The Voice Inside Your Head
Most people assume that the voice we hear inside our head is our
self talking. This is true, if we assume that it is. But
if we examine the voice carefully, it cannot truly be who we are. If
we observe this inner voicet, just listening to it without getting
involved with it, we notice that it is far from perfect. In fact, most
of the time it is down right annoying. It comments that " I am walking
down the side walk". We knew that as we turned into the sidewalk.
It often does not make sense, and just jaspers and it will seem so
knowledgeable but later contradicts itself. And it keeps going.
Sometimes, it is very helpful when we are thinking. It helps us
when we cannot find our keys. We use at work. We wish we
had an on-off switch. As Michael Singer says its like having an
annoying roommate that never stops talking. In the extreme, the
voice can play music we do not want to hear or even tell us to do
really bad things.
So if we do not identify with this voice what happens? A curious
thing can happen. A little closer to us, is our real self, that
some people call our soul. This part of us is that little voice inside
us. This little voice is much quieter, but much wiser. You might
be thinking, so what, and interesting philosophy. But it is a
big deal. About two billion Hindus and Buddhists think so.
Singer in The Untethered Soul, explores the
complexity of the inner voice we hear, suggesting that it operates on
multiple levels. On the surface, the inner voice manifests as a
constant stream of thoughts—a mental narration that comments on
everything we experience, from our surroundings to our actions and
emotions. This surface-level chatter is often reactive, judgmental, or
analytical, framing our immediate perceptions of the world.
Beneath this surface lies a deeper emotional commentary, where the
voice reflects more personal feelings such as fears, desires,
anxieties, or joys. This layer is tied to our emotional states and how
we feel about ourselves and others. Deeper still, the inner voice is
shaped by subconscious patterns and unresolved emotional imprints, or
samskaras.
These deeply ingrained influences subtly guide the
narrative of the voice, connecting past experiences to present
interpretations. At its core, the inner voice is influenced by our
most fundamental beliefs about who we are, what the world is, and our
place in it. These beliefs form the foundation of our identity and
profoundly shape the tone and content of the inner dialogue.
Singer emphasizes that despite the richness and complexity of this
inner voice, it does not define our true self. Instead, he suggests
that we are the silent observer behind all this mental activity—the
conscious awareness that witnesses the voice without becoming
entangled in it. By learning to observe rather than identify with the
inner voice, we can begin to experience the freedom and peace of our
true nature.
Who am I?
When asked this question, most people would give their name, or say
who they are related to. Some will identify themselves by their
gender or the work they do. The best answer is simply that we
are all observers. Based on what we see and hear and otherwise sense,
we take care of ourselves and do what we like to do. But the
primary essence of everyone is that we are subjects looking at
objects. We know that all the objects we see are outside
us, and we are inside. Some objects are more important, like a
snake hissing near us. If we identify our mind's chatter as an object,
then we have a choice to accept it or ignore it. The mind tends to
cling to problems, reliving past events or anticipates the future.
If the mind has something important to say, we should listen, but we
have an option to listen to the unimportant thoughts from the mind.
Thus by being an observer of the mind, we no longer identify with the
our mind.
Our High-Level Inner Parts
As observers with consciousness, we are the experiencers (soul)
who engage with the world through our sensory
system, access the mind through the inner voice, and
receive impressions from our emotions. These emotions
are influenced by psychic energies flowing among the chakras,
which are energy centers defining our energy level and emotional
state. There is a part of us that connects with something greater than
ourselves, often referred to as "God" or "Source,"
which, through love, sets boundaries and provides direction. We define
ourselves through the ego, which interprets these
impressions as varying degrees of good and bad. The block diagram
above may assist in visualizing this overview.
Optimizing the Inner World
Optimizing the inner world involves cultivating mindfulness,
meditation, and self-awareness, practices that shift our sense of
identity from the mind and ego toward the soul. These practices help
align the chakras, allow emotions to flow harmoniously, and quiet the
mind, creating a space where the soul's wisdom can guide us. This
alignment fosters a life filled with balance, clarity, and deeper
meaning.
Michael A. Singer, in The Untethered Soul, offers a
framework for understanding the inner experience as a continuous flow
of thoughts, emotions, and sensations. He explains that much of what
we perceive as the "self" is the mind's activity—a relentless inner
dialogue that narrates, evaluates, and judges everything we encounter.
This mental chatter often dominates our awareness, creating
distractions and emotional disturbances that pull us away from the
present moment. Singer advocates stepping back from this inner
dialogue, reminding us that we are not the voice we hear but the
conscious awareness observing it.
This awareness allows us to recognize how past experiences shape
our current reactions. Singer identifies these imprints, or samskaras,
as unresolved emotional and mental patterns influencing our
perceptions and responses. When left unresolved, samskaras create
blockages that perpetuate discomfort and resistance. By observing
these patterns and choosing to release them, we free ourselves from
past constraints and align with life's natural flow. This process of
witnessing and releasing is essential to achieving inner freedom,
cultivating peace, and realizing our true essence as the observer of
all experiences.
The inner voice, as Singer describes, operates on multiple levels.
On the surface, it appears as a constant stream of thoughts—a mental
narration reacting to and framing our perceptions. This chatter is
often analytical, judgmental, or reflective, shaping how we interpret
the world. Beneath this lies a deeper emotional layer, where the voice
reflects fears, desires, anxieties, and joys tied to our emotional
states. At its most profound level, the inner voice is influenced by
subconscious patterns and unresolved samskaras, linking past
experiences to present narratives. These deeply ingrained beliefs
about ourselves and our place in the world form the foundation of the
inner voice, subtly shaping its tone and content.
Singer emphasizes that the richness and complexity of this inner
voice do not define who we truly are. Instead, we are the silent
observer, the conscious presence witnessing this mental activity. By
observing the voice without identifying with it, we can transcend its
limitations, finding freedom and peace by aligning with our true
nature. This understanding clarifies the interplay of mind, soul, and
emotions, offering a pathway to harmony and self-awareness.
Samskaras, as described by Michael A. Singer, are
deeply ingrained emotional and mental impressions formed from past
experiences. These impressions are stored within us and influence how
we react to the present. They act like emotional scars or energy
patterns, often triggered by events that resemble the original
experience. For example, if someone experienced rejection in the past,
they might feel a surge of anxiety or fear when faced with a situation
that reminds them of it. Samskaras can block the natural flow of
energy within us, creating emotional resistance and recurring patterns
of discomfort.
According to Singer, samskaras are created when we resist or cling
to life experiences rather than allowing them to pass through us. This
resistance traps energy, leaving it unresolved and stuck within. Over
time, these blockages accumulate, shaping how we perceive and respond
to the world. Singer argues that these blockages prevent us from
experiencing life fully and freely.
To remove these blockages, Singer emphasizes the practice of
letting go. When a samskara is triggered, instead of
resisting the discomfort or suppressing it, we should become aware of
it and allow ourselves to fully experience the energy without
attaching to it. By observing the sensation and remaining open, the
trapped energy can release naturally. This requires a willingness to
let go of the mental and emotional clinging that reinforces the
blockage.
Meditation and mindfulness are powerful tools in this process. They
help us develop the awareness necessary to recognize samskaras and the
discipline to stay present with them without reacting. Over time, as
we consistently let go of these blockages, our energy flows more
freely, and we experience greater clarity, peace, and connection to
our true self. By releasing these patterns, we transcend the
limitations imposed by our past and move closer to living in harmony
with the present moment.
