“The Untethered Soul; The Journey Beyond Yourself” by Michael A Singer explores the mind and our thoughts and how they create suffering in life. We tend to attach to our thoughts and believe them to be truth; truth about other, the world, circumstances, and ourselves. Singer calls our thoughts our “inner roommate.” He emphasizes the importance of being a non-judgmental observer of our thoughts in order to avoid attachment.
“Through meditation, through awareness and willful efforts, you can learn to keep your {energy} centers open. You do this by just relaxing and releasing. You do this by not buying into the concept that there is anything worth closing over. Remember, if you love life, nothing is worth closing over. Nothing, ever, is worth closing your heart over.”
This book is a great compliment to Yoga and Meditation. In both practices, the “monkey mind” is what we are really working with. During Yoga(especially Restorative and Yin) and Meditation, we still our bodies and become aware of the mind. The mind is always moving and bouncing, we just are not aware of it during the day because we are over stimulated. Being a witness to the activity of the mind without creating a story or judgement is challenging. Singer’s book brings awareness to how much energy and suffering there is when we identify with our thoughts and judgments.
“You are not your thoughts; you are aware of your thoughts. You are not your emotions; you feel your emotions. You are not your body; you look at it in the mirror and experience this world through its eyes and ears. You are the conscious being who is aware of all these inner and outer things.”
Overall, this book resonated with me. As a Therapist, Yoga Instructor, lover of Yogic Philosophy, and Yogi, the concepts align well with what I talk about and practice. I feel as if we are all looking for a way to live more peacefully within ourselves without the burden of the mind.
Read this book if:
- You practice Yoga or Meditation
- Love Yoga Philosophy
- Interested in detaching from your thoughts
- Want to deepen your relationship and understanding of the Self
Singer, M. A. (2013). The untethered soul: The journey beyond yourself. Oakland, CA: Noetic Books, Institute of Noetic Sciences, New Harbinger Publications.