A few times a day, listen quietly for the voice in your head, the stream of continuous self-talk. Then ponder the following questions. Just be with the questions. Don't necessarily try to answer them

  • Am I the thoughts that are going through my head?
  • Or, am I the one who is aware that these thoughts are going through my head? 

    Pay attention to the gap between your thoughts—when one thought subsides and before another arises. In this way, you draw consciousness away from mind activity and create a gap of no-mind in which you are highly alert and aware but not thinking. When these gaps occur, you disidentify from your mind and feel a certain stillness and peace inside you. This is the essence of meditation and the single most vital step on your journey toward enlightenment. 
After the Exercise...
  • More exercises and helpful meditation instruction can be found in Awakening Exercises 

  • Practice the Chapter 3 Awakening Exercises
    • Adapted from Practicing the Power of Now: Essential Teachings, Meditations, and Exercises from The Power of Now (p. 18–20)  
    Published 07/29/2008