The Contemplator Remains

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Q: Are consciousness and the witness the same?

M: For whatever is visible the consciousness is the witness. There is another principle which witnesses consciousness, and this principle is beyond the world.

Q: How do you witness consciousness?

M: How do you witness the fact that you are sitting? Effortlessly or with effort?

Q: Effortlessly.

M: The same way. Whenever you put in effort is from bodily standpoint. The knowledge I AM is the soul of the entire world. The witness of the knowledge I AM is prior to the knowledge I AM. Try to understand yourself as you are, do not add any qualifications. Just as you prepare various dishes out of various ingredients, you want to make something. Witnessing or awareness is just as you observe your deep sleep, just like that.

Q: I do not understand.

M: It is not understandable. You must contemplate yourself. Whatever comes on the screen of contemplation will surely disappear. The Contemplator remains.

Q: Is not the Contemplator also a concept of mind?

M: Concept and mind are beams of light from the Contemplator.

Q: Is I AM the sum total of everything you perceive?

M: Yes. I AMness spontaneously appears and disappears, it has no dwelling place. It is like a dream world. Do not try to be something, even a spiritual person. You are the manifested. The tree is already there in the seed. Such is this I AM. Just see it as it is. Do not try to interfere with what you see. Having understood this, what could be your need?

Q: Nothing.

M: You must stabilize in this conviction. Knowledge (jnana) is the soul of the whole universe. Do not get involved with siddhis (spiritual powers). Although you may not purposely go in for siddhis, around you some miracles may happen. Do not claim the authorship of them. A devotee of yours who is at a distance of thousand kilometers from you can have your darshan in form. Whenever your devotee praises your knowledge, the knowledge takes concrete shape. Do not think that you are doing something. Sound fills the entire space: similarly, the knowledge  I AM will fill the entire place. Once you understand this there is no death for you. If you think yourself an individual you will surely have death.

A spiritual seeker wants to be something; just be as you are. If people come to you, then automatically words come out of you. Although you may not have studied the Vedas, whatever comes out of you will be the same as what is in the Vedas and Upanishads. At the time of speaking you will not have the slightest idea that you are a jnani or a knowledgeable person.