Byron Katie is an American spiritual teacher and the founder of the inquiry method that changed many lives worldwide. In February 1986, after ten years of depression, she experienced an awakening. One morning, she noticed that she was suffering when she believed her thoughts, but when she did not believe them, the suffering stopped. She then realized that this truth is universal for all people. Out of this profound experience, an inquiry tool emerged that Katie called The Work.

Byron Katie has published nine books translated into over 30 languages. In her publications, she emphasizes that the real cause of our suffering is how we perceive ourselves and the world around us. We do not have the power to change reality, especially our past, partner, or the Thanks to practicing The Work and questioning our painful beliefs, we can look at those aspects from a different perspective, change our thinking, and liberate ourselves from the darkness of suffering, negativity, and guilt. We can learn to recognize and appreciate what we have and develop our own potential.

What is The Work?
The Work is a meditative process. It is a simple but genius and transformative method that allows us to identify and question our painful beliefs about every person and everything in our life. The basic version of inquiry consists the four questions and three turnarounds, thanks to which we can see our problems from a different perspective. The four questions to challenge our negative thoughts are following:

1. Is it true?
2. Can you absolutely know that it’s true?
3. How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?
4. Who would you be without that thought?

Benefits of practicing The Work.
Each person has true wisdom within. However, under the influence of upbringing, we have learned to direct our attention outwards. We have lost connection with our true nature, self-confidence, self-determination, and a sense of responsibility for our own choices by ignoring our inner voice.

The Work of Byron Katie is a form of contemplation that allows us to reconnect with ourselves through the practice of turning inward.

With The Work, we can see the subconscious limiting programs and eliminate them. We release harmful negative beliefs, images, traumas, and fears. This internal transformation improves our well-being and heals our relationship with people we love. Our mind, liberated from the trap of suffering, begins to recognize and appreciate beauty, goodness, and new possibilities.

Practicing The Work builds in us a sense of dignity, integrity, and confidence. It strengthens inner peace, unity, mindfulness, gratitude and kindness. It supports self-discovery and development. It teaches self-observation and self-awareness. It enables us to understand and forgive ourselves and others. It allows us to accept and love ourselves. It awakens us from the illusion and from being victimized. It expands our awareness. It changes our thinking and our perception of reality.

Detailed information and instructions about the method of Byron Katie are available on the official website: https://thework.com/

Judge-Your-Neighbor Worksheet, the basic tool for the inquiry, can be found here: https://thework.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/jyn_en_mod_6feb2019_r4_form1.pdf

The Work is an inquiry tool and meditative practice that requires an open mind, stillness, honesty, courage, and a lack of expectations.