A Witness

 

Dear Questioner, “Observer is Observed" is a famous Philosophical Phrase by Jiddu Krishnamurti. The Phrase is from the standpoint of someone who has experienced Enlightenment - A state where there is No Ego- No separate Observer- You Become The Whole- A perspective from a Non Dual Realization.

In Meditation there are 3 things : Observer i.e.Mystic(Subject), the act of Meditation and the Observed i.e.God/Self(Object).

For an advanced Seer(Mystic/Subject), the Consciousness of the act of Meditation disappears. This is the state of Dhyāna. Further in Samadhi which is the state of Non Dual Awareness, the Subject(Experiencer) becomes one with the Object(Experienced) i.e. God/Self and only Pure Consciousness remains and “I-ness” is dissolved! i.e. “The Observer is Observed” and "The Experiencer is the Experienced".

Let's elaborate further according to my own understanding which can be different from JK. Now who is the Observer? The Consciousness is the Observer. It illuminates everything but due to ignorance it identifies itself separately from it's contents. Intellect, Mind, Body and Senses borrow Light from Consciousness and doesn't have a Light of their own. Everything appears in Consciousness and there is No separate “You” from the contents of Consciousness. The Consciousness is not separate from it's contents- “Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma”.

The Consciousness cannot see itself as there is nothing subtler than Consciousness like the Eye cannot see itself! -Dṛg-Dṛśya-Viveka. Thus Consciousness experiences/sees itself by being itself when ignorance is removed!

The Observer(Subject) is an Image and the Object being Observed is also an Image during Meditation. The Observer(Experiencer) is an Image created due to past experiences, remembrances and knowledge accumulated in Memory. The Image being Observed is an Experience.

Now in Samadhi the Observer(Subject) who is the Knower, the Knowledge and the Known(Object) all merge into One and we can say that the Experiencer is the Experienced in Non Dual Realization! As prior to the state of Pure Awareness the Image(Observer) was trying to Observe another Image(Object) but ultimately in Samadhi the Images which are the constructs of Mind/Thought merged back into the Source(Pure Consciousness).

Till there is Ego-Mind, The Observer cannot be Observed! As there is a Division between the Observer.i.e. Pure Consciousness and the Observed(External World). The Consciousness tries to see through the Intellect, Mind, Body and Senses and recognizes itself as a separate Self from its contents and says I am this or I am that!

But what happens in No-Mind state when the Ego(I-Maker) vanishes completely? i.e. when there is No separate Observer and Observation is done as a Whole and not from a Center(“I”). Then the Observer is not separate from the Object Observed. Till there will be a separate Observer from the Object being Observed there will be a Division.

Actually there is No division between the Observer and the Object being Observed. If there is a Division between the Observer and Observed then conflict arises and a vast amount of Energy is used to suppress this conflict.i.e. if Anger arises and if it is Observed with complete attention as Witness Consciousness when there is No separate Observer(False I or Center) then Anger subsides otherwise if there will be an Observer(Ego-The False “I”) or Observed from a Center(“I”) then one will say “I am Angry”, thinking that the Anger is not Me and you will try to suppress it or run away from it but the thing will remain!

Remember Pain, Pleasure, Fear and Aversion are the states of Mind and when the Observer is Observed then they all subside in the Mind-Lake without affecting the Pure Consciousness - which is the real Observer.

Thus next time when Anger arises then don't separate yourself from it as the Anger is “You”. The Observer(You) is not separate from the Anger(Observed) and watch it with complete attention as a Whole and not from a Center(“I”) then in that state of Choiceless Awareness you will have a tremendous amount of Energy and will be astonished to see that you are not affected by the Anger as it will be gone permanently!

Note -

I hope I have clarified the Phrase upto a large extent. The Answer gives only intellectual description but real understanding or realization will come only after experiencing Enlightenment as Ego Death will take place and then there will be no Center of Observation(False “I”). You will live in Sakshi Bhava and will be able to watch your Thoughts and Emotions arising in Mind-Lake and not being affected by it.

Thanks for reading,

Nishant Ankur