Effortless Awareness

You know what it means to see a bird, 
or to hear a train whistle, 
or to feel a hand touch your arm.

You know the difference between seeing a bird
and thinking about seeing a bird.
Look at the "seeing" itself, without thinking.
Notice how "seeing" happens effortlessly and immediately,
without the need of thinking or reasoning about it.

The same with awareness.  Notice the difference
between awareness and thinking about awareness,
and how awareness happens effortlessly and immediately,
without having to think about it.
With any thing that arises in the field of awareness,
notice the "seeing" of it, the "seeing" itself.

Now, whose "seeing" is it?  Is it "your" seeing?  
Or is it just "seeing"?  You may sense that there is 
immediate consciousness of the object, but that it 
is not "your" consciousness until you think about it.  
See if it is so.  I'm suggesting that consciousness 
is not personal. Yet it is your essential nature, it's my 
essential nature, it's the essential nature of EVERYTHING.

But don't take my word for it.  Check for yourself.
Even though by speaking this way, I may be giving 
you expectations of what you will discover, try not 
to have any expectations of what you will discover.
Just be aware of being aware, that is all, and you may 
notice that awareness is so immediate that it precedes 
all thought, effortlessly, and that no thinking is 
necessary for there to be awareness.