I AM NOTHING

The Essence of Meditation

I AM is a realization. It is a sense of PRESENCE. It is an experience, not a thought.

Concept of Emptiness

Vast and Profround

You are only as PRESENT as you are CONSCIOUS.

Keep yourself anchored in the present moment by tuning into your physical body. What’s going on? 

REALIZATION that YOU are separate from the THINKER. 

AWAKEN to a higher level of consciousness.

Become highly aware and not thinking - ESSENCE OF MEDITATION.

Capture negative thoughts and feelings before they can take root in the physical body.  

BODY SCAN PRACTICE: Turn your life into a moving meditation by practicing active self-observation. Anchor in body  when you feel like you are anxious or stressed. Say to yourself, “what am I doing”: I am washing dishes, I am driving the car, I am walking up the steps, I am breathing, I feel anxious, etc.  Name it, acknowledge it, call it out.  Notice how your body feels once you acknowledge what you are doing in the moment. You will begin to close the anxiety gap.

ANXIETY GAP - when you are HERE and your mind is somewhere else. 

Observing and directing the mind. Allows you to change your thoughts. You choose the response instead of letting your mind whip you around and still your peace.

Who am I if I AM nothing?

We are so used to saying who we are, what we do, where we live, where we went to school, who we know, who we are related to, where we are going or have been…reporting, associating, affiliating, identifying, posting, texting…

I AM PRACTICE: Make a list of all your labels or anything that defines you, likes/dislikes, strong emotions

E.g. I am Sue Hynes, I am a yoga teacher, I am a mother, I am a wife, I love golf, I don’t care for…, I am tired of…I love…I am bored of …. I am frustrated that my foot hurts, I am grateful that I have a stationary bike

THEN: Ask yourself? Who am I if I AM nothing? no labels, no preferences

I AM…
Formless, FREE, Expansive

Infinite - no beginning and no end

Heart Centered, anchored in truth

Accepting of what IS  (content)

Free of bondage to form and identification with form

SOUL that brings life to the physical body (animates the body)

Divine Spirit Light

Inner energy field, Inner LIFE

BEING within all beings

Realm of deep stillness and peace

JOY and intense aliveness

I Am MUST BE EXPERIENCED

Pure Consciousness

In the Zone

Joy of BEING

No need to fill in the blank because there is no need, no lack

You are ENOUGH just as you are

power of now chapter 5