Imagine you’re sitting on a meadow looking at the sky and a flock of birds flies slowly across your field of vision.
You watch the birds enter your view, keep watching as they cross it and then exit it.
There’s you, and there’s the birds. No question about that, right? You certainly don’t feel that the birds are part of you. They’re objects and you’re watching them. That’s VERY clear.
You might not realize it, but your thought process is remarkably similar…
Your thoughts are passing by in front of you and you’re only watching them. They’re objects, just like the birds. They are not you. They are the products of your brain.
A thought like, “I’m depressed” or “I’m so happy” is just like one of those birds. So is “What a lousy life I’m leading” or “Life is so cool!”
They’re all like those birds, and you’re watching them.
But all these days you felt those thoughts were “you.”
So how do you experience that you are separate from your thoughts and just watching them? Easy.
- Sit quietly somewhere, close your eyes and watch what’s going on in your head. As soon as you “think” something, try and locate the answer to the question, “Who was aware of that thought?” The answer is the basic “you”, and the result will be that you separate “yourself” from that thought.
- Perform this process on a daily basis on several thoughts (10 minutes a day will do). Gradually you will realize you are separate from all your thoughts; you will in other words realize that they are objects and you are an observer. Since emotions are nothing but thoughts, you separate yourself from them too. Since the basic “you” is separate from your emotions, it feels no sadness, happiness, frustration or any other emotions.
Sound dull? Not really. On the other hand, bereft of thoughts/emotions of all kinds, you are actually at perfect peace.
Please be aware that at no point am I saying that you should suppress your thoughts. Your thoughts should certainly keep flowing, only you should watch them like you watched those birds fly over your field.
This is the secret to being peaceful at all times. Try it, it really works!
To your peaceful life,
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
I find that whenever I drop the role of a thought-developer, become aware of the thoughts and step aside, the thought automatically disappears instantly, because there is no one to keep it alive. Then another thought pops up and I repeat the process. What keeps on happening is that I end up “killing” (sorry for such a harsh word) the thoughts with my so-called observation. I do it again and again many times a minute. I’m not sure if this is what is meant by “observing your thoughts”. I’d like to hear if anyone has been in a similar place.
I guess what I’m trying to ask is, would it be possible to detach from thoughts without making them disappear and instead observe them developing? But who is going to develop them? I am a little confused…
Another thing that interests me is what exactly is meant by thoughts. There’s this inner voice chatter, then there’s visual imagination in the mind’s eye, there’s sound creation/repetition in one’s mind. The one that is probably most worth addressing is the inner chatter. However, then there is a fourth one: plain emotional reactions to a situation without any thoughts. What do you do then? Imagine that you’re not the emotion, and that it’s only happening to your body and it will pass in a while, relax?
I’d appreciate some input from someone who’s been doing this for a while.
Hi Kristina,
I would like to question your basic process. You say you are “doing” something. The correct procedure is be a pure witness. If you are ‘doing’ something, please move back and motionlessly (mentally) witness all the ‘doing’, i.e. all the thoughts involved in the ‘doing’ process.
My hunch is that there are still many ‘first-person’ thoughts that you are not stepping back from. You are identifying with those thoughts; you think they are ‘you’ speaking. Realize that they too are thoughts, and that you are the one who is aware of them (just as in the case of other thoughts). Think long and deep about what I just said and try to understand it. Ask me for more guidance if you need to.
This all sounds good and all, and believe me, a definite step in the right direction to what I can hopefully call “enlightenment”, but shouldn’t being at peace make you happy? Isn’t happiness what enlightenment is all about? I guess what I’m asking is: Can you do this, and still hold on to the happiness, as if it’s a bird that you want to keep as a pet? Would it still work the same way?
Gabe:
Being at peace IS the state of happiness. Being at peace means you realize that you are the backdrop in front of which thoughts are active, just like the backdrop of a stage. The backdrop is always perfectly still and unaffected by what the actors are doing.
In the case of a living being, the backdrop is ‘an aware backdrop’, i.e. it is aware of the actors acting in front of it (the actors are thoughts).
Please think about this carefully and come back to me with your next question. Discovering inner peace is something that has to be done gradually (like learning tennis!).
