Life’s ups and downs affect our minds in countless ways, but there is a way to remain balanced and peaceful: adopting the attitude of a detached witness.
The Power of Being a Witness
We all have the ability to step back and observe situations without emotional involvement. Interestingly, when others face difficulties, we can remain detached and even give advice. However, when we personally encounter similar issues, we tend to crumble. This struggle arises from our attachment to the sense of ‘I’ and ‘mine.’
A Lesson from the Guru
Once, a disciple asked his Guru how to maintain the attitude of a witness. Instead of a direct answer, the Guru described several careless mistakes, initially attributing them to someone else. The disciple listened calmly. Then the Guru revealed the mistakes were actually the disciple’s own.
The disciple’s face turned pale with shame, but the Guru explained, “When I blamed someone else, you observed calmly. When I pointed out your mistakes, you felt sad. This shows you have the capacity to be a witness.”
Cultivating Sakshi Bhava
Recognizing that what we call ‘I’ is not our true self allows us to cultivate the witness attitude, or sakshi bhava. This means constantly observing our thoughts and actions without attachment. With practice, one remains a witness in all situations, accepting everything with a smile and maintaining mental balance.
Sakshi bhava brings bliss. Emotions still arise, but you observe them as if from a distance. For example, when anger surfaces, witnessing it clearly prevents reactive actions and maintains calm.
Seeing Reality as It Is
By understanding the nature of the world, you accept things as they are. Just like waves in the ocean, thoughts come and go in the mind. But knowing how to navigate allows you to move blissfully with their rise and fall.
Expanding Awareness Beyond the Self
Experience the truth that nothing is separate from you, eliminating disturbance and bringing peace. Currently, we identify fully with the individual mind, but we must expand our awareness from the individual to the societal and finally to the universal mind. Though you may feel like a seed, realize the tree within and become it.
