Self-Inquiry Meditation

When we practice mindfulness meditation, many things arise in awareness. We typically turn our attention to each thing in turn - different thoughts, feelings, body sensations, states of mind. We often don’t turn our attention to that which is doing the observing, that which seems to be doing the thinking, that which is aware. This is what you are invited to do in this meditation - to actually seek, in a very practical way, who it is that is doing the seeking, who it is that is practicing. Of course, you say, I am seeking, I am practicing. But who is this I? Can you show it to me? When we turn to look for it, what do we find?

Transcript

When we sit quietly,

Many things arise in awareness.

Often we turn our attention to the content of our experience,

To the thoughts,

To the feelings,

The body sensations,

The states of mind.

We are not often turn our attention to that which is doing the observing,

That which is doing the thinking,

That which is aware.

This is what we are going to do now,

To actually seek who it is that is doing the seeking,

Who it is that is practicing.

Of course you say,

I am seeking,

I am practicing,

But who is this I?

Can you show it to me?

When we turn to look for it,

What do we find?

And we start by just sitting quietly,

Allowing this moment to be just as it is.

While our senses are open and you are aware of what is happening.

Sensations are coming and going.

Sensations in your body are coming and going.

Sensations are passing.

Just allow that to happen.

Outgoing space.

Letting go of any effort to control.

Meditating like the sky.

Which gives space to clouds,

Sunshine and thunderstorm.

Letting go of any effort to control.

And now we begin to put that question,

That great question,

In the midst of all this coming and going,

Arising and passing away.

That time-tested question.

Who am I?

Not trying to think about it,

Not analyzing it.

Letting it guide your attention in a penetrating way.

Repeating it to yourself from time to time.

Letting it fresh and focused.

Who am I?

Who is experiencing this?

To whom is this happening?

Using this question to push deeper and deeper into the nature of your own experience.

Diving into the vastness of your own being.

Diving into a sense of I am.

Which is deeper.

Than all your concepts about yourself,

All your roles,

Your possessions.

With this question we challenge the whole structure of our experience.

The whole way of organizing ourselves around the core belief that we are somehow separate from what is happening.

Who am I?

To whom is this happening?

If you like,

Sometimes you can go back to the breath.

Being in the breath,

Resting in the breath.

The question again arises.

Is there somebody breathing?

See if you can find out who is breathing.

Who or what is experiencing the breath?

Where is the breath happening?

Reviews

Soft and slow talking. Gives the feeling that you can close your eyes and be safe in a wild loud world.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful searching meditation

🙏Namasté🙏

Absolutely beautiful and infinitely peaceful.
Thank you.

Subtle encouragement, effective contemplation. Thank you again Stephan.

... direct and simple way to guide me to the state of Being ... thank you ...

Lovely. I think the meditation was ended unexpectedly though. Without any closing.

This is one of my very favorite meditations. Thank you!

Great practise, but it ends very sudden. It that the way it should end?

Wonderful and insightful questions to meditate on. Thanks.

Profound, this short meditation took me to very deep places - thank you 🙏🏻

I wish it were longer.

Who am I if there is no I?

Very deep. Thank you!

Lots of useful silence:) thank you. Definitely a lesson to be learned for me with this one.

Absorbing. Calming. Appreciated the pace & the silences. Thank you.

Calming voice and instructions. Allows you to continue meditating at the end as there is no final bell. Thank you.

Interabang ing
With the incarnation right angled cross of the unexpected ......"
Potent pivotal points of shadows

Namiste
Kirkos

Valuable experience.

Good question 🙏

Excellent. Thank you. 💜🙏