In this article, we are going to observe our thoughts. This 'exercise' - for a lack of better words - is easy and applicable to all of us, because all of us have thoughts coming and going, right?
We are going to acknowledge how we are not our thoughts. Once confirmed, we shall explore how our thoughts do not have control over us, no power over us.
This is a very valuable observation, and it has a direct impact on our overall experience.
This is particularly valuable when we have thoughts that bring unhappiness, specifically these "I-thoughts".
By witnessing, we know that we are not these thoughts, and we do not have to get entangled with them or identify with them.
The longer we do this 'exercise', the less of an impact the thoughts have on us. Eventually, thoughts become transparent. They rise and fall within us, or flow through us, but they have no impact on our peace and happiness. Our peace and happiness remain in the Here and Now, never separate from ourSelf.
We also realize that the "I-thoughts" slow down more and more, because the apparent 'one' they pertain to, is dissolving.
Eventually, the whole 'exercise' stops, because even the 'one' that is doing the exercise, this thought is observed too, and dissolves into Silence.
We are going to acknowledge how we are not our thoughts. Once confirmed, we shall explore how our thoughts do not have control over us, no power over us.
This is a very valuable observation, and it has a direct impact on our overall experience.
It has nothing to do with beliefs, religion, or philosophy. This is definitely by no means a 'spiritual practice' to adopt. It is merely a pointer inwards.
The purpose of this 'exercise', is to become aware of our peaceful and happy Nature, and to acknowledge ourselves as That.
Of course, if we already feel completely happy and peaceful, this 'exercise' is irrelevant.
After a few minutes of focusing on the breath, we can clearly distinguish between the breathing happening, and the one observing it. We do not want to stop breathing - it is not bothering us, right? We are simply watching it happen.
Now, we apply the same witnessing to the thoughts arising. Without trying to suppress or force our thoughts into silence, we peacefully observe. We observe, without getting entangled in them.
Observing, we see how thoughts come and go. At first, we will most likely engage with them, but the more we observe, the more we 'abide' in the state of witnessing.
We acknowledge the thoughts appearing as objects, to us, the subject.
And, in the case of bodily sensations arising, we can apply the same observation. Simply allowing sensations to appear and disappear in open, free space.
This means, we no longer have to react, physically or emotionally, to any thought arising. We do not have to believe every thought arising.
The purpose of this 'exercise', is to become aware of our peaceful and happy Nature, and to acknowledge ourselves as That.
Of course, if we already feel completely happy and peaceful, this 'exercise' is irrelevant.
Coming and going
What we want to do, is simply observe. To start off, we can observe our breathing. We breathe in and out, and we witness the breathing happening. Let's keep doing this.After a few minutes of focusing on the breath, we can clearly distinguish between the breathing happening, and the one observing it. We do not want to stop breathing - it is not bothering us, right? We are simply watching it happen.
Now, we apply the same witnessing to the thoughts arising. Without trying to suppress or force our thoughts into silence, we peacefully observe. We observe, without getting entangled in them.
Observing, we see how thoughts come and go. At first, we will most likely engage with them, but the more we observe, the more we 'abide' in the state of witnessing.
We acknowledge the thoughts appearing as objects, to us, the subject.
And, in the case of bodily sensations arising, we can apply the same observation. Simply allowing sensations to appear and disappear in open, free space.
The conclusion
By doing this 'exercise', we become aware that we are not the thoughts. Not even the "I-thought".This means, we no longer have to react, physically or emotionally, to any thought arising. We do not have to believe every thought arising.
This is particularly valuable when we have thoughts that bring unhappiness, specifically these "I-thoughts".
By witnessing, we know that we are not these thoughts, and we do not have to get entangled with them or identify with them.
The longer we do this 'exercise', the less of an impact the thoughts have on us. Eventually, thoughts become transparent. They rise and fall within us, or flow through us, but they have no impact on our peace and happiness. Our peace and happiness remain in the Here and Now, never separate from ourSelf.
We also realize that the "I-thoughts" slow down more and more, because the apparent 'one' they pertain to, is dissolving.
Eventually, the whole 'exercise' stops, because even the 'one' that is doing the exercise, this thought is observed too, and dissolves into Silence.
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| We start to realize that we were never the thoughts appearing, but we were always the Light that illuminates the thoughts. Related articles on this blog: The transparency of problems - 12 December 2021 Our own emptiness - 8 March 2022 Me, my, I - 19 February 2022 |
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