Date: 10/04/2025 10/05/2025
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Yunquan Huang
Sitting Meditation
The Eve of Awakening
Awakening rarely occurs as a sudden miracle;it is the natural ripening of sustained practice, deep seeing, and gentle letting go.On the eve of awakening, the body and mind undergo subtle but profound shifts—attachments loosen, thoughts lose power, and the world appears lighter.It is not yet awakening, but it is unmistakably close.
1.Mental Signs Before Awakening
1.Thoughts arise but no longer deceive
They lose their ability to pull the mind away.
2.Emotions arise but cannot dominate
You see them clearly, without being overwhelmed.
3.The sense of self becomes thin
The “I” feels less solid, less central.
4.A subtle inner lightness appears
Not joy, but relief — like a burden lifting.
2.Subtle Bodily Changes
1.Greater physical relaxation
A grounded softness, as if the body is resting deeper.
2.Smoother energy flow
Warmth or gentle vibration without tension.
3.Natural, effortless breathing
No control needed; breath breathes itself.
3.Changes in Perception of the World
1.Life feels less heavy
Events still happen, but they no longer crush you.
2.Relationships appear more transparent
Less clinging, more understanding.
3.A taste of emptiness emerges
Not nothingness, but spaciousness and ease.
4.Challenges That May Arise
1.A sense of “I don’t know what I want anymore”
The old identity is dissolving.
2.Loss of interest in old habits
Because inner conditioning is weakening.
3.Brief emotional waves
Old patterns surfacing for their final release.
4.New questions about life’s meaning
A deeper search begins.
5.The Most Important Attitude Before Awakening
1.Do not expect awakening
Expectation is subtle clinging.
2.Do not fear the shifts
They are signs of freedom approaching.
3.Do not label or interpret the experience
Labels rebuild the ego.
4.Maintain gentle, clear awareness
Soft awareness allows unfolding.
6.Best Practices Before Awakening
1.Stay in simple, effortless awareness
Let the mind rest without control.
2.Watch arising and passing without involvement
Everything is transient.
3.Allow everything to be as it is
Non-interference is the highest wisdom.
4.Bring awareness into daily life
Awakening ripens through ordinary moments.
Conclusion
The eve of awakening is a time of loosening, lightness, and clarity.Thoughts fade, the self softens, and the world becomes transparent.You have not awakened yet, but the veil is thin.Continue resting in awareness,and awakening will dawn naturally—like morning light breaking through mist.
