Introspection is looking inward to examine our thoughts, feelings, and motivations. It is a conscious effort to observe and analyze the workings of our mind. This practice dates back to the most ancient Indic philosophic traditions and has been a cornerstone of many spiritual and psychological disciplines.

Watching your mind is a precious practice for self-awareness, emotional regulation, clarity, and personal growth. It develops into a truthful relationship of knowing, understanding and experiencing your body and mind. The advantages of gaining a deeper insight into our being are vast despite many challenges. Dedicating time to introspection and integrating it into our daily lives, we can initiate the journey of self-exploration, ultimately leading to a more fulfilled and harmonious life. The introspection methods involve meditation, self-monitoring, journaling, reflecting on feelings, mindfulness practices, etc.

The human mind is a complex entity filled with memories, emotions, and thoughts, constantly in flux. Despite its pivotal role in shaping our experiences and behaviours, the mind remains largely uncharted territory for many. Your mind identifies and attaches to your thoughts, causing you to lack control over them. Nonetheless, a section of the mind is untouched by conditioning, where it can experience choiceless awareness in pure consciousness, which we call the soul. For this reason, the subject of spirituality highly emphasizes the regular exercise of introspecting the mind via the soul, which involves examining our inner activity closely.

The soul is superior to the other two fundamental components we call the body and mind. Spiritually, I, as aware energy, am the witness of both. Our minds revolve around emotional desires, so we don’t need to seek independence from external influences; instead, we can discover that freedom from within. Understanding material things is easy, but comprehending and controlling the selfish mind, an illusion that shapes our surroundings and actions is far more complex. The above indicates that our being in body and mind is derived more from our being-ness through the metaphysical soul since you claim both body and mind to be yours.

Knowing the mind is a spiritual and inner journey of self-discovery, not a quest for external or material knowledge. It takes us inward to understand who and what we are. The mind, conscious or subconscious, functions in duality in the relativity of hot/ cold, happiness/sadness, plus/minus, divine/devil, for it chooses one of the two for its desirous need. However, in the spiritual realm, the superconscious, we operate spontaneously in choiceless non-dual thoughts; we can observe and witness our thoughts. It is that section in which the witness as aware energy resides, making the mind conscious and alive to all it perceives.

The mind is perpetual, reckless and haphazard multitasking, functioning by exercising its power of choice amidst dualities. Like pleasure and pain or happiness and sadness are dualities, illusory imaginations in which our soul gets trapped. Because if one aspect is present at any given time, the other, like a shadow, is bound to follow. They are all mental creations where the cognitive behaviour and attitude connect to what we desire, bringing joy or grief, often leaving us with little control over their tendencies. Although the mind is an instrument for us to use, it turns the tables, making us dance to its emotional state of mind. This dynamic often results in the mind overpowering our spirit, rendering us mere puppets to its whims. 

No matter how hard we try to steer our thoughts and emotions, the mind remains stubbornly resistant, refusing to budge. Consequently, we remain deeply identified with and attached to the mind’s fleeting fantasies, giving rise to a false persona we commonly call ego-consciousness. This ego obscures our true nature and binds us to a distorted sense of self, leading to a life driven by superficial desires and transient satisfactions.

Breaking free from this cycle requires a sincere shift in understanding and relationship with the mind. Instead of being dominated by it, we need to reclaim our role as the master of the mind. It involves cultivating mindfulness and self-awareness, allowing us to constantly watch our thoughts and emotions without getting entangled. By doing so, we gradually diminish the power of the ego and reconnect with our true essence.

Essentially, the mind should serve as a tool to navigate life, not as a dictator controlling our every move. Through diligent self-inquiry and introspection, we can disentangle ourselves from the mind’s relentless grip. This journey towards self-mastery is not easy, but it is essential for achieving true freedom and self-realization. By recognizing the mind’s tendencies and learning to transcend its limitations, we can live more authentically and align with our higher purpose.

Keep a watch on your thoughts; do not judge and decide subconsciously. Witness the many shows your mind presents to you. By observing without attachment, watch your mind and its actions. Do not let these activities control you. Do not get carried away by your thoughts. Your mind will transform from a problem to a free entertainer once you view it as an observer. It is only by becoming a witness to your thoughts you will understand the distinction between your mind and yourself. Witness your thoughts honestly; you will learn what is useful and what is not. Without disturbing or distracting the mind from its thoughts, just watch. It shall usher in a state of peacefulness, taking you beyond your memories of emotional thoughts into the present, the essence of witnessing, we call Sakshi Yoga, the unity of all three sections of the mind.

This insightful process will calm your mind, taking you towards higher meditation. You have greater freedom of choice when you learn to observe and witness your thoughts and can exert control over them. A simple example while observing: if you notice negative thoughts flowing in your mind, such thoughts will continue to flow from the past to the future and take control of yourself. But, while witnessing them, if you are in the present and push them away, you can deal positively with such unfavourable situations in a better manner and take control over them. In witnessing, your observation must be fully and unquestioningly non-attached, awakening the non-dual aware energy in the soul. The inward act of exploring your mind and its thoughts will make you transcend spiritually into the present moment, which the average mind cannot. 

‘I am not what I think’ is spiritualism’s most fundamental and essential statement. The mind interferes between the material and the spiritual self through emotional desires. Because of ignorance, most of us are highly materialistic without having an idea of what spiritualism is all about. Our deepest inner desire always wishes fulfilment from a wholesome life. To achieve this state, we must break this barrier between the mind’s endless desires and the true self to righteously progress materially, fulfilling our desires while remaining spiritually observant, transcending into higher consciousness to be spiritual, caring, and concerned for all around us. Namaste.