7 May 2021

Clarify Mind: 2 of 12: Be a Witness and not a Judge, Be Always Aware

by | posted in: Deven's Journey, Mindfulness | 0

My eyes see. My ears hear sounds inside the home, of chirping birds outside, of cars driving by, or wind, of ocean waves, of thunder in the sky, etc. My mouth has a taste when I bring it into my awareness. My nose picks up smells in the air. My skin senses the touch of clothes and shoes, the puff of air, glass, or a cup I hold in my hands, etc. My mind thinks.

My six senses are active - it's all happening now, and all the time - every moment. Can I be a witness to them?

I am not my body, not my mind, not my intellect - I am the one who observes them all. I am spacious awareness.

Being a Witness to Mind and its Thinking

My mind is always thinking, thoughts passing by like shifting weather. Can I become a witness to these thoughts? Is it possible to observe them without becoming attached?

When I detach from my thoughts, a spaciousness opens within me, revealing that these thoughts do not define who I am. This detachment liberates me from the cocoon of my mind’s habitual patterns.

Flying through clouds, it can seem as if nothing else exists. Yet when the plane breaks through and rises above them, suddenly the clouds are below me and the horizon stretches out clear and bright. Similarly, when I step back from my thoughts and emotions and simply observe them as a witness, my mind becomes clearer and my perspective lifts, opening space for new insights and ideas.

Be a Witness to my Body

The body is an ongoing experience that completely envelops me. Whether it’s love, hurt, anger, or an addictive urge, each is fueled by physical sensations. When I practice keeping my breath and body sensations in awareness, I begin to notice deeper feelings, emotional states, and eventually the patterns underlying emotions and suffering.

When I am fully attuned to my body’s felt sense, I can access its innate intelligence, which offers insights into self-care. This awareness also helps activate mirror neurons, enabling me to empathize and connect deeply with family, friends, colleagues, customers, neighbors, and everyone I encounter.

Tuning in and observing bodily sensations grounds me in the present moment, keeping me rooted on planet Earth.

As I awaken my capacity to feel the aliveness within, I sense my connection to the love and abundance of the universe. I become attuned to the five elements—Earth, water, fire, air, and ether.

While my mind can wander into the “virtual reality” of thoughts and drama, my body remains present in the here and now. By bringing awareness to my body, I notice throbbing, pulsations, and sensations—this mindful attention helps quiet my thinking mind. It creates space to connect with healing and abundance, restoring faith, trust, and clarity. Through this embodied presence, I can recognize patterns and perceive reality more accurately.

Be a Witness and not a Judge

My ego wants to judge or label everything as good or bad, trying to protect my identity. I keep that in my awareness as well – I detach from the judging and be a witness to it.

Be Continually Aware

Can I aim to be continually aware of every moment in my life?

It’s not the object of awareness whether it’s something I see, hear, taste, touch, smell, or think – it’s just the process of being aware.

I am spacious awareness and part of universal consciousness. Directing my mind to be aware helps to detach it from the drama of emotions and thoughts and clarify it.

Being a witness allows me to see life from a bird’s-eye view, to watch it like a drama rather than drowning inside it. It can open up space to experience life rather than suffering from it.

I can’t stop the waves of thoughts and emotions in the ocean of life, but I can learn how to surf them.

What are your thoughts?