Best,
Lucky
I came into this one because of my search for the answer to my questions. I am currently on a course where the fourth stage is awakening where by grace i should be awakened . One step is this , to separate myself from my body, thought and emotions. Since i still couldnt imagine how to do it exactly, I came to this site. Now after reading what you wrote here, somehting was added to what I knew, thanks ! Let me ask you, if I meditate few minutes everyday doing what you told, will it come to me even without me knowing it?
Thanks
Hi Jane,
In reality nothing ‘comes’ to you. You gradually realize your true nature. A rough analogy is like this: you are a poor vegetable seller in a kingdom. Then, by reading official birth-death records, you slowly realize that you are actually the queen of the kingdom, the queen who was kidnapped at birth. You then claim and assume your rightful throne. (Nothing came to you, you just found something out).
To answer your question, yes, if you meditate for at least five minutes a day, you CAN realize that you are basically unshakably peaceful. But of course, the kind of meditation you do is important. Let me know what you’re doing and I can give you further guidance.
Best,
Lucky
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‘Who is aware of the thought?’ — Say it is me/I. Is being aware of the thoughts an inherent ability of the ‘I’ ? Why is it then that ‘I’ am not aware of my thoughts when i am deep asleep?
If thoughts are just manifestations of just neuronal activities (which it is) and if there is a distinct real ‘I’ that is very different from my thoughts why is that ‘I’ am not able to perceive your thoughts but able to perceive mine? Dont you think that in that case the act of awareness / perception itself is a manifestation of neuronal activity of my brain albeit of a different kind from the one which gives rise to the thoughts?
May be this method gives some peace to troubled minds. Let it. But is there a logical flaw in my above argument?
Hi, nice post really. Regarding the emotions I agree I AM not them, but aint they a guideline for us since they are there to help us survive from an evolution point of view…? I do not know is the question is clear. It was just a thought (which IS NOT ME by the way¨…)
Love your answer, Jordi. Emotions might be part of the human mind’s evolution, yes. But as a guideline for you… let me ask you something, who is the ‘you’ you’re talking about? If it is Stillness or Awareness, there is no movement possible and therefore no following of guidelines possible.
I strongly believe this Lucky. The firs time I came to this realization was when I read the book ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckharte Tolle. I even wrote on it myself. Find here: http://www.climbreachachieve.net/2010/05/you-are-not-your-mind.html
I would appreciate it if you also stop by my blog http://climbreachachieve.net
*Great Post
I’m happy that you are free-flying beyond the confines of your mind. You are most fortunate. Will definitely stop by your blog and leave a comment.
Best
Lucky
uh i think this would turn me into a schizophrenic
Great post, I was thinking last night how I should not act out of fear or emotion. Empirically I found it to be self-deceptive. I will practice consulting and relying on the spirit of the Universe! Admirably and respectfully, prana8.
Realize that fear and emotion are perceived, and not part of “you the observer.” Then deal with them; your actions will be optimal.
v beautifully explained. but to most,its when putting it to practice, comes the difficulty..for, to a ‘layman’it more often does sound dull,to think having no ‘emotions’ or feelings.. & it took me 3 full months now, to ‘start seeing’ your point..!! THANKS..
Hi SS, glad you’re putting your finger on the “basic you.”
Most importantly, thoughts and emotions continue, but you are separate from them… it’s like they’re a movie and you’re in the audience.
Hi Lucky,
This is a good process for detaching from my thoughts. Thanks for sharing!
Peace,
Miriam
Glad it was of help, Miriam. The “basic you” is real and has been there since you were in your mother’s womb…
Hi Kristina
As mentioned in my earlier reply, I think you are not stepping back from all your thoughts, specifically ‘first person’ thoughts. For instance, even the question in your above comment… it came to your mind as a thought, but you did not recognize it as one, because you believed it was ‘you’ speaking (that’s what I mean by a ‘first person’ thought). Step back from all such first-person thoughts and you will be calm, free from doubt and ‘wise’ as well!
Whichever of the above phenomena it is, Kristina, your job is just to be a silent, still witness. May I also suggest sitting still for 10 minutes a day, during which time you should detach yourself from all thoughts and sensory inputs, and just be, be, BE… in other words, withdraw into the ‘basic you’, which is your ‘sense of being’.
I appreciate the effort you are taking to attain inner peace. PLEASE ask me if you have further questions, I will lead you to the treasure just like my great teacher led me.
Thank you Lucky Balaraman.
I get your point. We’ll see where this leads…
I’ll definitely come back should there be anything I’d want to ask. Thanks for the support, again.