17 Aug 2008 —
Question
Q76: Witness in action?
Question 76:
“How can one engage in action and be a witness at the same time? Practically, how often do you succeed in not getting identified with action or thought?”
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My heart tells me that when all my actions and thoughts are dedicated to Amma with complete love and devotion at Her lotus feet, and with no desire for my own self gain/reward, my action and thought merge….and there will be no witness and no witnessing…..only love and devotion will fill my heart for my Ma and all Her children
I have been looking for an answer for this question for quite a long time. Inf act, I had asked the same to Amma exactly a year ago, during Janmashtami festival. Amma jokingly told everyone nearby in a loud tone , ‘See what this son is asking’ and the answer which amma said was that I need to score good marks. I leave this to all to understand what Amma meant. I need to really intensify my sadhana and sincerely pray to amma to help me score more marks.
To be a witness of the actions and not to be ruffled by the events is the final blessing one gains as a result of one’s Sadhana.
When you realize that all your actions are controlled by God and when you perform all actions with love and self-surrender to Amma.
There is a saying: What you are liked to be in front of a spectator will be different of what you are in real,
then witnessing an action, the physical self is the performer and the subtle self is the spectator,
as if performing in front of a mirror, then will be more careful and more conscious in the action.
How often do we succeed in this????
I believe that those living in the principles of spirituality will have different kinds of experiences from time to time ,and witness state is an experience higher in grade. One should only concentrate towards the final goal of self-realization and should not cling to those experiences. Also I don’t think us, normal humans, have the capacity to measure and/or evaluate these experiences. Only realized souls can do that; Amma is there with us to do so.
I don’t know the experiences I had are of witness state. Many a time while meditating and sleeping [when I sleep chanting mantra] I could see myself and even hear snoring. Also I felt no emotions or feelings towards anything sometimes. I don’t mind or give importance to these experiences; just go through the experiences.
As long as we are not entangled in any action we are a witness to it. Amma has taught us to be like a driver: get down from the car for a while do our duties then come back and sit in the car and not forget to fasten the seat belt. Be a witness is like that: always remember and focus yourself on GOD while doing any work.
The first thing to do is start with a prayer for Amma’s grace. Placing my hand on the tools that will help me in my work and then touching my forehead is bowing to this instrument which is not me. While working, try to flow without thinking or becoming emotional – especially if the work involves other humans. After the work is done I should thank Amma and if someone praises me for it – I should say, “Amma’s grace!” Also, it is good to recall incidents when we claimed a work as our own and then some mishap or something embarrassing emerged due to it. I have done it at times but I am not sure that the fervour with which I do it is healthy???
One can engage in action and at the same time keep the mind undistracted by thoughts and feelings, the witness state, when completely engaged in ‘selfless service’ as Amma demonstrates herself all the time.
be outwardly active but inwardly inactive,
outwardly a doer but inwardly a non-doer,
and thus play your part in the world.
We are just like a car….and the driver…yes, its AMMA…let her drive this car…we will be going wherever she wants…sometimes in a junction, we may be intersted in taking left turn, but AMMA may take right turn…b’se she know that taking right turn in that particular junction is most suitable for me…
it happens rarely when I have too much to do and I have no other choice than take things one at a time and forget the rest.
I am a teacher. I am responsible of a class of hyperactive students or slow learners. In my job, it is essential to be really patient. However, sometimes you must also display anger in order to gain authority in class. The key to this is to display anger as a drama on the outside without necessarily being angry on the inside. That way you can be a witness to it and use it instead of allowing it to use you.
Do the action with an attitude that i am the instrument in the hands of Lord and Lord is doing everything. So we will get the perfection in the action and don’t expect the fruit of action according to our likes and dislikes.
When realizing that all our actions are controlled by god, one should realise that we are all puppets. God is holding the string (life). We all are dancing according to his/her will. Be a witness to the action and always remember Amma/God while doing any work.