Awareness watching awareness

Awareness Watching Awareness (AWA) is a practice where attention is withdrawn from all objects—thoughts, perceptions, sensations—and directed toward awareness itself. Instead of being aware of something, you are simply aware of being aware.

This practice was synthesized by Michael Langford from the teachings of Sri Atmananda Krishna Menon and others. It is remarkably simple yet profound: close your eyes, withdraw attention from thoughts, and let awareness observe itself.

What makes AWA powerful is its directness. Rather than manipulating experience or achieving special states, you simply rest as awareness aware of itself. This reveals that awareness is always present, always at peace, and that the apparent separation between knower and known was always an illusion.

Close your eyes and relax. Let go of interest in thoughts—not suppressing them, just not following them. Turn attention toward awareness itself. Rest as awareness aware of being aware. If attention wanders to an object, gently return to awareness watching itself. Practice for 20-60 minutes daily.

The most common obstacle is trying to find awareness as an object, when awareness is what's doing the looking. Another is frustration when thoughts continue—the practice isn't about stopping thoughts but withdrawing interest from them. Some also expect dramatic experiences when the truth is simply quiet presence.