Out from Under the Shadow: How Expanded Awareness Brings Direct Perception of Oneself

“The work to be present is in the direction of consciousness, that is a special kind of perception independent of the activity of the intellectual mind, of perception of oneself, who one is, where one is, and then what one knows and does not know. In the moment of consciousness, there is the immediate impression of a direct perception. This is quite different from what we usually call "consciousness" which operates more like a reflection faithfully accompanying what I experience, and representing it in my mind. When this consciousness reflects the fact that I think or feel something, this is the second action that, like a shadow, follows the first. Without the shadow, I am unconscious of and ignore the original thought or feeling.” —Jeanne de Salzmann, from The Reality of Being

To be able to take in direct perception, we must be out from under the shadow of our mind’s interpretation. We must learn what presence is and how it can take in an original thought or feeling objectively. This is why it’s necessary to develop expanded awareness, a state which takes in immediate impressions unspoiled by memory and the prejudice of our conditioning.

Expanded awareness brings presence which allows us to see without attachment.

Studying the Fourth Way methods opened my eyes to this way of mindfulness, whose roots are found in several ancient traditions. It opened a world in which the practice of expanded awareness led me to incredible levels of presence, self-observation, and self-acceptance. Expanded awareness is a rich state and a crucial component of transformation. It allowed me to experience myself as unified in body, heart, and mind. From that perspective, everything changed. In these moments, I could see what I previously could not see about myself. 

There was nothing to change and everything to see and accept.

I was taught that sensation was the first tool of awareness to master. It was not just so I could be in my body (although that is what it did), but it was to learn to divide my attention. It was not just for getting grounded (although that is what it did), but to experience what was me and what was not me. It was not just to take me out of my thinking (although that is just what it did), but to integrate the three centers—moving, feeling, and thinking—as a unified field from which to observe myself.

It is rarely taught in this way, but there are clues for us in various spiritual practices.

The Buddha introduced the importance of presence attained through sensation of the body. Sensation was a means to awaken and self-remember. The practice of presence and mindfulness is self-remembering. Self-remembering is an awareness that one is aware of oneself, and without the body present, it is merely the mind evaluating self.

“There is one thing that, when cultivated and regularly practiced, leads to deep spiritual intention, to peace, to mindfulness and clear comprehension, to vision and knowledge, to a happy life here and now, and to the culmination of wisdom and awakening. And what is that one thing? It is mindfulness centered on the body.”  —The Buddha, from the Satipatthana Sutra

From there, with sensation of body and mental attention, we bring two centers in right relation and practice this as a means toward a full-bodied presence experienced as expanded awareness. In the Fourth Way, it is often said when two centers gang up, it brings forth the third. Our three centers, body, mind and feeling, all under the purview of our attention brings about expanded awareness.

Our attention is key and must be developed to hold itself on multiple experiences simultaneously. We have input coming from the body, the feelings, and the mind. So if we can abide in that input before the mind or emotions attach meaning, we are able to take in an impression that is pure and free from attachment. This is what leads to observing ourselves outside of an incessant tendency to identify and relate it back to self.

We are out from under the shadow which Mme. de Salzmann refers to in the above quote.

These kinds of impressions feed a higher consciousness, and the more of them that we take in, the more we have. We start to access a higher grade of energy that leads to the ability to be free from attachment and identification.

The Essene Desert Mothers and Fathers were some of the first practitioners of this method of expanded awareness. They left us powerful spiritual tools of presence practiced out in everyday life as if life itself were a prayer. New translations of the Essene documents from the Dead Sea caves provide insight into their strong connection to the body which they believed to be a convergence point through which forces of creation join to express the Will of God.

The coming together of body, heart, and mind was a means of spirit to enter matter.

From a fragment, it is written, “we have inherited a holy land… this land is not a field to be plowed, but a place within us where we may build our holy temple.” Just like their actual temples and those of ancient Egypt, there was an innermost sanctum—the holy of holies—known as the beth elohim, where the spirit could enter matter. 

“Only through the communions… we learn to see the unseen, to hear that which cannot be heard, and to speak the unspoken word.”—The Essene Gospel of Peace, Book Two

It is through these “communions” of the body, heart and mind that a vehicle for the sacred presence is discovered. We become vehicles for heaven on earth. Our ability to step outside of attachments through this practice gives us access to higher worlds and paves the way for us to be co-creators of our world. We become conduits of God.

From the Essenes, we learn the Great Commandment; a lost code for merging the elements of presence as focused union: “Thou shalt love thy God with all thy heart, with all the soul, with all thy mind, with all thy strength.” We find the creative principle of life through the union of body, heart and mind. Through the presence of expanded perception, we determine our ability to choose the quality of our experience—one in which peace abides. 

“ Know this peace with thy mind, desire this peace with thy heart, fulfill this peace with thy body.” —The Essene Gospel of Peace, Book Two, 66-68