Investigating The Self

A simple and yet profound 23-minute guided self-inquiry with Navid Zargham from Simran Meditation. This practice is designed to mirror your true self back to you in clearest, most straightforward, and most lucid way.

Transcript

Hi everyone and welcome back to Simran Meditation.

So then,

Now it begins.

Today we will explore and meditate and inquire on the most important aspect of life,

Namely the one who is experiencing life.

Today we will do self-inquiry.

And our goal is to gain clarity about what and who we truly are.

But before we begin,

I do have a couple of points that I want to make clear.

The first one is that today's exercise is meant to be practiced sincerely.

I don't want you to practice this or to pretend to practice this while doing something else.

If you want to explore yourself,

The essence of who you truly are,

Then I would really want to ask you to give it genuine time and energy.

Don't do something else meanwhile.

Give your full attention to this exploration.

And if you do,

I promise you that you will become more clear.

And then to my second point.

This kind of exploration have the power to really turn your worldview,

Belief system and self-image upside down.

So if you are a kind of person who really appreciates your self-image,

Your worldview and the belief system that you entertain,

Then this kind of exploration might not be for you.

So you have your chance to escape now.

And for those of you who are still here,

Then let's begin the exploration.

Let's begin self-inquiry.

If you prefer,

You can just lie down and listen to this whole thing,

Or you can sit comfortably and watch and listen.

Whatever you choose,

Try to be okay with that and give your full attention to the investigation,

To the meditation.

So what we will do now is not difficult or complicated.

We will only use our attention to explore the very present moment that we are experiencing right now.

And we want to explore the one who is experiencing it.

Nothing difficult,

Nothing complicated.

So start by bringing your attention home to this very present moment.

As we have explored already in the Simran Meditation Basics,

You should know by now that this present moment,

This experience,

Is the only thing that you are not making up.

This is the reality of your experience.

So bring your attention to what you are experiencing directly right now.

Away from ideas of past,

Away from ideas of future,

Away from ideas of other places.

Just bring your attention to where your body already is.

We want to explore who you are in this very reality,

In this present moment.

We are not interested in exploring what your mind have to say about who you are.

We are not interested in what your thoughts or memories have to say,

Or even your friends or family.

Because what you are and who you are is truly here right now.

So we don't need any secondary opinions.

We want to explore you directly.

So now that we have your attention here in this present moment,

Let's start by seeing what part of this present moment you are.

So to begin with,

Let's look at what this present moment consists of.

What are the ingredients in general?

That's for the sake of the exercise.

Divide this present moment into senses and experiences.

In this case,

You will find that these present moments are made of the following ingredients.

Sounds,

Smell,

Taste,

Vision,

Body sensations,

Such as pains,

Tension,

Pleasure,

Movement,

And so on.

There is more to this present moment.

There is an overlaying emotional state.

There is a state of either happiness,

Calmness,

Sadness,

Nervousness,

Anxiety,

Something.

There is also an emotional state present here.

And then there is these passing thoughts,

Concepts,

Ideas,

Memories,

Our mental layer,

Our thoughts.

So this is pretty much the ingredients of this present moment.

This is all you know of reality.

This is all you know of your present experience.

A stream of senses and perceptions,

Thoughts and emotions.

So then we have already revealed that there is something more here.

In this very present moment,

In this stream of experiences and perceptions,

There is something more.

There is something here,

Aware of the whole stream,

Aware of all the senses,

Perceptions,

Emotions and thoughts.

There is something we call I that is experiencing this stream.

This is the one we want to explore.

So during the rest of this exercise,

Bring your attention to that which is aware of this very present moment.

So for now,

Don't focus on emotions,

Thoughts,

Perceptions and sensations.

They all come and go.

They all arise and disappear.

But we are today investigating that which is aware of the coming and going of experiences.

And now,

When we have your attention in the right place,

What can you say about this presence?

I am not asking about your emotions.

I am not asking about your visions,

Your sensations,

Your thoughts or emotions.

I am asking about the one who is experiencing all of them.

The one who is right now aware of your body,

Of your mind,

Of your emotions,

Of your world,

Perceptions and sensations.

What is that which is aware of the whole show right now?

That is the one I want to get to know.

That is the one I want to show to your mind.

What is it?

What is aware of the whole field of experience of this moment?

This I,

This alive presence is aware of your body,

Is aware of your mind,

Is aware of your emotions.

But they all are changing.

Your body has already changed since the beginning of this class.

Your mind has changed.

The world has spinned.

The universe might have expanded.

But nevertheless,

You are the same.

You as the observer of all the changing aspects of life.

What are you then who does not change with the changing?

What are you who is experiencing all the change?

Who is experiencing the change in your mind,

Body and world?

What are you then who goes into dreams and fantasies and visions and experience them all and can also go into movies and video games and books and stories?

And yet,

Nothing happens to you.

And you can watch your body change and your opinions change and your relationships change and your life change.

And still,

Nothing happens to you.

What is this you?

Who is hearing this voice?

Who is aware of what I am talking about?

Can you name it?

Is it dependent on what you call it?

Does it have a certain size or color or shape?

Of course now,

Your mind won't to.

Give it a shape.

Give it a color.

