Ep. 163 (Part 2 of 2) | In the sixth dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, Hameed Ali tells us that whereas pure consciousness is already perfect and does not change or grow, individual consciousness is an impressionable organism—alive, changing, moving, developing. Hameed explains that because the soul is impressionable, the impacts of experience are imprinted upon it, shaping our very consciousness. Ego structures form from repeated impressions, and although they are necessary for survival and to function in a relational world, these structures make it difficult to experience the living presence of our true nature. We experience the ego self instead, mistaking our self-image for what we truly are. When we loosen our conditioning, with help from practices like inquiry and bodywork, our soul becomes free of its imprint and our true potential arises naturally, along with greater compassion and other qualities of the soul.

Simply and clearly, Hameed brings us to a deeper understanding of our soul, elucidating what holds us to our limited self-identity and describing what we have to look forward to as the myriad imprints hammered into us by experience become diaphanous, and new impressions no longer make indelible imprints. Hameed also delves into the different ways various traditions talk about the soul, the difference between ordinary knowledge and “knowing,” or gnosis, and tells us that sudden enlightenment and gradual enlightenment are an artificial dichotomy, sharing a story of a sudden enlightenment experience of his own. Once again, Hameed transmits an extraordinary amount of wisdom in a relatively short time, and we emerge brighter, hopeful, and inspired as to our boundless spiritual potential. Recorded November 14, 2024.

“When the soul becomes free of its original imprint, it becomes open to its inner potential – and inner potential is mostly spiritual potential.”

(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)

Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2

Relaxing the tension in the soul and body is important: working with body armor (00:49)
Mature impressionability: when the soul is more free, impacts don’t leave lasting imprints (03:16)
When the soul becomes free of its original imprint, it opens to its inner potential (08:34)
The enlightenment drive and our spiritual potential (11:41)
Psychology and spirituality are not separate in our consciousness (13:51)
The different ways different traditions and psychology talk about the soul (15:43)
Unique particularity becomes very important in Zen: a flower is a flower (20:43)
Gnosis: I know myself without reflection, without memory; I know what I am (23:13)
Nonconceptual and transconceptual knowing (25:24)
Sudden enlightenment and gradual cultivation are an artificial dichotomy (28:21)
What does gradual enlightenment mean? (30:51)
Hameed relates an experience of “sudden enlightenment” (31:21)
How the evolution of the universe relates to awakened consciousness (33:40)
Roger’s acknowledgment of this conversation as uniquely impactful (36:48)

Resources & References

A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder...

A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series (Dialogue 6, Part 2) – Awakening to Our True Nature: Releasing Limiting Ego Structures and Freeing the Soul

Deep Transformation