Who Is The Witness

Some fundamental questions about our existence always arise in our minds. These questions are parallel to time in the sense they were in the past, still exist and will be there in the future.

The questions are — what is this universe all about that is spread before us? How big is it? Who manages it? How old is it, and what is the future? Who am I, and what is GOD? What is the intent of life here? How can I overcome suffering? How can I have permanent happiness?

The most ancient sages on the planet in India have answered these questions precisely and practically. They were noted down in the forms of verses in Vedas and Upanishads.

These scriptures are more than 7000 years old. They are popularly known as Vedanta outside India to those who do not know about these texts.

Since very few people had knowledge about them, as time went on, they became lesser known to the outside world and almost forgotten. Hence, people do not know about the self, the Almighty God and the universe also. None of the present religions existed at that time. They were Vedic people. Since they are our ancestors, we are Vedic too by roots, regardless of religion.

Here is an accustomed and introductory example of our existence, God and universe. It is Dṛg-Dṛśya-Viveka, the seer and the seen. A worldly person (we as the natural household people, undoubtedly not the monks) who studies Vedanta in any form has a fundamental and analytical question in their minds. It may not be confusing but could be a puzzle. It requires an exhausting inquiry into the self practically.

I scrutinise the mind because I am the witness consciousness and observer according to the Dṛg-Dṛśya-Viveka. As a result, I am the subject, and my mind is an object.

However, the interpretation of object and subject is impossible to accomplish without the mind. Does it indicate that the mind is both the subject and the object? It goes against the principles of Dṛg-Dṛśya-Viveka of the seer and the seen being separate.

It is an open-ended analytical question. This question must arise if you consider these issues seriously. You already know the indication. Dṛg-Dṛśya-Viveka precisely says, “The observer and the observed are separate.”

It begins with the depiction in the very first verse that the universe of forms is “the observed” and the eyes are “the observers”, and both are separate. It works exceptionally well and is crystal clear. That is distinct, at the very least.

The eyes are “the observed.” You can either hope that your eyes are open, closed, or you need spectacles to see. Who is aware of all of this? Undeniably the mind is conscious. Thus, the eyes and mind are distinct.

You are, without a doubt, the mind observing the eyes. Your mind is also “the observed.” in the third stage. When it comes to your emotions, you are thoroughly aware of everything. You can remember or forget, whether you are happy or unhappy, or whether you understand or do not understand.

All the operations of the mind are clearly visible to something within you. That something is the witness of the mind, and it is distinct from the witness. You are the witness of the mind, the witness of the body through the mind. And ultimately the witness of the world through the mind and the body.

This is what the first verse says. Suppose an intellectual person will point out that the eyes are unreservedly separate from the object. Now take a step back, that your eyes are no longer attached to your mind. Your eyes and mind are obviously distinct entities because the mind sees them. However, I can see the thoughts of the mind. It is true that the mind indeed observes the mind.

Why do you claim that there is a witness apart from the mind? It is a crucial question. You are halfway to enlightenment if you genuinely comprehend the question. And you are enlightened if you know the solution to the question.

Pay attention here. The mind has the ability to observe itself. Why and how does your mind possess this power? Just scrutinise: what is the function of the mind? Mind is to think. What is the task of the eyes? Eyes are to see. What is the role of the ears? Ears are to hear.

We use our eyes to see. What to see? The physical existence that we can see. We use our ears to hear. What to hear? The sounds of various solid objects. We use the mind to think. What to think? To think about anything that strikes our mind, such as incidents, events and memories.

Our minds can think about the entire world. It can think about people, animals, technology, places, nature etc. Our minds, on the other hand, can think about other thoughts.

I am happy and cannot seem to control myself. My spirits are soaring, and I can barely contain my joy. Where did this happiness come from? It is all in my mind. As a result, when I think about my bliss, my mind also thinks about pleasure. As a result, the mind thinks about its own happiness that is present inside. Thus, this kind of conception thinks about another thought. It is known as introspection.

It is a function and a capacity of mind. Furthermore, it can think about other parts of the mind and the outside world.

Something is always on my mind. Something could either be external or internal. The term introspection is appropriate when it comes to internal matters. I am meditating and paying attention to what is going on in my mind. It is the mind monitoring the mind itself. It is one of the functions of the mind.

Always keep in mind that you do not think about yourself all the time. Are you constantly examining the contents of your mind? You can become completely absorbed in the world at times. You are not peering into your thoughts while watching an exciting game or listening to an appealing speech.

You should thoroughly concentrate on the object. A professional surgeon is undertaking a complicated surgery for hours. Hence, his mind is well focused on the activity. He cannot afford to be introverted.

Like, how are my feelings now? Am I aware of my breath? No, the doctor should concentrate on the operation. Thus, here is the answer to the question. When you are not introspecting, your mind is preoccupied with something other than your own thoughts. Have you had any such experience with it? You may not be considering it.

Suppose you hear the sound of music. When you think that you have listened to it, you memorise and think about it. But that was a direct conscious experience when you heard it accurately. Were you thinking about it in your mind? No, you heard it clearly as a conscious experience. Your mind noticed it as a sound of music.

And then, when you look inside, you remember that you have experienced the sound of music. It is the mind thinking about another thought. Experience is present in both these cases. When your mind is looking at and thinking about things in the surrounding, something is experiencing these things. What is it that is experiencing it?

Who experiences both when the mind is thinking about another thought? Have you noticed that one is the witness and the other is not the mind thinking about itself? Mind thinking about the mind is one capacity of your mind which is known as introspection.

But witness, like a sudden and unexpected sound of music, illuminates while the mind is not thinking about the mind itself. The same witness illumines all these when you experience the sound of music. Who is that witness?