"So at some point, we see that spiritual practice is a matter of learning reality, learning to recognize realness, learning to be real, and learning to be ourselves in our realness. And we see that we are only interested in learning these things if we have the appreciation and love of being real. We have to love being genuine to go through the trouble and the discipline of inner work. It is because we are being authentic, because we are approaching reality, because we are being touched by reality, that we love it and are willing to go through the various processes of acknowledging and seeing the truth—whether painful or scary or pleasurable. Our first step is to recognize the love and appreciation in us that draws us to reality. Regardless of what motivation we start with for doing inner work, our love of reality at some point reveals itself if we are sincere. We recognize that we just like being near reality, we love being comfortable with it and having no conflicts about it, and we like being as intimate with it as possible. We want to become so intimate that we simply are what is real . . . and that is what we love." - A. H. Almaas, The Unfolding Now: Realizing Your True Nature through the Practice of Presence
Exploration Session: Your Relationship to Being Real
This exploration will help you clarify your own relationship to reality and realness and how it affects your life and your spiritual journey.
When have you felt most real in your life and how did you recognize it? Think of a situation in which you felt you were truly being yourself, perhaps when it was a real challenge to do so. What responses did you notice in your mind? In your heart? In your body? Contrast this with another incident when you felt distant from your own realness or authenticity. What did you experience then? Do you believe it is a good or moral thing to be real? Is being real part of your spiritual ideal? Does the desire to be real play a part in your interest in this book? Is realness something you want more of in your life? If so, why? What would you give up in order to be more real? Do you feel compelled toward being authentically yourself? Do you love it? If so, has the love of realness motivated your choices or led you to practice in certain ways in your life?