IRest Practice 33: Who Am I?

Who or what is this “I” that’s experiencing all of these changing movements of mind, body, senses, and world? When we ask these questions, we realize there so no separate “I”, our “I” is just another thought arising in awareness.
Ultimately, there is only awareness.

Awareness is who we are, what we are, and why we are. Awareness is when we are and where we are. We are the spacious, timeless, perfect, complete, and unchanging health and wholeness of awareness.

When we are resting as awareness, there is no separate I who is experiencing something. When we rest as awareness, there’s only awareness, without anyone who is aware.

iRest Practice 33: Who Am I? 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. Open your senses. And welcome the environment and 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 mine. Take a few minutes to feel and sense your body. Where is it comfortable? Where is it uncomfortable? Be aware of the various sensations that are present in your face. Shoulders. Arms. Hands. Front of the torso. Back of the torso. Abdomen. Pelvis. Legs. Seat. Sense your heartbeat. Your body breathing. Now gently ask yourself, Who is aware? What is aware? Now sense your state of feelings and emotions. Without going into thinking. Sense the feelings and emotions that are present. Open yourself to obvious and subtle feelings and emotions. If it's helpful. Recall feelings and emotions that you experienced earlier today or during your week. Now gently ask yourself, Who is aware of these feelings and emotions? What is aware of these feelings and emotions? Notice what you're thinking. And how your thoughts follow one another. When you realize you've been distracted by a thought. Notice where you went. And what brought you back. Then gently ask. Who was aware of these thoughts? What is aware of these thoughts? Turn your attention to the environment around you. Notice the temperature of the air. Smells. Sounds. The feeling of the surface that's supporting your body. Allow your attention to expand out beyond your immediate environment. Be aware of what is present in the surrounding neighborhood and beyond. In the countryside and beyond. In the world and beyond. Sense the sun. Moon. And stars. Sense the entire universe. Gently ask. Who is aware of this body? The space around this body. The universe. What is aware of this body? The space around this body. The universe. Give time to experience yourself as being awareness. And take a moment and reflect on your experience.