Expanding Consciousness

An interactive webinar with A.H. Almaas recorded April 6, 2018.

What does it mean to expand our horizons? Many spiritual paths interpret this as transcending our dualistic, egoic nature to reach an elevated dimension of nonduality. In our path, we believe this cuts off a whole, rich world of possibility. For we can expand horizons in any state just by going deeply into our experience and being willing to explore the unknown. In this free webinar, Almaas talks about the many ways we can be, and also the ways we can go beyond what we think we are. Scroll down to view the webinar.

Summary 

The first step in expanding our horizons, says Almaas, is to let go of the conviction that the way we experience ourselves and the world is the way it is and that it cannot change; or if it changes, it can only get better—we’ll be happier, richer, have better relationships, suffer less pain. This is the conventional view. But none of that is the point of what is called “the great work” of realization. 

Furthermore, we can expand the horizons of both our conventional dualistic view (actually experiencing a true spiritual heart full of radiance, joy, compassion, brilliant mind, peace and so on in that state), as well as our nondual experience. There is no need to drop the ego to expand our horizons within our dualistic experience. If we try to go directly to the nondual, we miss the possibilities inherent to an individual human life. The human being has miracles and wonders to reveal. Dualistic and nondual are simply two modes, or channels, of being.  

The key to expanding horizons is to open our hearts and to learn to be comfortable with the unknown. Most people don’t explore their experience deeply, do not ask: “What is this feeling?” “Why is it arising now?” “Why am I reactive in this moment?” “Who am I taking myself to be right now?” Only by being curious and exploring, by going through the conventional dualistic nature, can the light of understanding open up our sense of self and bring us into a nondual reality. 

You don’t need to leave the confines of your body, just your identification with it as the sum total of what you are. Even within our bodies we can experience ourselves as a field of love that fills the whole universe, or that is emerging out of the universe. We can also feel we are an ocean of clarity, silence, and emptiness. That is the nondual experience. 

Many people confuse the nondual with spirituality. But spirituality is both nondual (meaning beyond boundaries of any kind) and dual. You can be yourself, but you can also be a whole universe. We have the freedom to open up our experience in the world we live in, as well as in other worlds, with other ways of experiencing reality. The first step is deciding what horizons, exactly, we want to expand.