Hello again and welcome.
My name is Pratika.
This video is called What would I be without my story?
For the next few moments,
There is nowhere to go,
Nothing to achieve,
And nothing to become.
Endeavour to remain.
As this moment.
Now quietly notice the story you carry about yourself.
The story of your successes and failures.
The story of what you have gained and what you have lost.
The story of your relationships.
The story of your fears.
The story of your hopes.
The story of what others have said about you.
The story of who you believe yourself to be.
Without effort,
Simply notice these stories appear.
As thoughts,
As memories,
Images and feelings.
They arise,
They linger and they pass.
In this moment,
There is no need to push them away.
There is no need to hold on to them.
Simply allow them to be as they are.
Now,
A subtle question.
What would I be without my story?
This is not something to answer,
Not something to figure out.
This is simply an invitation to be aware.
Before the story of being unsuccessful or successful.
Before the story of being wounded or healed.
Before the story of being accepted or rejected.
Before the story of being a someone.
What is here.
Notice an abiding awareness already present.
Aware of thoughts,
Aware of sensations.
Aware of feelings.
Aware of the stories themselves.
This awareness needs no history.
It requires no future.
It depends upon no role,
No title,
No achievements,
No identity.
No effort to be a this or a that.
It is quietly here.
Effortless.
And present.
Perhaps now the stories continue,
Perhaps memories arise,
Perhaps plans appear.
All is unfolding as it is.
And yet,
The stories appear within a spacious,
Aware presence.
Does this awareness presence come and go with the stories?
Or has it quietly remained through each chapter,
Each unfolding of your life?
Like the vast sky allowing every cloud.
Like open space welcoming every sound.
Nothing needs to be removed.
Nothing needs to be fixed.
Nothing needs to be defended.
Nothing needs to be identified with.
For a few moments now,
Simply rest here.
Not as a story,
Not as an image.
Not as a role.
Not as an identity.
Simply be here.
Still and spacious.
Without the story,
Is anything lacking?
The story may continue,
Thoughts may appear,
Feelings may come and go.
Life unfolds as it always has.
And all of it is quietly known.
Nothing has been added.
Nothing has been taken away.
There is only a quiet knowing.
Blessings to you.