Give it a name.

Give it a story.

Give it a meaning.

But it will fail.

Because your mind cannot see you.

You are aware of your mind,

But your mind cannot see you.

And there is no problem with that.

The mind is made for the world.

The mind is good at describing the world,

Bodies,

Personalities,

Patterns.

But what it can't do is knowing the one who is experiencing the mind.

In other words,

You.

You are aware of your mind,

But the mind is not aware of you.

You can try this out.

See if your mind can truly describe you.

Describe you as the aware presence of this moment.

Let your mind have a shot.

Can it truly capture you?

Can it give you any qualities that are always there?

Whatever qualities the mind is trying to give are things that are impermanent.

But you,

You are not changing.

You were there in good times and in bad times,

In happiness and depression,

In laughter and cries,

Watching movies,

Running around,

Doing a cartwheel,

In an accident,

In a party,

Throughout all life,

You have been watching the show.

Who are you?

This question is not posed to your mind anymore.

I am asking you as that which the mind cannot describe.

I am asking you who you are so that you will become aware of yourself as something deeper than the mind and the body that you are experiencing.

They are in your field of experience.

Notice this.

They are part of the changing stream of experience.

And now you tell me.

This awareness which you are,

This size-less,

Shape-less,

Color-less,

Age-less,

Gender-less sense of awareness,

This unseen,

Mysterious being which is now observing this very moment.

Do you,

As this presence,

Need to meditate?

Or are you already peaceful,

Present,

Done?

You,

As this awareness,

Are not waiting,

Searching,

Resisting.

You are just experiencing without even trying to.

Notice this.

This is a dimension of you that self-inquiry wants to explore,

Reveal and make you clear about.

Enjoy yourself.

Explore yourself.

Use your attention to float around in this awareness.

Get to know this dimension of yourself.

It is the most unchanging,

Essential,

Lasting,

Peaceful and connected one.

Even if your attention wants to be drawn somewhere else,

Or even if you have deep insights or interesting thoughts,

Let them pass.

Stay with your unchanging self for a while.

This is the real you.

This you which cannot be given any qualities,

Which cannot be called by any name,

Which cannot be limited by any self-image,

Which is not defined by your body and mind,

But yet is the most obvious,

Alive,

Present you.

Get to know yourself.

Does this you have any judgments?

Does it need to go anywhere?

Is it waiting for something?

Or is all those things your mind's activity,

But not your essence?

As you see,

This essence is here,

It is complete,

It is whole,

It is not waiting,

It is not trying to get anywhere,

It is not trying to change you,

Your body,

Your mind,

Nor the world.

It is just experiencing the existence of this present moment.

Notice this.

Notice that even when your attention will go away,

Even if your state of mind goes back to the ordinary state,

Even when your mind becomes unaware of you,

You as this mysterious presence will still be there,

Untouched,

Pristine,

Aware.

Enjoy yourself.

So then,

We are reaching the end of this guidance,

Of this exploration,

But before we finish,

I would like to ask you something.

Who do you think is really guiding you?

Who do you think is pointing you in this direction?

Because just like you,

My mind can't see the true self.

Just like you,

I am this mysterious underlying being.

So then,

That was all for this guided self-inquiry.

I hope you could follow.

Thank you for watching and listening,

And Namaste.

Reviews

Phenomenal. The language and cues you used were incredibly effective. I was able to encounter the one who is aware. At least for some moments. That was profound. Thank you 🙏

A very enlightening experience where I felt something unlike any other. I’d love to feel this again and again. Incredibly beautiful

I believe whole heartedly this is all about connecting with your soul

Wonderful experience and practice. Thank you. ❤️❤️❤️

Alltså detta... I ett hett badkar, snacka om att flyta i alltet och viktlöshet

Wonderful guidance. Very reminiscent of Mooji and dzogchen practices. Thank you 🙏🏼

This was/is a guidance that captured my attention. I will listen again... there was one word in the last 30 seconds that I didn't understand and want to hear it over again until it sinks in.

so helpful, to realize I am full of peace and already whole. thank you 🙏

There are no words to describe this, it took my breath away 🙏🏼

Thank you so much for this. One of the strongest guided self investigation

Excellent description of the experience of that which we forget to know. 🙏

Very clear guidance, helped me go deep and bypass my busy mind to a large extent! Thank you!

This is a truly gentle and carful investigation into our true self. I have been wondering how to get there and trying for several years. Your voice and simple instructions calmly quited my mind and allowing me to experience my Self. This is a must practice practice. I am happy to share with friends who are ready.
Thanks and many blessings.

Beautiful guidance. I love Navids Simram Meditation.

You quite literally saved my life tonight. Peace and complete silence I needed to go from self preservation and survival, to a the state of being. Thank you!!

This was very helpful. If like to learn more of Simran Meditation. Thank you.

Thank you for your beautiful presence, voice and guidance. I really appreciated this experience 💜✨

My storyteller is so entertained with herself it remains difficult to see the quiet of Now. Glimpses are wonderful, profound and relaxing.
I'll practice this often.

Love this meditation, it always brings me back with in. Thank you 🙏🏼

Really took me there. Great voice and calming presence. So glad I found these!