Hi Charlie
Here is a quote from the book mentioned
Fresh awareness of whatever arises…is sufficient. —THE NINTH GYALWANG KARMAPA,
Swanson, Eric; Mingyur, Yongey Rinpoche; Daniel Goleman (2007-03-06). The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness (p. 73). Harmony. Kindle Edition.
Bag chags is the tibetan word for habitual propensities. It may be somewhat memorable to think of
bag chags like baggage, as in the American slang "s/he's got baggage" - something lingering and performed in an automated manner or with thoughtless assumption.
Awareness applies the mental faculty to observe the expression of itself (apperception) and the physical sensory faculties.
Developing this apperception can help in work and research - to detect/diminish assumptive thinking, for example.
Awareness arises the moment that the field of mind (EDIT: when empty of perception and non-perception (consciousness) in which the mental faculty produces something with form. This form creates a sense of distance and distinction. Without such form-distinction, there is consciousness (an unmoved state of apperception).
This progression is discussed in the Applied Psychology book mentioned above in Sheehy's essay.
What are your thoughts?