The Practice of the Silent Witness is a practice of merely observing mental-emotional states, and all of the thoughts and feelings-emotions that arise, without any judgment or attachment and aversion. One simply wishes to watch what is happening, inwardly and outwardly, without identifying oneself with anything that is transpiring.

So long as we remain identified with what is arising in consciousness we are powerless to make any real change, but if we can remove our self-identification with thoughts and emotions, and even events in life, we become empowered to make changes.

Likewise we discover that often by merely letting go of self-identification with mental-emotional phenomena and events of life, and bringing what is happening into the Light of Awareness, most problems are naturally and spontaneously dissolved. Basically, the Silent Witness is an exercise in self-knowledge and the cultivation of self-awareness – what we call the Presence of Awareness….

This practice can be done in the midst of any activity of daily life. It is one of the key methods through which Christian Gnostics integrate their spiritual practice into daily living. One can engage in this practice for prolonged periods of time, but even just five or ten minutes here and there throughout one’s day is very powerful and beneficial. While we aim to abide in this Presence of Awareness the majority of the time, this evolves through consistent practice. Witnessing is not something you do, it is the realization that awareness is present. Awareness is always present, even when you are totally absorbed in an activity or thought. “You” might be trying to do the witnessing, yet while this “you” seems to have awareness, in reality the “you” that tries to witness is being witnessed.

Tau Malachi, Sophian Practices for Everyone

The Trancendental Center – The Silent Witness
Step by Step

• Gather yourself inward, within behind your heart, letting go of the surface. Envision the spiritual sun of Christ indwelling behind your heart and gather yourself into that light presence. Let go of the dream-like past and all thoughts of the future. All tension, stress, and negativity let melt aware in the light of the spiritual sun (radiant awareness). Just let go and let be, and abide in the spiritual sun within behind your heart.
• As you sit in meditation in this way, shift your focus to a point above your head – the transcendental center about twelve inches above the head. Centered above the head, become the silent witness. Whatever thoughts and emotions occur, do not follow after them. grasp at them, or identify yourself with them. Do not do anything with them at all, neither invoking them, banishing them, nor judging them. Merely watch the radiant display of the mind and heart, uninvolved as the silent witness without any judgment whatsoever. This is the whole aim of the practice.
• Begin with a short period of practice, perhaps ten minutes twice a day. Then, as your capacity grows, you can extend the period of your practice, cultivating the ability to abide as the silent witness for longer periods of time….the first step to transforming thoughts and emotions is learning how to become detached or uninvolved….

–Tau Malachi, Gnosis of the Cosmic Christ,
Chapter Eight: Hesed, the Mercy and Bright Blessings of God