We are not here to conform to mass consciousness. And we are not here to conform to collective spiritual ideas. We are here to be who we are. Free and awake.

The spiritual path is about realizing who we are and letting go of who we are not – our ego identities.

If we want to realize our true selves and live as who we are here on earth, it’s essential to remove our old conditioning: the ways we have been covering up who we are and conforming to ideas about ourselves and the world that come from the old state of consciousness.

But sometimes, we can become attached to the spiritual practices and teachings that help us do that, instead of going to the destination they are guiding us toward. So, instead of becoming free, we replace our old beliefs and perceptions with new ideas about ourselves and the world.

There is nothing wrong with seeing the world differently. We are awakening to a new reality, which becomes more apparent as we become aware of and let go of the old.

But it’s important that we don’t become attached to the teachings and concepts instead of allowing them to take us to the places we need to go internally (and in the external world) for true transformation to happen.

Otherwise, we remain in the conceptual reality instead of going beyond it.

We are meant to live what we have practiced

At a certain point in our journey, we are meant to live what we have practiced. And for that to be possible, we must be willing to let go of what blocks our direct experience of life, even the spiritual concepts. If we do, we can see what’s in front of us because we have removed our old filters that once covered up reality.

The teachings and practices are essential on most spiritual paths. But if we don’t let go when we are ready, they may even hold us back from realizing who we are rather than help us to that realization. Because when we become attached to an image of what awakening is, we may look past what doesn’t fit that image. 

So we may, unconsciously, put the nudges from our true selves aside because they differ from our spiritual beliefs, perceptions of reality, or ideas of what being awake is like.

We may also overlook truths that could free us because they are different from our spiritual views or perceptions of reality. So it’s essential to listen within and question even our spiritual beliefs.

The goal of the journey is to free ourselves from everything layered on top of who we are and the direct experience of life here and now. So that we can live and be who we are, in each moment, without labeling ourselves, situations, and others or adjusting to anything that doesn’t align with us here and now. 

Being awake means being who we are in all circumstances, everywhere, with all people.

That’s the awakened state of consciousness.