The Deeper Level of Truth
Have you ever stopped to wonder who—or what—you really are? Not your name, your job, your roles, or even your feelings. Those things come and go. But what remains? That’s the deeper level of truth we’re exploring today.
Imagine your life as a giant bowl of soup. The body, the emotions, the thoughts—they’re all ingredients floating around. They interact, combine, and change. But none of them are you. You are the bowl. You hold all of it, yet you are untouched by any single flavor.
This idea may sound deep or mysterious, but it’s actually very simple. It just requires a little practice and attention. At the heart of it is discernment—the ability to notice the difference between what is real and what only appears to be real.
The Practice of Discernment
Every moment of your life is filled with sensations—thoughts, emotions, physical experiences. These are like waves on the surface of the ocean. You are the ocean itself.
With mindfulness, you can observe these waves. With discernment, you remember: I am not these waves. I am that which observes them.
The speech you use, the thoughts you think, even the personality you present to the world—these all rise and fall. They’re not there when you sleep. They come and go like passing clouds. How can something that disappears be who you truly are?
You endure. You are always present.
Mindfulness + Wisdom = Freedom
The key is to practice mindfulness with wisdom. Be fully present with what’s happening around you and within you—your thoughts, your speech, your feelings. At the same time, carry the inner knowing: This is not me.
It’s not about pushing things away. It’s about seeing clearly.
You can do this in any moment:
- While walking in nature
- While speaking to a friend
- Even during moments of struggle or joy
Observe what is happening and gently remind yourself: This is not who I am. You’ll start to feel more spacious, more free, more connected to your true self.
You Already Have It
The best part? This wisdom isn’t something you need to earn or achieve. It’s already within you. It’s natural. It’s your birthright.
This realization doesn’t need fancy words or complicated teachings. It just needs a little curiosity and a bit of courage to look deeper.
And when you do, you’ll find that the truth isn’t far away. It’s closer than your breath. It’s what you already are.
Quote
“The truth is not something you create. It is something you awaken to.”
— Jay Michaelis
Spiritual Book Reference
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
— Psalm 46:10 (Bible)
This verse beautifully supports the teaching: in stillness and awareness, the deeper truth reveals itself.
Summary Points:
- Your True Self is Unchanging: You are like a clear, unmoving “bowl” that holds all your experiences (thoughts, feelings, sensations), but you are not those experiences.
- Discrimination is Key: We all have an innate wisdom to tell the difference between our true self and what we are experiencing (“not this, not that”).
- It’s Always Available: This deeper truth and the ability to discern it are always within you, not something you need to acquire or search for.