The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer [Book Summary & PDF]

The Untethered Soul The Journey Beyond Yourself

“There is nothing more important to true growth than realizing that you are not the voice of the mind – you are the one who hears it.”― Michael A. Singer, The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michael A. Singer received a master’s degree in economics from the University of Florida in 1971. During his doctoral work, Singer had an awakening and went into seclusion to focus on yoga and meditation. Through the years, Singer has made major contributions in the areas of business, the arts, education, healthcare, and environmental protection. Prior to The Untethered Soul, Singer had authored two books on the integration of Eastern and Western philosophy: The Search for Truth and Three Essays on Universal Law: Karma, Will, and Love. The following are the essential takeaways from the highly insightful, The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer. Please enjoy.

The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer Book Summary & Analysis

PART 1

AWAKENING CONSCIOUSNESS

WHO ARE YOU? Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950), a great teacher in the yogic tradition, used to say, “To attain inner freedom, one must continuously and sincerely ask the question, “Who am I?” He believed this was more important than reading books, learning mantras, or going to holy places. Just ask, “Who am I? Who sees when I see? Who knows that I am aware? WHO AM I? To get a clear look at this, Singer says, imagine that you’re watching a dog playing outside, and suddenly you hear a noise behind you―a hiss, like a rattlesnake! hiss, hiss, hiss. Now, would you still be looking at the dog with the same intensity of focus? Of course not. Says Singer. All your attention will very quickly become absorbed in your emotions. But who feels the fear? Is it the same you who was watching the dog?

French philosopher and scientist, René Descartes once stated, “I think, therefore I am.”

But is that really what’s going on?

According to Singer, “You are very aware of your presence of being, your sense of existence, without the help of thoughts.”

If you’re in there experiencing the peace that occurs when your thoughts stop, says Singer, then obviously, your existence is not dependent upon the act of thinking, won’t you say?

You’ll begin to notice who is experiencing the experience. And eventually, you’ll reach a point within yourself where you realize that you, —the experiencer, have a certain quality.

“And that quality,” Singer noted, “is awareness, consciousness, and an intuitive sense of existence.” Simply put, you exist regardless of thoughts or no thoughts.

The Voice Inside Your Head

If you observe this mental voice, you’ll notice that it never shuts up. When on its own, it’s just talking and talking. “The only way to free yourself from this incessant chatter,” explains Singer, “is to step back and view it objectively.” In other words, don’t think about it, simply notice it. When a problem is disturbing you, don’t ask, “What should I do? Instead, Singer suggest asking, “What part of me is disturbed by this?” 🤔 Because If you ask, “What should I do about it?” Now you’ve already fallen into believing there is a problem outside that must be dealt with. “The fact that you can see the disturbance,” Says Singer, “means you are not it.”

To attain true inner freedom, you must be able to watch your problems instead of being lost in them objectively. —Michael A. Singer.

The only permanent solution to your problems, explains Singer, is going inside and letting go of the part of you that seems to have so many problems with reality. Then, you’ll realize that you’ve only had one problem your entire life…

The Lucid Self

There’s a type of dream called lucid dream, in which you know you’re dreaming. According to Singer, when you are an aware being, you no longer become wholly immersed in the events around you. Instead, you remain inwardly mindful that you are the one who is experiencing —both, the circumstances and the corresponding thoughts and emotions.

Singer reminds us that “When a thought is created in this state of awareness, instead of getting lost in it, remain aware that you are the one who is thinking the thought.”

Life is a dream, and lucid dreamers are its masters.” ― Wayne Gerard Trotman

“Consciousness is neither pure nor impure,” noted Singer, “it has no qualities. It’s just there, aware that it’s conscious.”

In other words, you attain a totally different state. You are now aware of who you are. You have become an awakened being.

The more you are willing to let the world be something you’re aware of, the more it will let you be who you are, the awareness, the Self, the Atman, the Soul.