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This Practice is quite simple and straightforward. At the
same time you can find it to be a Practice that helps you
to shift your perception of "self" and "other",
and thus your sense of being in the world.
You can benefit from this Practice many different times during
the course of your life. Do it for one five day round, and
then do it again at other times whenever you have the desire
to do so.
One of the best ways to do this Practice is to create a "prompt"
to remind yourself to ask yourself the various questions that
are suggested. You can place a card or object in your change
pocket that you will notice several times a day when you go
to buy something; you can place a card on your desk at work
with a question mark on it; you can set some alarms on your
computer, and you can place a question mark on the mirror
that you look into in the morning. Anything that will help
you to remember numerous times a day, to ask yourself the
question for the day.
 Day
One. "Who am I?"
Numerous times during the course of the day, ask yourself
"Who am I?" (It is great to ask the question out
loud if the situation allows, but asking this question internally
is also quite fine.)
Please do not attempt to actively answer the question, but
instead, simply ask it in an inquisitive manner. Somewhat
in the same frame of mind as asking yourself "I wonder
what the weather will be like tomorrow?" Or, "I
wonder who will win the upcoming election?" I often ask
myself the question several times in a row, one right after
the other, and then I simply let the question reverberate
in my mind for a while.
Day
Two. "Who is (he) (she)?"
Pick someone that you have a meaningful relationship with
and want to be able to better understand with your heart.
Numerous times during the day ask yourself "Who is Jane?"
or "Who is Tom?" (Filling in the name of the appropriate
person.) Usually I suggest that you ask the question in regard
to only one person, but you can do otherwise if you are really
drawn to. Asking about one person one time, and another person
the next time.
At the end of the day, take some time to write down your
thoughts.
Day
Three. "Who are 'we'?"
Today, you are meant to think about yourself and the person
you were contemplating yesterday, and wonder about yourselves
as "a relationship". The relationship can be a business
relationship, a marriage, a friendship, etc.
For instance, "Who are Betty and I as a couple?"
"Who are Bill and I as business partners?" "Who
are Marina and I as parent and child?"
Ask yourself your question, numerous times during the day,
without attempting to come up with answers.
Day
Four. "Who are 'they'?"
At this stage you have considered yourself, a significant
other person as an individual, and your significant other
in relationship without yourself. Now you are meant to take
a look at the rest of the world.
You can let your question be just as it is above, "Who
are 'they'?" or you can of course customize
your question. "Who are our customers?" "Who
are our clients?" "Who are our neighbors?"
"Who are the terrorists?"
At the end of the day, take some time to write down your
thoughts.
Day
Five. "Who am I?"
Today you return to the same activity as the first day, after
having had the chance to contemplate who and how you are in
the world.
Numerous times during the course of the day, ask yourself
"Who am I?"
At the end of the day, take some time to write down your
thoughts, AND today, take some time to contemplate what you
have learned over the course of the last five days. You will
likely want to re-read the thoughts you have written down
over the course of the week.
* * *
I have done this Practice many times over the years, and
I always find that I learn something new each time.
Practices
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