Further thoughts on being conscious

One of the problems we encounter as we begin to become conscious is that, far from experiencing the permanent inner peace promised us by many New Age organisations, Eastern and Western spiritual teachers and counsellors and therapists, we begin to experience both joy and sorrow, inner calm and inner turmoil, moments of tranquility mixed with those of anger and even rage. "If you're not outraged you're not concerned" someone recently said to me. There are many, many things in our world that are out of balance, or are inhuman and/or destructive. I don't think I need to spell them out. In addition to the obvious destruction we see on our TV sets on a daily basis, however, there are many things we all experience in our daily lives that can also leave us feeling disappointed or even despairing. These range from things that happen within our families, with our parents, partners or children, for example to events and actions we observe or experience on the streets, in shopping centres and on public transport, not to mention the preschools and schools our children attend.

Over the past twenty odd years I have been stunned both by the miracles I've witnessed on weekend workshops and longer experiential courses and seminars of various sorts and by how quickly they are able to be reversed. This is as true for my own experience as it is, so far as my observations are accurate at least, in the case of others. The transformations were, in many - possibly most - cases genuine, with people letting go of past wounds, self-defeating protective strategies ("defence mechanisms") and unconsciousness and choosing more empowering ways of expressing themselves, connecting to their passion and regaining their childlike spontaneity and aliveness. I have seen the masks melt away and dishonest communication give way to honesty, genuineness and authenticity. I have experienced not merely closeness but real intimacy with people who had previously been total strangers. At times, this experience felt like the "egoless" state described by mystics, sages and gurus. Yet, for the most part, "normalcy" soon returns. Transformation, it seems, is relatively easy. Holding on to it is not. In the so-called real world, the one which we all inhabit and in which, amongst other things, we must make our living, remaining conscious is virtually impossible. To be continued.