The intention of this practice is to bring awareness to and lift veils of discernment to what is real and what is not real.
This guided practice helps in understanding purusha,
Pure consciousness or the inner self,
As the observer,
Distinct and separate from the transient aspect of the external world,
Prakriti,
Or the observed.
By observing thoughts,
Emotions,
And sensations without getting absorbed or identifying with them,
One can realize the distinction between the unchanging consciousness,
That is purusha,
And the ever-changing nature of the external world,
Prakriti.
Let's get started.
Begin by finding a comfortable and quiet place to sit or lie down.
You may choose to close your eyes or slightly lower your gaze.
Now we'll take a few deep,
Slow and steady breaths in.
And if you exhale,
Sighing out slowly through the mouth.
Breathe in.
And as you breathe in,
Feel the belly rise.
And as you exhale,
Emptying completely and feel the belly fall.
Continue to breathe in this way.
Breathing in,
Belly rise.
Exhaling out.
Belly fall.
Now visualize a sturdy,
Beautifully crafted wooden bookshelf or any kind of shelf standing before you.
It can be made up of any material or design you'd like.
This shelf represents the world of prakriti,
The material realm.
Imagine yourself as purusha,
The external,
Unchanging consciousness,
Standing next to the shelf you've created.
This shelf is a place where you can put your worries,
Thoughts,
Fears,
Pain and stress.
As you approach the shelf,
Imagine that you're holding all the things that are currently bothering you,
Are causing you some sort of stress.
This might be a thought about work,
School,
Personal issues or any other concerns.
One by one,
Place each of these worries on the shelf.
As you do this,
You may even sense a slight of relief and lightness in your body and your breath.
To deepen this awareness,
Perhaps raising your shoulders up,
All the way to your ears and releasing them down with a sigh of release through the mouth.
Feel the weight of these worries leaving your body and mind.
Your shoulders relax and your breathing becomes slower and more natural.
And once you place all your concerns on the shelf,
Take a step back and observe how it feels to be free from them.
Notice how they change moment by moment through the passage of time.
Observe how with time,
We can choose to allow for a sense of spaciousness to permeate the mind and body.
Enjoy the sense of peace and calm that come from letting go of worries,
Stress or fear.
Or by simply just noticing what it feels like to accept things as they are,
Without striving to control or gripping onto them.
As Purusha,
Observe the shelf and all the objects on it with a sense of detachment.
Recognize that these objects represent the transient aspect of the material world.
Feel a sense of calm and peace as you understand that.
Like Purusha,
Your true self is untouched by the impermanence of the external world.
Begin to focus on each item on the shelf.
So the worries,
Fears,
Stress,
Concerns.
These items symbolize the various elements and experiences in your life.
From nature's beauty to your daily challenges.
Now as you gaze at each object,
Each thought,
Each worry and stress,
Acknowledge its impermanence and its connection to the world of Prakriti,
The realm of matter.
We often feel incomplete or defective,
Always missing something.
By uniting with a pure consciousness beyond the shelf,
We begin to experience ourself as inherently whole and complete.
Realize that the inner observer,
What we call Purusha,
The realm of the spirit or your true self is separate from these transient experiences.
Remembering and understanding that these experiences,
They come and go.
But your inner self remains constant.
You're not your thoughts,
You're not your fears,
You're not your worries.
Unite your awareness of Purusha and Prakriti.
Recognize the harmony between your unchanging consciousness and the ever-changing material world.
Now take a deep breath in.
Exhale out.
Spend a few moments in the state of unity,
Feeling the profound connection between your true self and the external world.
When you're ready,
Gently open your eyes and return to the present moment.
Carrying the sense of detachment and unity wherever you go.
