moving beyond limited perception to a fuller understanding of our true nature.
Summary Points:
- Awareness beyond the mind: We often identify with our thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations, creating a sense of separation. True peace lies in recognizing the pure awareness that exists beyond these identifications.
- The “I am” assumption: Subtle, subconscious assumptions about who we are create tension and limit our experience of true awareness.
- Separation for unity: By consciously separating ourselves from perceptions, beliefs, and sensations, we can experience a deeper sense of oneness.
- Subtlety and purification: Progressively letting go of identifications leads to a more subtle and pure experience of awareness.
- Oneness and beyond: The experience of oneness is a significant milestone, but even that can be transcended to reach a state of awareness prior to all experience.
- Surrender and knowingness: True awareness is accessed through surrender and a direct, intuitive knowingness that transcends conventional reality.
- Primordial purity: This state of pure awareness is not something to be achieved, but rather something to be recognized as our inherent nature.
Actions:
- Notice your “I am” assumptions: Pay attention to the subtle, background thoughts and feelings that define your sense of self.
- Practice conscious separation: Regularly take moments to mentally separate yourself from your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations. Say to yourself, “I am not this thought,” “I am not this feeling.”
- Deepen your awareness through breath: Use deep, mindful breathing to bring your attention to the present moment and create space between you and your thoughts.
- Explore meditation: Engage in meditation practices that focus on observing thoughts without judgment, and on cultivating a sense of spaciousness.
- Cultivate surrender: Practice letting go of the need to control your thoughts and experiences. Allow yourself to be present with whatever arises.
- Seek stillness: Create moments of quiet and solitude to connect with the deeper sense of awareness within.
- Reflect on your experiences: After practicing these techniques, take time to reflect on your experiences and notice any shifts in your awareness.
- Know that this is a process: Realize that this is a journey, and that it takes time, patience and dedication.