Diving in the Inner Ocean

Book excerpt: Unlock your hidden potential with this practical and approachable introduction to self-directed inquiry--the main meditative practice of the Diamond Approach. Much like the ocean, each of us has inner depths: an entire world beneath the surface of everyday living pulsing with beauty, life, and mystery. The secret depths of our inner worlds are the very things that we spend our lives searching for: love, support, belonging, meaning, joy, and freedom. Through a contemplative practice known as diamond inquiry, you can begin to directly explore your conscious experience just like a diver exploring a reef. You'll discover wondrous treasures and terrifying sights alike, as well as infinite expanses, and limitless potential and freedom. Diamond inquiry combines the depth of meditation with the power of understanding and psychological insight. Guided by your own curiosity, you use a variety of questions to explore your present-moment experience as it unfolds, deepens, and transforms. This method was developed by A. H. Almaas, founder of the Diamond Approach, though the practice is ideal for anyone who wants to explore their inner world. Dominic C. Liber introduces this powerful tool along with step-by-step exercises to develop your understanding. Through this simple yet profound practice, in time every situation will become a doorway to realizing and actualizing deep insight and transformation.