The Relationship Between Awareness and Attention

What is the relationship between awareness and attention, particularly regarding the movement and focusing of attention? For example, in self-enquiry, is it awareness itself, the finite mind, or some mixture that decides to turn attention away from objects and return it to its source?

Rupert says: ‘To understand this, we must understand the etymology of the word ‘attention’. It comes from two Latin words: a, meaning “to” or “towards”, and tendere, meaning “to stretch”. So attention means “a stretching towards”. When you want to pay attention to something, you stretch your awareness towards that object.

‘Self-enquiry is simply attention relaxing back to its natural state, just as a rubber band returns to its unstretched state when you let go. Nobody does this – it is just awareness ceasing to be in a state of tension and naturally, effortlessly going back to itself and returning to its natural condition, a state of equilibrium and peace.’

*This video is from one of Rupert’s in-person retreats at Mercy Center, 9–16 March 2025. For more information on upcoming retreats (many of which can be attended online via livestream) go to:

▸ https://rupertspira.com/events

Timestamps:

0:00 Awareness and Attention
0:55 The Etymology of Attention
1:59 Going Back to Your True Nature
3:25 Our Natural State
4:19 What Is Self-Enquiry?
5:23 Turning Away from Experience
6:34 The Relaxing of Attention


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