Self-inquiry, as a meditation technique, can be a powerful tool for identifying with your inner Self, the Knower, instead of the transient thoughts and disturbances that arise in your mind. This “Who am I?” guided meditation, inspired by Sri Swami Satchidananda, is a journey inward, a search for your true nature.
First, find a comfortable position. Ensure your spine is upright yet relaxed. Gently close your eyes and begin to focus your awareness within. Take a moment to settle into the present moment. Now, either silently or aloud, ask yourself: “Who am I?” Allow yourself a moment to reflect deeply on this fundamental question.
Next, question your identification with the physical form: “Am I this body?” Consider this carefully. Is your essence truly defined by your physicality? Remember, anything you possess or call “yours” is separate from your true self. The body serves as a vehicle, an instrument, but it’s not the essence of who you are. Identifying solely with the body leads to labels like “attractive,” “overweight,” “thin,” “ill,” or “healthy.” Therefore, confidently answer: “No, I am not the body.”
Continue the process of questioning, methodically examining your identification with various parts of your physical being:
“Am I the legs?” Answer: “No, I am not the legs.”
“Am I the arms?” Answer: “No, I am not the arms.”
“Am I the internal organs?” Answer: “No, I am not the internal organs.”
“Am I the breath?” Answer: “No, I am not the breath.”
“Am I the organs of senses—the sense of smell?” Answer: “No, I am not the sense of smell.”
“Am I the sense of taste?” Answer: “No, I am not the sense of taste.”
“Am I the sense of touch?” Answer: “No, I am not the sense of touch.”
“Am I the sense of sight?” Answer: “No, I am not the sense of sight.”
“Am I the sense of hearing?” Answer: “No, I am not the sense of hearing.”
Now, delve even deeper, questioning your identification with your mental processes: “Am I the mind?”
Just as with the body, you have a mind, but your mind is not you. Identifying with the mind leads to labels such as “a doctor,” “a student,” “intelligent,” “unintelligent,” “successful,” or “a failure.” You might say “I am happy,” “I am sad,” “I am angry,” or “I am anxious.” However, these are merely fleeting emotions, mental fluctuations. You are not defined by these states. Your mind is simply experiencing these waves, these mental modifications. With unwavering conviction, declare: “No, I am not the mind. I am not my thoughts.”
Continue to detach from all that you consider “yours.” Observe each thought as it arises, striving to maintain a distance from it. Witness the stream of consciousness without becoming entangled in it.
Ask yourself: “To whom do these thoughts come? To me?” The answer is no. Then ask, “Who am I?”
Finally, affirm your true nature: “I am the eternal witness, the pure Self, the Sat-Chid-Ananda—truth-knowledge-bliss absolute!” This affirmation is not merely a statement, but a realization, a direct experience of your inherent divinity. Embrace this truth, and let it guide you towards a deeper understanding of who you truly are.
