Welcome to Awake Yoga Meditation
Our Core Teachings
Welcome! We’re so glad you’re here. People visit us with a vast range of spiritual backgrounds and interests, so here is a simple and easy introduction to our core teachings.
Swami Nityananda, Spiritual Teacher at Awake Yoga Meditation
Awake Yoga Meditation is a spiritual community oriented around one central joyful exploration: What am I really? We feel and act like a separate somebody but is it true?
We have discovered that the exploration of our true identity can be done with great love and good humor! We draw on many traditions and teachers to guide us, including Vedanta, Buddhism, Zen, Taoism, and other non-duality teachings.
Our focus is on directly recognizing or being ourselves as we truly are rather than acquiring more concepts. To do this we must question all our assumptions and ideas around awakening and enlightenment. We explore without preconceived notions and expectations.
We don’t seek temporary spiritual experiences or states hoping they will lead to lasting happiness. All experiences and states come and go—all of them! Reality and our true nature, however, must be here now and always. Our true nature can’t arrive when we follow some path successfully and disappear when we’re eating donuts. Spirituality is exploring and noticing what does not come and go in the midst of all passing experience. Saint Francis offered a perfect clue to help all seekers: “What you are looking for is what’s looking!”
“What you are looking for is what’s looking!”
We don’t struggle to purify ourselves or to make ourselves spiritually worthy or deserving. And, as we meditate and focus on truth, our energy and awareness effortlessly transform and elevate, without strain. We don’t try to earn enlightenment based on ideas we learn. We also don’t try to behave or think in some way that we learned was “spiritual." Why would we need to struggle on a long journey to become worthy of what we are already?
Instead, we investigate the real nature of this “me" that is on an endless self-improvement program. Who is the “me” forever searching for worthiness, self-esteem, direction, purpose or just to feel better? And who is the already present wise, good humored, calm Self that smiles and looks on and shares kindness and inspiration always?
We don’t struggle to make the mind be still and obey. Rather than straining to control thoughts, we question our thoughts, and they release their grip on us.
As we meditate and step forward in helpfulness and hopefulness in our daily lives, along the way the mind effortlessly quiets, the nervous system harmonizes. Without forcing transformation, our natural awareness blooms and conditioned thinking falls away. We observe our patterns of thinking and behaving and discover what is beyond thought, mind, fear, depression, insecurity, and loneliness—the timeless mystery whose nature is silence, stillness, undisturbable peace, and boundless love.
Your true identity is the most beautiful discovery available right here and now!
