Your Inner Guru
The quiet knowing that can guide your meditation.
There is a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen.
~ Rumi.
Most of us are familiar with some form of “inner voice.” Unlike the self-talk of our chattering mind, this voice is subtler, almost elusive. It rarely speaks in words, but may manifest as an intuition (literally, “inner teaching”), a hunch, an insight, a moment of clarity, or a gut feeling about the right path to follow. But much of the time this quiet inner knowing tends to be drowned out by the thinking mind.
When our mental activity settles down, this inner-voice can shine through more clearly. How many times have you been struggling with a problem, only to get a key insight when you’re no longer thinking about it? Taking a walk, perhaps, in the shower, or in the middle of the night.
Our inner guide is beneficial not only in everyday life; it can also play a useful role in our meditation practice.
The best way I’ve found to access this inner-knowing during meditation is through a process of inner inquiry. This is a gentle, delicate process that does not involve any control or expectation. It’s simply posing a question to oneself.
But it is not like a conventional question — one that we try to answer with our conscious mind. We are not even seeking an answer. It’s more like dropping a seed into the stillness, and then waiting to see what happens.
During a meditation, you might be feeling calm and at ease, and generally happy with how it’s going. It probably doesn’t occur to you that you could be even more relaxed.
To see if you could let go more, you might pose the question: “Is more relaxation possible?” Don’t try to answer this yourself, with your conscious mind. You are inviting your inner guide to respond. Simply pose the question, and wait.
If the answer is “Yes,” it will appear, not as an idea or an insight, but as an actual experience. You might notice a tension that you hadn’t been aware of begin to soften. Or your mind settling into a quieter state.
Similarly, you could enquire: “Is more letting go possible?” Or: “Could my attention be softer, more relaxed?” Then wait to see if your experience shifts in some way.
The key is to phrase your question in an open-ended way. Adopt an attitude of wondering, being curious: “I don’t know, but could there possibly be an easier way of being in this moment?”
If nothing changes, don’t feel disappointed. There’s no harm in asking. But if your inner guidance does reveal an easier way of being, you’ll be glad you did.
I’ve found this form of inner inquiry invaluable in my own practice. But it doesn’t need to be a regular part of every session. Think of it as a refinement you can explore when you’re in a quiet state and want to see if your inner guru can help you be even more at ease.
This essay was excerpted from my latest book, How to Meditate Without Even Trying. You can read more about it here
If you buy a copy online (and like the book) please consider leaving a short review. It really helps bring the book to people’s attention.
Ask me (or rather my personal chatbot) questions about my work and ideas, 24/7, at PeterBot
Great piece Peter, thanks for sharing. I’ve noticed this too; the moments of real clarity rarely come from ‘trying harder’ but usually from stopping. This piece names that very well, thank you
I’ve meditated for 50 years. Yeah, I’m an old fart. Any technique that helps you find rest is worthwhile.
Showing up every day matters more than which method you use, because you’ll eventually develop your own technique. Your mind is unique, and what it means for you to be effortless isn’t something words can teach.