Who Are You Beyond Your Thoughts?

The paradox of this question is that it cannot be answered with another thought. One must dive in deep to discover the unchanging source that is beyond the world of name, form, and thought.

A long time ago, the ancient Indian seers (rishis) applied systematic “scientific” investigation to the study of the mind. This science became known as brahmavidya – the “supreme science”. It was called supreme because, rather than studying the external world like most other sciences, it aimed to explain the underlying Reality or substratum that informs all other material phenomena. The seers were able to turn inward, to go into the depths of their minds, and to contemplate their awareness of human experience and existence.

In examining the structure of their consciousness, the sages discovered a constant flux within and between the various layers of their being—the senses, thoughts, emotions, and ego—rather than a concrete personality. These layers of subtle matter were always in the process of change. This is something that we can observe ourselves: the fluctuations of our moods, personality, and state of the mind over time. The nature of the mind is constant change. Indeed, the mind is a field comprised of subtle forces that take the form of thoughts and impressions that simply flow by. Here, within this constant state of flux, one might ask: “where am I in all of this?”

However, beyond the fluctuations of the mind, the sages also found something changeless and infinite. In the climax of meditation, after transcending the body and the mind, they discovered a matrix of interconnectedness that exists beyond time and space, where the sense of separateness and ego disappears. They found that this changeless Reality lies at the core of every human personality and all forms of existence. Moreover, they concluded that the purpose of life is to directly realize and experience this Reality as our essential nature.

Try the following meditation to help you find the “space beyond the thoughts”:

“Observing the Mind” Meditation:

• Find a comfortable meditative seated position and bring the spine upright. Close your eyes, relax your breath and draw awareness inward, away from the external world.
• Begin to observe whatever arises in the mind: the incoming thoughts, mental images, feelings or emotions. Try to see them as separate from each other, noticing when one impression ends and the next one begins.
• Now, try to become aware of the “space between the thoughts.” As you observe this mental stillness, feel yourself surrender a bit deeper into the quietness.
• Continue to observe the incoming and outgoing impressions and the quiet spaces in between. Over time, see if you can extend your awareness of the silence.
• Feel yourself at peace as you enjoy the quietude and the pure joy of being!