Who Am I Really?
Do you ever wonder, “Who am I really?” What’s my true nature? And, how do I find out?
This week, we explore inquiry and insight. To know what our true nature is and who we truly are, our mindfulness practice turns to inquiry. Inquiry is the process by which we uncover the truth. Insight is the truth of who we really are. We all cling to stories, beliefs, judgments, and interpretations about who we are. What we cling to is not who we are. Through inquiry, we can befriend all these as they arise, listen deeply to them, and allow them to unwind and let go so that who we are shines through.
The mind is constantly judging, classifying, and interpreting everything it sees and this gets us headlong into suffering because we believe it all! The mind is also good at making up stories about ourselves and other people. Often, the stories about others are, also, stories about ourselves. And, the mind is exceptionally good at faulty interpretation. We interpret incorrectly because our minds are muddied; we don’t see clearly. It is as though we have blinders on; or that we are only seeing one dimension or aspect. With Inquiry we clear our muddied windshields so that who we are shines through.
Learning how to be with these thoughts, stories, judgments, beliefs, and interpretations is important to gaining insight. First steps are knowing we can be with what is here; that we have the right amount of space around us and what is here, and that we have a relationship with what is here, and that we notice the bodily feel of what is here and where we feel it in or around the body. Recognizing and being with our bodily sensations is important because the mind shows itself through the body. Mindfulness of bodily sensations is skillful. Feeling how we bodily feel, being with the feelings, and making soft mental notes describing the feelings is a mindfulness practice all of its own.
I invite you to the practice of inquiry. Uncover and befriend your beliefs, expectations, emotions and stories. Once you sit down with them in a friendly and curious way; the truth will unfold; they will let go; and your generous heart will open more and more.
Socrates said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” We might say, “A mind that is unmet and unquestioned is a dissatisfied and suffering mind.”
Thank you for listening.
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As always, I am grateful to you, my listeners, and I am also grateful for the people behind the scenes that make this podcast possible.
Allie Allen for logo and podcast cover design;
Gorgias Romero for composing the original music, audio engineering and production;
Bill Rafferty for technical web support; and
Margaret Haas for announcing the show.
Be well. Be mindful.
DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical or health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice and guidance of your health professional.
