In the depths of silence, beyond the thinking mind, lies a pristine awareness—your True Self. This isn’t a self in the way we usually define it, bound by identity, memories, or roles. It is the empty, cognizant awareness that Dzogchen and Advaita teach—the eternal presence we already are. To shift from the restless mind to this space of timeless awareness is the most transformative journey you can make, as it allows you to rediscover the essence of who you have always been.
Rupert Spira beautifully captures this truth: “You are the open, empty, allowing presence of awareness in which all experience arises.” It’s a powerful reminder that beneath the layers of thoughts and feelings, the core of your being remains untouched, pure, and vast. Recognizing this allows you to perceive life not from the turbulence of the mind, but from the peaceful ground of awareness.
Why the Shift Matters
Most of us spend our lives identified with the ego—the shifting collection of thoughts, emotions, and self-concepts. But these are fleeting; they come and go, while the True Self remains constant. Eckhart Tolle speaks to this point: “You are the universe expressing itself as a human for a little while.” When you align with this deeper reality, life no longer feels fragmented. The struggles, anxieties, and fears lose their grip because they are seen for what they truly are: temporary clouds passing through the sky of your awareness.
The shift to the True Self isn’t a movement to something new, but a recognition of what has always been. As Mooji says, “You are the unchanging awareness in which everything comes and goes.” This realization changes how you engage with the world. Instead of reacting to every thought and emotion, you respond from a place of calm and clarity.
How the Shift Happens
Shifting to the True Self often happens gradually, through moments of grace or deep reflection. One way to begin is by observing the nature of your thoughts. Notice how they rise and fall, and realize you are the space in which they appear, not the thoughts themselves. This simple awareness begins to dissolve the identification with the mind and allows you to rest in the spaciousness that you are.
As Dzogchen teachings suggest, the mind is like the sky—naturally clear and empty. When we no longer cling to the clouds of thought, we rediscover the infinite expanse of our own consciousness. “Stop looking for the mind,” says Dzogchen master Longchenpa, “and rest in awareness itself.”
This shift is not something to strain for. It’s not a goal to achieve but an effortless falling back into what has always been present. As Rupert Spira explains, “Happiness is simply to know yourself as you are—the openness in which everything happens.”
A Daily Practice to Support the Shift
To nurture this awareness, make it a daily practice to sit in stillness. Begin by focusing on the breath, allowing each inhale and exhale to gently draw you inward. Then, let go of even that focus, resting as the awareness in which the breath occurs. This practice isn’t about stopping thoughts but about recognizing the space in which thoughts come and go.
Mooji advises: “Be as you are, in quietude. Simply stay as awareness itself, and let all movements take place within you.” This daily practice cultivates a deep familiarity with the awareness that is already here.
Additionally, take moments throughout the day to pause and simply notice what is present. Whether in the midst of work, walking in nature, or even during a conversation—ask yourself, “Who is the one experiencing this?” You’ll begin to see that everything happens in the same open field of consciousness.
Conclusion: Living from the True Self
As you deepen into the recognition of the True Self, life transforms. Problems and challenges are no longer seen as personal threats but as passing phenomena. Your actions become rooted in a deeper wisdom and compassion that arise naturally from the heart of awareness.
Eckhart Tolle reminds us: “The ultimate truth of who you are is not I am this or I am that, but I am.” This simple yet profound realization can bring immense freedom. By resting as the empty cognizant awareness that you already are, you live in harmony with the flow of life, no longer bound by the illusion of separateness.
In this stillness, you find your true home.
Steven Lane is a spiritual mentor with a 40-year spiritual journey including 7 years as a Buddhist monk. He helps people to integrate their lives into a spiritual path.
