One of the nice things about Atmananda’s Direct Path teaching is that one starts to experience the lack of intrusiveness. How can there be intrusive thoughts when they’re all occurring in the space of (manifest) awareness–which is to say: in you? Or what about intrusive or unwanted feelings–how could that bit of discrimination be held on to? That is, how could any experience be that to which one is averse, that which is to be avoided, or that which is unwanted?

Take a simple example: you’re sitting down to meditate. Can there be any distractions, any obstacles to meditation once it’s understood that all experiences are appearing in the space of awareness? Does it matter (can it matter) whether the doorbell rings? Whether it’s loud or quiet? Whether there are funky smells or lovely scents? Whether there are fewer thoughts or more thoughts? Whether “a lot is coming up” or whether there’s a quiet, relaxed openness to manifest awareness?

What is it like to really understand that all experiences are unfolding in the space of manifest awareness? Let me offer but two remarks here.

First, the understanding is like letting your hair down. There’s a very relaxed, all-inclusive openness to whatever experience is appearing–and to the lack of any experiences as well.

Second, from here, there’s a natural “hooking up” with Self-inquiry since the fundamental question spontaneously arises: “What is That which is prior to manifest awareness? What is awareness pure? In other words, who or what am I?”