The First Question Worth Asking

Every day we experience change.
Some changes bring joy.
Others bring disappointment.
Some are expected.
Others arrive, without warning.

Over time we gradually discover that change is woven into the fabric of life.

Relationships change.
Careers change.
Children grow up.
Parents grow old.
Economies change.
Political movements rise and fall.
Social habits change.
Nations change.
The weather changes.
Health changes.
Thoughts change.
Desires change.
Emotions change.

Yet in the midst of all this change, many thoughtful people eventually begin asking a simple but profound question:

What remains unchanged while all things change?

For thousands of years, Yoga Science has encouraged people not to answer this question too quickly.

Instead, it invites us to conduct a simple experiment.

For example: Pause for a moment.

Enter the Witnessing State. Without trying to change anything, simply witness and observe whatever appears on the screen of consciousness.

Thoughts arise.
Memories from the past arise.
Imaginations of the future arise.
Emotions arise.
Sensations arise.

And they all change––They come. They go.

Then, quietly ask yourself:
Who is aware of these changes? . . .
This question is not merely philosophical.
It is profoundly practical.

The way we understand, or don’t understand ourselves influences every decision we make, every relationship we cultivate, every challenge we encounter, and every opportunity we embrace.

The ancient Yoga Scientists discovered that lasting happiness, regardless of circumstance, does not come from trying to control a constantly changing world.

It comes from discovering within ourselves something deeper and more profound than the changes we witness. This understanding cannot be borrowed from another person, and it cannot be accepted merely because someone says it’s true.

Like every important discovery, it must be verified through careful observation, thoughtful experimentation, and personal experience.

Perhaps that’s why the first question worth asking is not, “How can I control the world?” But rather “Who am I?”

Through this form of exploration, we can now conclude that: The right questions awaken understanding, and continuous spiritual practice, or sadhana, transforms that understanding into a valuable experiences.

Now, if today’s question proved interesting and rewarding to you, by all means, Continue your Exploration.

And throughout your personal process of exploration, remember that the right questions awaken understanding, and your dedicated spiritual practice, or sadhana,  transforms that understanding into valuable experiences.

Therefore, if today’s witnessing contemplation awakens something within you, we invite you to explore these principles in The Foundation Course for Life course––either live on Zoom or at the AMI Home Center.

During your six weeks of guided study and daily practice, you’ll learn practical methods drawn from Yoga Science—including AMI Meditation®, the Four Functions of the Mind, diaphragmatic breathing, mantra, and other time-tested disciplines that help you better understand how the mind works, and how to apply your understanding creatively––in everyday life.

The purpose of The Foundation Course for Life is not to ask you to adopt new beliefs. It is to help you verify enduring principles through your own observation, experimentation, and experience.

Why? Because the most meaningful discoveries are the ones we make for ourselves.

Meet the author