Witnessing Awareness – Dr. Vastant Lad on MIND

The mind is the only sense organ that has the capacity to see itself. The ears cannot hear themselves. The eyes cannot see themselves, unless there is a mirror. The tongue cannot taste itself. Nevertheless, the mind can see itself. It has double-arrowed attention. The mind can look outside and, at the same time, it can look inside. In the kingdom of the senses, the mind is king. Mind has the capacity to choose and is a powerful instrument of experience. Right from this moment, bring discipline and watch the mind. Watching the mind means looking at your thoughts as they are, looking at your feelings and emotions as they are, without identifying them as “this is my fear, this is my thought.” Without identification, justification, evaluation and notification, you can see a clear-cut gap between two thoughts, a space between two memories, a distance between two emotions. In that space, there is a door. Enter into that door. 

Thought is like a lingering cloud in the sky of consciousness. You are not the cloud; you are only watching the cloud. In between two clouds, there is a vast space. Remember that no cloud can stay in the sky. In the same way, no thought can stay in the consciousness. Just sit quietly or lie on the floor and watch the total movement of thinking. Let the mind thinkwhat it wants. It may think about good things or bad things. It does not matter; do not judge. Just observe the thinking. When you go on observing your thinking in this way, within one week you will see that thinking becomes slower. You can clearly see a space between two thoughts. If you enter that space, you will forget your body and your problems and you will be in a dynamic space. Take care not to name it.

The vast, incredible, immeasurable space is your true nature. Your true nature is endless and boundless existence. Live in the present, in the state beyond time and aging, which can be reached through sensitive awareness. You can remain in that vast space 24 hours a day.

External sounds— the cry of a child, the barking of a dog, or a musical sound— all come into the ear and dissolve. You become the center of the whole universe, the whole existence, the whole presence.

To maintain such a state is pure love. When you are in the state of love, it is joy and bliss, which is your true nature. The molecules of bliss start flowing into your body. All disease is wiped out. You can achieve radical transformation of your brain cells simply by watching the movement of your mind at every moment.

Mano vaha srotas is profound, because it has its root in the universe and its fruit in the heart of every human being. Your heart, the fruit, and the universe, the root, merge together. Then you flower. The flowering of bliss and love takes place when the fruit and the root merge together.

“Before practicing meditation, we see that mountains are mountains.
When we start to practice, we see that mountains are no longer mountains.
After practicing a while, we see that mountains are again mountains.
Now the mountains are very free. Our mind is still with the mountains,
but it is no longer bound to anything.”
—Thich Nhat Hahn: —

Meditation on Fear and Anxiety

Fear and anxiety are common obstacles that can hinder a meditation practice. However, by acknowledging and addressing these emotions, individuals can cultivate greater awareness, clarity, and peace of mind. Here are key insights from the psychology of fear and anxiety meditation:

• Fear as a natural response: Fear is a natural human response to perceived threats, whether real or imagined. In meditation, fear can arise as a result of confronting uncomfortable emotions, thoughts, or physical sensations.
• Anxiety as a learned response: Anxiety disorders are often rooted in learned patterns of thinking and behaving. Meditation can help individuals recognize and challenge these patterns, promoting a more balanced and adaptive response to stress.
• Mindfulness as a key component: Mindfulness meditation, in particular, has been shown to reduce anxiety by increasing awareness of the present moment and decreasing rumination on worrisome thoughts.
• Body-focused techniques: Guided meditations that focus on the body, such as progressive muscle relaxation or breathwork, can help individuals short-circuit the fear response and cultivate a sense of calm and grounding.
• Embracing fear: Rather than trying to suppress or avoid fear, some meditation approaches encourage individuals to embrace and explore their fear, fostering a greater sense of acceptance and compassion.
• Faith and uncertainty: Meditation can involve an act of faith, trusting that the practice will lead to greater insight and peace, even in the face of uncertainty and fear.

Practical Meditation Techniques for Fear and Anxiety

1. Body-focused meditation: Use progressive muscle relaxation, breathwork, or qigong to cultivate a sense of calm and grounding.
2. Mindfulness meditation: Focus on the present moment, observing thoughts and emotions without judgment.
3. Guided meditations: Listen to guided meditations specifically designed to address fear and anxiety, such as those that use visualization, imagery, or body-focused techniques.
4. Embracing fear meditation: Explore and acknowledge fear, rather than trying to suppress or avoid it.
5. Short-circuiting the fear response: Use techniques like deep breathing or physical relaxation to interrupt the fear response and promote a sense of calm.

Helpful to Remember

• Meditation is a practice, not a cure-all. So patience and a gentle attitude of mind with oneself as we explore these techniques is a very helpful reminder.
• Please consider seeking guidance from qualified meditation teachers or therapists if the  struggle with persistent fear or anxiety persists