Who Would You Choose to Awaken You?

Who Would You Choose to Awaken You?

When I consider answering this question, I first confront the need to know the truth about my own sleep. Once I am convinced of that realization through self-study, then I would try to discover what keeps me asleep in order to diminish the psychological barriers to awakening.

In “The Psychology of Man’s Possible Evolution,” P.D. Ouspensky lists six primary obstacles to awakening: lying, imagination, the expression of negative emotions, unnecessary talk, identification, and considering. These obstacles are not measured against moral conduct of good and bad, but they are simply mechanical manifestations that reflect our state of sleep. I would like to briefly address lying and the role it plays in keeping people asleep.

It does not take much to keep man asleep, but it takes a lot to awaken him. Everyone appears in this life in a vessel that is asleep. But the vessel carries a third eye that can awaken.— The Teacher

Ouspensky describes a special meaning to the kind of lying he is concerned about. “It means speaking about things one does not know, and even cannot know, as though one knows and can know.” A significant sleep-inducing aspect to lying is the mechanical habit of lying to oneself. I express things to myself more than I speak to others. It matters what is being kicked around in the privacy of my psychological room – the mind – and my actions are determined by the voice I listen to. If I have lied to myself that I am already awake, why would I look for any evidence that I am asleep or look for help to awaken?

There is nothing easier than self-delusion. Since what man desires, is the first thing he believes. — Demosthenes

I often lie to myself to avoid the suffering I would feel if the truth of my actions were known. Vanity or ego prevents me from seeing the negativity I expressed at the car in the next lane of traffic, being convinced that my negativity is fully justified because of their inattentive driving and not because of my inability to not express negativity. Then later when my driving is inattentive, I excuse myself. I am lying to myself; I am negative.

In conversations, I pretend to have listened to someone, when in fact my inner conversation – imagination – was so loud that I did not hear anything they said. All the while I nodded my head as though I was intently interested in what they had to say. I am lying to myself; I am not listening.

I lie to myself about the value of daily physical exercise when I have not exercised in many days. Or when I am obsessed with healthy living, I do not see it as an identification. Unnecessary talk is in full bloom in the office break room after a contentious staff meeting. Considering – which is a preoccupation with what others think of me – is predicated on the lie that I can know the thoughts of others. I am lying to myself; I am identified, I am talking unnecessarily and inner considering.

This is a strange repose, to be asleep/With eyes wide open—standing, speaking, moving—And yet so fast asleep.— Shakespeare

So, dear reader, if you have seen these mechanical manifestations in yourself, congratulations! You are already more awake than many people. I hope you will participate in the following light-hearted poll as I wave my magic wand:

If you could study with a Teacher, Master or Guru from the chronicles of history – anywhere from the distant past to the present – to guide you out of sleep into awakening, who would be your first, second and third choices? Please write your choice in the comments below.

Join the discussion

Sample of Teachers, Masters and Gurus Past and Present