In the eye of the storm
For thousands of years, since the time when Shri Krishna talked about the enlightened state of witnessing detachment, we have searched for a path to it. How miraculous it seems: in the middle of it all, performing all duties, but remaining uninvolved, in a witness state, enjoying the drama. When we have the faintest glimpse of this, those moments are forever etched in our memory as our most elevated. But the truth is that such a state remains out of reach for almost anyone for more than those fleeting glimpses.
The reason for this is our inner structure itself. To be in a witness state, our attention should be detached from both the past and the future, from both our emotions as well as our ego and future plans. But as long as our awareness is captive in either one, there is no “other” place to go to. We cannot “imagine” a witness state, as it can only last if it has reality behind it. And the fact is that we continuously identify with something that is not reality. Reality is only in the present, and in the absolute present even the thoughts have to stop. Otherwise how can we witness ? The thoughts would impede our vision like flies on the windshield. Enough flies and we cannot see outside at all anymore, and soon we start believing that the limit of our world is the fly-covered windshield.
Best is to get out of the car - to have our awareness transcend the thoughts completely. When we are out of the car, even if there are insects around, we witness them as well, they cannot obstruct our contemplation. But our mind cannot get us out, as it is the fly-producing unit. Our emotion cannot get us there either, they only tint our windows. We need the master of the car to unlock the doors and get us out. This is the job of our evolutionary power that lies dormant in our sacrum bone. Its awakening will first wipe the windshield and, once our eyes are getting used with the view and the light, she can get us out of the car and we can start truly witnessing. Taking it all in without reactions, watching it from “above” - as the “above” is completely peaceful and secure, being eternal in nature. Without aggression and without fear, it is easy to witness. Voilá !