| Authenticity of Being | |
| In recent years the self-development movement has made much of authenticity. What does it really mean to be authentic? One could say it means ‘being real’ or genuine. Of course this in turn beckons an investigation into what is real? Here we arrive at the fundamental consideration of human existence. The individual unconsciously carries countless identifications, such as a name, family positions, social status and work role, not to mention ideas one has about oneself such as being kind hearted, patient, useless, unworthy, right or wrong etc. Are any of these real? In a relative sense perhaps, but ultimately? This is what an individual comes to an Enlightenment Intensive to find out for themselves. When all the lables given by oneself and others fall away, what remains unchanged? | |
| There are different levels of authenticity, the most surface perhaps being honest with what is currently being experienced, and sharing this in a truthful way. In an Intensive environment this is an important factor as the main purpose of having a listening partner is for the contemplator to have someone immediately available to receive communication of their current experience. Having had the communication received and heard, the contemplator’s mind empties out, allowing the contemplator to drop deeper into their Being. | |
| It is from this space that the deeper levels of authenticity are discovered and revealed. Ultimately there can be a confession of ones true state. This is a revelation of Being that occurs in a moment of naturalness, emerging unscathed with perfect clarity from the lifelong chrysalis of errenous identification. The unified Being is directly experienced, seen and heard in its pristine authenticity. | |
| The individual is encouraged by the natural flow of the process to be themselves with absence of effort. This means allowing things to be the way they are without trying to change them. It means being open to whatever that may be, regardless of whether it is comfortable or not. One simply begins where they are, without aspiring toward anything else such as an idea that the mind has about what the individual should be. Whilst initially the individual is mostly constrained by their beliefs, the process invites the participant to put down all beliefs and be present with what actually Is. Ultimately this demonstrates an absolute allowance of the way things are, and contrary to the old saying ‘nothing to lose, everything to gain’, Self-Realisation confirms there is nothing to gain, only ideas and identifications to lose. One is already always perfectly whole and complete as themselves in the Here Now, there is nothing that can be added to this. | |