Sri Sadhu Om:
"The practice of witnessing thoughts and events, which is much recommended nowadays by lecturers and writers, was never even in the least recommended by Sri Bhagavan, Indeed, whenever He was asked what should be done when thoughts rise (that is, when attention is diverted towards second or third persons) during sadhana, He always replied in the same manner as He had done to Sri Sivaprakasam Pillai in 'Who am I?', where He says, "If other thoughts rise, one should, without attempting to complete them, enquire 'To whom did they rise?'. What does it matter however many thoughts rise? At the very moment that each thought rises, if one vigilantly enquires 'To whom did this rise ?', it will be known 'To me'. If one then enquires 'Who am I?', the mind (our power of attention) will turn back (from the thought) to its source (Self)". Moreover, when He says later in the same work, 'Not attending to what-is-other (that is, to any second or third person) is non-attachment (vairagya) or desirelessness (nirasa)', we should clearly understand that attending to (witnessing, watching, observing or seeing) anything other than Self is itself attachment, and when we understand thus we will realize how meaningless and impractical are such instructions as 'Watch all thoughts and events with detachment' or 'Witness your thoughts, but be not attached to them', which are taught by the so-called gurus of the present day."
Source: The Path of Sri Ramana
Dear Devotees,
Sri Bhagwan's Vichara is both the practice as well as the Goal. One may go on saying that one is absolutely sure what the Vichara is. Vichara is the holistic Revelation. Is it not? Therefore, how could one be absolutely sure unless such-a-one is realized or practiced it unwaveringly, diligently, with perseverance, till one began to listen palpably the voice of intuition from the Heart? Who will deliberate upon it and how? Vichara is the spiritual science, as it were. The lower mind, full of thoughts, cannot fully understand it; and the Pure Mind, which is verily the Self and is not apart is only aware.
And what is made out of the Vichara? Watching, witnessing, observing, etc., are certainly not Vichara as taught by Sri Bhagwan. Sri Bhagwan never even mentioned this practice of observing anything even with detachment. Why did Sri Bhagwan always tell His devotees to remain vigilant and they should kill a thought if it arose, at the very place of its rising by enquiring 'To whom did this rise? Who Am I?', and seek always to remain in Self-attention?
Dear devotees, Self-attention, from the beginning to end, is alone the correct form of the Atma-vichara as taught by Bhagwan Sri Ramana. There is absolutely no doubt whatsoever about that, learned opinions of the learned ones notwithstanding!!
Thanks very much.
Pranam,
Anil