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Self-Inquiry Practice (Who Am I?) 

1. Bring mindfulness to what you are doing, either during formal meditation or simply by following the breath in daily life. 

2. Be attentive to what you are feeling, or bring attention to the heart space by following the breath with attention. 

3. Ask yourself, “Who am I?” 

4. Feel the answer, since this is not something the mind can answer. Do not follow thoughts about who you are even if they are spiritual thoughts. 

5. Feel who you are. Notice the unchanging stillness or presence within you. Rest your attention in this space. 

6.Relax into the unknown space of the heart. This is where Truth is revealed. 

 7. To deepen the self-inquiry practice during formal meditation or in daily life ask the following questions:  “Who is feeling? Who is thinking? Who is seeing? Who is doing? Who is experiencing?” And, even “Who is seeking?” Again, feel the answer in your heart. 

The Inner Witness

With a few techniques and trusting my own experiences, I was learning that all things were passing phenomena. This did not mean that I had lost interest in life. Meditation was helping me become more observant of what was going on around me, and a sense of spaciousness was growing within me. This spaciousness was helping me tune into the internal observer, or inner witness of my own feelings, body sensations, thoughts, and reactions. 

This inner witness was present during meditation sessions, during my work and personal life, including while I was talking with others. I found that I was more present to what was going on around me, with less energy directed at creating a story about things. 

Life started taking on a richness that had not existed before. I was fully engaged in life, yet there was a surreal or dreamlike aspect about my daily routines and habits that I was finding easier to tap into. Events taking place around me were taking on a slow-motion quality. This was not because things were actually moving slower, but because there was a greater awareness of my own internal reactions or sense of presence. The fear of everyday existence and whether something unexpected or bad was going to happen was greatly diminished. 


 


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shree
07/09/2010 06:30

♥ ~ॐ~__/|\__ ~ॐ~ ♥
ॐ OAM NAMO BHAGAVATE SRI RAMANAYA ॐ
- shree

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