The Fifth Way of Surrendering into Presence-Awareness
by Hale Dwoskin Secret Teacher and Author of The Sedona Method
Part of the power of The Sedona Method is that it is natural, based on what happens in us when we live life without resistance and self-obstruction as the presence awareness that we are. Because of this, I spend a good part of my time studying what is here and now in order to unlock new ways to help us all more easily recognize and rest as the truth of who we are.
The Method is based on the premise that feelings are just feelings. They are not facts and they are not you, and you can let them go. On our retreats, we also spend time working to help each other remember that what we think we are is not us. In other words, “I” and “me” are just thoughts. They are not who we are. When that is recognized, it has a profound influence on the way life is experienced. It is very hard to take our supposed problems seriously or to cling to them when we realize that they are not, and, in fact, nothing is, actually personal.
Recognizing What You Are Not
Many times on retreats, when someone is looking to discover who he or she is or he or she is lost in “their” story—the false reference point of me—I have asked, “In this moment, if you do not go into memory, can you actually find this ‘me’ that you are talking about?”
I have yet to have anyone find a “me” in this moment. For most people, this brings their minds to a complete stop, and they are left resting as the presence that they have always been. Many people, rather than allow themselves to remain at rest, re-identify with the false reference point of “me” after some time of enjoying this rest. Most also find that the sense of ease and rest never fully leaves, even when it appears that presence is being obstructed by the re-emergence of this false reference point of “me.”
Either way, when you examine the truth of who you are in this way, know that what you are never comes or goes, and what does come and go cannot be who you are by its very nature. If the false reference point does reappear, this does not mean that you have missed something; it only means the habit has not completely dropped away. You can always continue to remind yourself of what is actually here now or use any of the other tools that we call The Sedona Method.
In my experience, the presence-that-you-are is always here and now, and has always been. This presence is the background on or in which all experiencing appears.
Presence can also be called knowingness because it is the “cognizing” emptiness that allows for all experiencing. This knowingness that we are is closely associated with thinking. Thinking, when colored by the belief in the false reference point of “me” is limited, but as that dissolves, what is revealed is the direct knowingness that is always here and now. Thinking also gets quieter and more aligned with our natural knowingness. This shines through the mind as clear reason and intuitive knowing and infuses the body with a sense of energy and aliveness.
From time to time I add, “If there is no ‘me’ in this moment, is it possible that there has never been one?” And “What is here now?”
Here is how you can explore this in relationship to your feelings and problems.
When you are lost in a feeling or a story from the past or you simply would like to see through the illusion of “me,” ask yourself: Whose feeling, thought, or story is this?
If you are identified with the false center, the answer will be “mine.” If you are not identified with the false sense of “me,” which may happen at any time, there may be an experience of no one and no thing taking delivery or claiming ownership of what is being experienced. If this happens, just rest as that and know that no further questioning is required.
If the answer is “mine,” then ask: In this moment, if you do not go into memory, can you actually find this “me”?
You can also follow it up with, If there is no me in this moment, is it possible that there has never been one?
Allow Yourself to Also Notice What Is Here Now.
You can ask yourself: What is actually here now? Keep asking this simple question until you notice that all mind-generated answers dissolve. Then check to see if it is possible that the Beingness or presence of knowingness that is more obvious in this moment has always been here. In my experience, what we are is always present, but sometimes ignored.
You can also ask yourself Are You? And simply rest as the answer to that simple question. Then ask yourself Could you allow that to be enough? Keep asking these questions until you find that the mind no longer feels the need to answer and you are at rest as that which you are.
Allow this to happen naturally without forcing, and do this from your direct experience as opposed to from memory or what you think should be experienced. Also, know that this is really not a technique, but a direct looking through the illusion of separation to the ever present presence that is shining as the love and beauty that you are.
The bottom line is that when you look with an open mind and heart into what is actually being experienced here and now, two things become obvious: First, that the separate “me” with its story of suffering isn’t, and what is here is simply the Beingness—presence – awareness—the knowing emptiness that allows for all experiencing.
This is like cutting the head off your problem; and if you do this with an open mind and heart as best you can, you will find that it not only causes your suffering of the moment to release, but will cause huge chunks, if not all, of your attachment to suffering to dissolve as well.
To explore The Sedona Method further either order your Free DVD and CD and/or order the full Sedona Method Audio Program. If you are already working with The Sedona Method or you simply want to start with the fast track to living presence listen to The Inner Circle or Join us on one of our Retreats. | 
