robdl

Isn't the suitable type of yoga based on the seeker's temperament? The sages say that jnani yoga is the path of the intellect, so naturally any intellectually-driven person would be drawn to this path over the bhakti path. In the same way that a highly altruistic/philanthropic person may be drawn to the karma yoga path.

I think it depends on the teacher. I've found it tricky because various gurus/teachers use these terms differently. Nisargadatta, for instance, often separately used "consciousness" and "awareness" to better distinguish the two. Awareness being the Absolute state, and consciousness being dualistic experience. He'd say that consciousness (ego mind) occurs within Awareness, and there could be (nondual) Awareness without consciousness. But of course another teacher/guru could use "consciousness" to mean Absolute Awareness, so every teacher can have their own terminology. Q: You use the words 'aware' and 'conscious'. Are they not the same? Nisargadatta: Awareness is primordial; it is the original state, beginningless, endless, uncaused, unsupported, without parts, without change. Consciousness is on contact, a reflection against a surface, a state of duality. There can be no consciousness without awareness, but there can be awareness without consciousness, as in deep sleep. Awareness is absolute, consciousness is relative to its content; consciousness is always of something. Consciousness is partial and changeful, awareness is total, changeless, calm and silent. And it is the common matrix of every experience. Q: How does one go beyond consciousness into awareness? Nisargadatta: Since it is awareness that makes consciousness possible, there is awareness in every state of consciousness. Therefore the very consciousness of being conscious is already a movement in awareness. Interest in your stream of consciousness takes you to awareness. It is not a new state. It is at once recognised as the original, basic existence, which is life itself, and also love and joy.

I have been doing regular self-inquiry practice for a couple of months now. In several sessions, there was a loss of self-identity as all identification/attachment to thoughts dissipated and awareness withdrew inward to an alert but very silent, subjective state. In one instance, confusion then arose as to who I was: an amnesic blank was drawn as to what my family background was and who my siblings were. There was no ability to immediately recall it and I literally had to wait about 20 seconds for the mind to come up with the answer. Just one trippy experience that needs to be moved on from, but it shows the power of asking "Who am I?" and getting the mind quiet/withdrawing awareness back into its source. "You" will literally fade out of view.

St. Patty's Day, 2022.