One of my students asked a question, ‘Please explain witnessing’.
Witnessing is like becoming an audience and watching the movie played in the mind, the audience are not involved in the drama being played, they are just the watchers.
In spiritual practice, witnessing is the cultivation of this powerful art. It is understanding our inner beingness, which is pure awareness.
The art of taking a step back and observing the mind without judgment takes conscious practice.
It is getting still with oneself, and creating space for thoughts and emotions to appear on the mind screen, watching them, and not judging them.
You get to notice that the thoughts and emotions come, if you do not attach to them, they do not stay, they keep moving, they just pass away like clouds in a clear sky. You are no longer controlled or ruled by your thoughts or emotions. Your mind becomes clear and you are able to make clear decisions and good solutions to life’s challenges.
When we are not conscious of the thoughts and emotions, we tie ourselves up with them and make them our identity. By judging and over analyzing the thoughts and emotions we tie them to ourselves with tight stress knots.
Thoughts and emotions are not personal. They are objects since you are the subject who can notice them.
For example, if you are able to touch and see your body you are not the body you are the witness of your body. If you are able to notice your thoughts and emotions, then they are not your identity.
When you practice witnessing, you get to see the clear split between the one who looks and the thing being looked at. The art of witnessing is a powerful practice to relieve stress.
Viewing thoughts and emotions as transient experiences and not fixed identity, allows you to observe fears, judgments or random impulses without making them as core truths about who you are.
By this regular practice you get to shift your attitude towards life. You shift from a reactionary mindset to a responsive one. You act with clarity and intention.
You continue to grow into better versions of yourself.
Blessings!
Premlatha Rajkumar
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