IRest Practice 31: Entering The Stream Of Awareness

Everything that we’re aware of comes and goes in our awareness. Each of these objects that comes and goes is “claimed” by I-thought. I-thought attaches to and merges with our experiences. But what is the I that keeps attaching to every sensation, thought, and emotion?
This practice invites us to break free from the I-thought, which also breaks us free from the belief that we are separate. If we break free from I-thought, we experience our foundation of interconnected wholeness that we share with all others, and we realize that this non-separate and interconnected wholeness is incapable of being harmed.
iRest Practice 31: Entering the Stream of Awareness from the iRest Program for Healing PTSD: A Proven Effective Approach to Using Yoga Nidra Meditation & Deep Relaxation Techniques to Overcome Trauma. Written by Richard C. Miller, PhD. Recorded by Erin Finck, TCTSY-F, RYT 500, Level 1 iRest Teacher

Transcript

Adjust your body. So that you feel completely supported by the surface on which you're resting. Senses wide open to your environment and the sounds around you. Scan your body. And release any unnecessary tension. Welcome your inner resource. And the feelings of ease. And well-being. Throughout your entire body. And mind. Become aware of a sensation. Emotion. Or thought that's present in your body or mind. Notice how the I-thought appears and accompanies whatever you're aware of. For example. I am aware of this sensation. Or I'm aware of this emotion. Or I am aware of this thought. Now turn your attention to being aware of this, I thought. As you do this, Repeat silently to yourself. I. Bye. Experience your felt sense of this I-thought. As you repeat, I. Notice how a new I-thought appears to witness the I-thought that's being silently repeated. Notice this new I thought. And observe how a new I thought appears to witness it too. As you continue. Notice how all these movements of I are appearing in your awareness. Begin to shift your attention away from being fused with the I-thought to your felt sense of being-awareness. Shift your attention from being a distinct I. Focusing network. To simply being awareness. Defocusing network. Experience yourself as the expansive and spacious openness of awareness. Feel yourself being awareness. And note that there's still a subtle I-thought that's present. Sense how this I-thought is arising in the vast field of awareness. Which has no I-thought attached to it. Sense how awareness surrounds and fills everything that's arising. Including the feeling of you being a distinct I. Let go of what's arising in awareness. What's coming and going in awareness. And feel yourself dissolving into simply being awareness. Awareness that exists before your mind identifies with the thought I. And separates what is indivisible into a separate self, Other, And world. Take time being awareness. Notice how your mind drifts away at times into a thought, Emotion, Or sensation. Notice how the I-thought automatically arises and fuses with whatever is present. When you notice that this is happening. You don't need to change anything. Simply notice that all this is arising in awareness. Then welcome your felt sense of being awareness. Notice how awareness is always present. Even when your mind is involved with something other than being awareness. When you're ready. Open and close your eyes several times while continuing to feel yourself being awareness. With your eyes open. Notice objects in the environment around you. All the while being awareness. If it feels comfortable. Get up and walk around your environment. All while staying with the felt sense of being awareness. Then go about your day. While noticing how the felt sense of being-awareness is always there as a background presence.