Many people believe that by being aware in the present moment and thereby out of the ego state, that we have reached enlightenment, but this is not the case.

In the present moment we can be clear and free of the ego, but this is only momentarily as the subconscious continues to exist, and we need the intention to be in the present moment in order to put ourselves in it.

The thought of being aware in the present moment cannot be sustained, as we have so many activities and situations to deal with which require thought.

The ‘feeling’ of being in the present moment cannot be sustained because other stronger feelings come along to take its place, along with thoughts.

Therefore, we can be in the present moment for just a short time before losing it to the psychological ‘sleep’ of identification with the things of life, the daydreaming and the various emotions and feelings which involuntarily arise.

In practice, that can mean that we are trying to be aware, we feel ‘here’ and then we slip out of it and into the same old ways, reacting at what people do, at different situations, feeling anxious about things, getting angry, depressed, etc.

We can practice being aware and with time it does improve, but that takes time and as soon as we lose our guard the subconscious, the thoughts and the ‘sleep’, come flooding back.

To overcome this, we need to fundamentally change what we are, so that what is in the present moment is in itself different.

If we are radically changed, then what we are in ourselves will bring us back to the present moment, and will eventually keep us there permanently.

To change like this we need to change the nature of our subconscious, and of our consciousness, which is the essence of what we are and the part of us that is aware.