Question:
Sir, was listening to your recent talks. I have 3 concepts here. One is Sakshi Bhava, its a practice by the mind. Then you spoke about jiva sakshi. Chidabhasa will go back as this jiva sakshi on realization. Then you spoke about Knower, the substratum.
What is the difference between Sakshi and Knower? I feel the functioning aspect is same in both these terms.
Sri Prabhuji: We have to clarify the terminologies in order to answer.
Sakshi – Witnessing consciousness Unattached choiceless awareness of waking dream and deep sleep states. Sakshi is universal not individual. Sakshi is the light which illuminates all experiences but itself not affected by any experience.
Mind and intellect are dormant in deep sleep. Mind and intellect become active in waking state. The reflected light of Sakshi called chidabhasa powers intellect. The reflected light identifies with the intellect and is called Jiva or individualized consciousness.
Jivatma is Jiva+Sakshi Jiva forgets it’s true nature as Sakshi and identifies with the feeling I am – I exist. Jiva has no independant existance at all and hence better to use the term Jivatma.
Jivatma is in reality individualized witness Jiva Sakshi But forgetting it’s true nature Jiva Sakshi identifies with body mind and intellect and suffers. Sufferer is called samsari jivatma.
Who is Knower ? Knower is individualized consciousness Jivatma identified with intellect. Knower is called Pramata. It is the knower who has ignorance and knower identifies with the body-mind to become doer-enjoyer and sufferer.
Education is given to ignorant knower -jivatma to separate out the identity of body mind intellect and stand as Jiva Sakshi – witness of body mind and intellect.
The teaching is my dear jivatma, you are suffering because of identification with body-mind-intellect practice sakshi bhava de-identification with body-mind-intellect. The teaching is you are Jiva Sakshi.
Ad the Jivatma practices sakshibhava and develops to discrimination (viveka) Jivatma realises I don’t have to practice sakshi bhava I am the eternal witness – sakshi behind all experiences. Also the duality of sakshi and sakshyam witness and witnessed is unreal (mithya). Hence I am not even sakshi but non-dual Brahman.