The Ground Beneath the Grass: Returning to What You Truly Are
In the constant hum of modern life, we are endlessly drawn to form—our bodies, our relationships, our possessions, our thoughts. Society trains us to live from the surface, where we define ourselves by the visible and the measurable. Yet beneath all this—beneath the “grass” of identity and preference—lies something still, eternal, and untouched. This is the Ground of Being.
The text reminds us that Source has no form. What we call “me” is often just a patch of overgrown grass — made up of thoughts like I am this body, I am this story, I am what I own. But in truth, all these are just coverings. They hide the pure, naked awareness that was present before any thought of “I” arose.
The journey of spiritual awakening, then, is like mowing the lawn. It is not about becoming something new, but uncovering what was always there—the simple, shining presence of consciousness itself.
The Practice of Letting Go
For a few moments, imagine forgetting everything you know—your job, your history, your relationships, your beliefs. What remains when memory fades?
At first, this can feel uncomfortable or even frightening because the mind depends on form to feel secure. But if you stay with the silence, you’ll notice something subtle yet profound—a living sense of “I am.” Not “I am this or that,” but simply I exist.
This awareness has no edge or definition. It is the same consciousness that looked out from your eyes when you were five years old, and it’s the same one reading these words now. It has never changed. The body, emotions, and thoughts have come and gone like seasons, but awareness has remained steady—formless, eternal, untouched.
When you rest in this awareness, even for two to five seconds, you touch the Ground of Being. The more often you return, the clearer it becomes. Eventually, the pull of form loses its grip, and what once felt “boring” reveals itself as infinite peace.
Awareness Aware of Itself
The practice is simple: stop.
For a few breaths, give up all effort to think, do, or become anything. Just be.
Notice what is left when thought stops—the quiet aliveness, the lucid space in which everything appears. That awareness is what you truly are. When awareness becomes aware of itself, the illusion of separation dissolves. This is the moment of self-realization—the silent knowing that “I am that I am.”
This simple awareness is the doorway to the Kingdom of Heaven, not as a place far away, but as a direct experience within. The gates do not open to a select few; they open to anyone who is willing to turn inward and recognize the formless as themselves.
A Living Presence That Never Changes
Through every success and failure, joy and sorrow, something in you has remained unchanged. That constant is not the mind or the body—it is consciousness itself. When you identify with that eternal presence rather than the shifting forms of the world, you begin to live in freedom.
As the text says beautifully: “Focus on I am. I exist. Because that, my friends, has never changed.”
When you rediscover this ground, life’s surface no longer controls you. The grass can grow, fade, or change shape, but you remain the same—open, aware, infinite.
Quote
“When the mind rests in its source, the world is seen as it truly is—divine and whole.”
— Tara Luminous
Spiritual Reference
“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10
This timeless instruction echoes the same teaching: stillness reveals the divine presence that has always been here.
Summary
- The “Ground of Being” is Your True Self: Our busy minds and daily distractions are like grass covering the solid ground of who we really are. This “ground” is our eternal, unchanging self, separate from our body, thoughts, and feelings.
- The Goal is to “Mow the Lawn”: The path to self-discovery is about clearing away the clutter of our everyday identities, desires, and mental noise to reveal the pure, naked state of our true being.
- “I AM” is the Core of Your Existence: When we let go of our thoughts, even for a moment, we can connect with a subtle, yet powerful, feeling of simply “I exist.” This is the direct awareness of our own existence—a formless, unchanging presence.
- Practice Is Key: This practice of turning inward may seem boring at first, but with time and devotion, it deepens and opens the door to a profound, direct connection with the divine, a state of “heaven” that resides within you.