WHAT IS commonly called the higher Self refers to pure consciousness or awareness which is silent. It is not silent in the sense of how an object or voice is silent. It is the silent dimension of the presence of conscious awareness. This presence comprises more than the absence of sound. It is being. But the mind cannot register what being is. It needs a conceptual reference, so it calls it silence.

If I am being aware of my body and mind, is this self- realization?

It is really self-observation, meaning that you are aware of the body and mind. But this is how self-realization starts. Usually the mind becomes aware of the body and views it as ‘my’ body. Then there is a recognition in the mind of thoughts passing through it, but there is not a distinction between thoughts and the sense of ‘I’ observing them. There is not enough space between them yet. Awareness may go on, however, to become aware of seeing the body, the mind, and the sense of ‘I, and from there recognize that it is beyond all of them. This recognition is the true beginning of self-realization.

from The Silent Self | © copyright Peter Ingle | All Rights Reserved