An Immediate Experience of Being

Meanwhile, let us remind ourselves that
another, metaphysical, consciousness is
still available to modern human beings. . .
Underlying the subjective experience of
the individual self there is an immediate
experience of Being. This is totally
different from an experience of
self-consciousness. It is completely non-
objective. . . an immediate experience
that goes beyond reflexive awareness.

- Thomas Merton, Zen and the
Birds of Appetite