Reflexive Self-consciousness - Eugene Halliday

Here is the exercise:

When one is looking at some thing, or considering an idea or experience, a feeling or emotion, or performing any action, one must say to oneself:

"It is the Self which is consciousness itself which is looking at this thing (or considering this idea, etc.)

This Self I am. I return to the Self."

On saying, "It is the Self which is consciousness itself", one must make oneself aware that the Self is consciousness itself, awareness, sentience.

When saying, "looking at this thing", one must make oneself aware of a directional flow of attention from the consciousness to the thing.

On saying, "This Self I am: I return to the Self" one must focus oneself again on the consciousness and again become aware of a directional flow of attention but now from the thing back to the consciousness-self.

THIS BACK-FLOW OF CONSCIOUSNESS TO THE SELF IS WHAT WE MEAN BY REFLEXIVE SELF–CONSCIOUSNESS.

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Yoga aims at the freeing of the individual from the determination of ideas, feelings (liking and disliking) and actions. Consciousness undetermined by any of these three is free; in this state it can become aware of itself as pure consciousness,

Pure consciousness untouched by any modifications and aware only of itself always responds adequately in every situation.

If you are thinking of anything with dependence upon it, there is a motive of curiosity, or pleasure, or success, and although the thinking will help towards the satisfaction, you will still be in bondage.

To become reflexively self‑conscious is to become freed from the tyranny of material activity. It is to rise above the level of conditioned reflexes, above the level of emotional blockages in repressed complexes. It is to become liberated from the mechanics of serial ideation processes. It is to become truly oneself and at one in intent and essence with the Self of all selves.

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Reflexive Self-consciousness is the final stage in Yoga and in every meditational procedure. For a more complete rationale of the process of Samadhic Contemplation, see the essay Reflexive Self-consciousness by Eugene Halliday.

Eugene Halliday's teachings offer a modern updated interpretation and application of the original teachings of Yoga; what Yoga leads to in the aspirations of embodying human and divine values.

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