Often, we find ourselves entangled in the web of our thoughts, feelings, and experiences, believing that we are these contents of our consciousness. However, the spiritual teachings propose a profound shift in perspective: you are not the contents of your consciousness; rather, you are the awareness that knows them. This shift invites you to become the knowing.

Understanding Consciousness and Its Contents

Consciousness can be likened to a vast ocean, and the contents of consciousness—our thoughts, feelings, sensations—are like the waves that arise and subside on the surface. We often identify with these waves, believing that we are our thoughts, feelings, and experiences. However, these elements are transient. They come and go, but something fundamental remains—the awareness that perceives them.

Awareness: The Eternal Witness

This awareness, or consciousness itself, is our true nature. It is the silent observer, the eternal witness of all that arises and subsides within us. It is unchanging and ever-present, unlike the transient contents of consciousness.

We can experience this directly in moments of quiet and stillness. When we momentarily disengage from our thoughts and emotions, we find an undercurrent of silent knowing, a sense of presence that is always there, aware of our experience but not entangled in it.

Being the Knowing

“Being the Knowing” means to identify with this underlying awareness rather than the fleeting contents of consciousness. It means to recognize and rest in our true nature as the silent witness of our experience.

This is not a state to be achieved; rather, it is a recognition of what we have always been. It is not about changing or getting rid of our thoughts and feelings. Instead, it is about changing our relationship with them. We let them be, allowing them to arise and subside without identifying with them or getting caught up in their drama.

How to Be the Knowing

Mindfulness and meditation practices can be beneficial in cultivating this shift in perspective. By intentionally focusing our attention on the present moment and observing our thoughts and feelings without judgment or identification, we can begin to disentangle ourselves from the contents of consciousness and rest in our true nature as awareness.

It can also be helpful to regularly remind ourselves of our true nature throughout the day. Whenever we notice that we are getting caught up in our thoughts and feelings, we can gently remind ourselves: “I am the knowing, not the known.”

Recognizing ourselves as the knowing rather than the contents of consciousness can lead to a profound sense of peace and freedom. It enables us to navigate the ups and downs of life with equanimity, knowing that while the contents of our consciousness may change, our true nature as awareness remains ever-present and unchanging. In this realization, we find a deep sense of homecoming—we come to rest in the truth of who we are!!