The great Sadhana for spiritual growth recommended by many masters is, witnessing the mind. It is true, Vedanta says that ‘I am Sakshi (witness) to my mind but I am not mind. Making this distinction is a big forward step in Vedanta path of self realization.
It is not as easy as we deliberate, because of lifetimes of Identification with the Mind. Yes, Identification with the body-mind complex is the biggest barrier in any spiritual path. As long as this identity is there, one can not establish identity with one universal principle or Absolute Truth.
Therefore, the Sadhana is aiming at shifting the identity from body-mind complex to identity with divine consciousness (Absolute Truth). For attaining this, Vedantic enquiry into oneself help us to understand how am ‘I’ separate from my body mind complex.
Witnessing the mind is one of those methods in order to see clearly the distinction between ‘I’ & ‘mind’. This works best when it is taken practically and see in meditation for quick results. Initially we can start this contemplation during meditation hours but in course of time we can practise this throughout waking state.
This Contemplation will yield instantly enormous peace & clarity and ultimately bring close to God realization within. The one thin veil between ‘I’ consciousness & ‘God’ is the veil of mind. This is also referred as ‘maya’. Because maya is defines as it can create an illusion as it truly exists but in reality it does not.
The challenge in this contemplation is the, rebelling nature of mind. Once we sit for witnessing (Sakshi) to our mind, then mind starts react vigorously, because of this flow of many thoughts it feel very difficult for to become Sakshi (witness) to mind as identification with the mind occurs instantly due to old habit. But, this challenge can be tackled only by doing this contemplation regularly (constant practise). This solution is given in Bhagavdgita by Lord Krishna to Arjuna to answer the question asked by Arjuna that; “Mind is moving like a wind, how can do meditation and contemplate on the God”, Lord Krishna replied Abhyasa & Viragya (Dispassion or renunciation to worldly thoughts & constant practise of contemplation).
“The struggle with the mind is an easy struggle if you are constantly vigilant, all of the time, doing always what you know you should do, not allowing the mind to become instinctive, not excusing the mind when it does become instinctive, not allowing the mind to justify, rationalize, excuse, become combative, but making the mind always remain poised, like a hummingbird over a flower, so that you begin to live in the eternal now, constantly, permanently. And then the within becomes natural to you, not something you hear about, study about, talk about, sing about, for you become open, awakened, within”.
Thank you, Ravi Kumar