From Duality to witnessing

Only in duality, it is possible to be a witness. When something within is calm and something is agitated only then one arrow faces inside you and the other outside. Hence, witnessing is possible only when you are experiencing pain. How would you be a witness without pain, without agitation? In other words, this agitation, this hurt, this pain and pleasure facilitates to become a witness.

Sometime back, someone asked that why did God make ego? It is so that you can become a witness. If God does not make ego, then how would one feel pain, pleasure, agitation?

Then how else would you embark on the inner journey? Therefore, He has actually done a great favor.

I am reminded that when Mother Teresa died, Nirmala Devi became in-charge and made a statement. I was stunned at the statement. It was a unique as well as an honest statement. While addressing the nuns she said, “O God! You are very merciful that you give birth to orphans and poor children. If you do not do that, then how would we earn our living? How would our work carry on”? She told nuns to thank God because if He had not made orphans then whom would have they served. How did we have had a chance to serve them? God does a favor to us serve by giving birth to orphans . Thus He gives us an opportunity to serve them.

It sounds very strange but she has made an apt point. Similarly, thank God that He has made ego so that we feel pain. It is because of pain that path to become a witness is clarified.

Knowing and Witnessing Kabir says-
DUKH MEIN SUMIRAN SAB KARE SUKH MEIN KARE NA KOYE You remember God during painful times and are impelled to go into meditation in such times. SUKH MEIN SUMIRAN JO KARE TO DUKH KAHE KO HOYE
However, if you begin the process of remembering Him in times of happiness then pain does not arise because you take a leap from happiness to Bliss.

Hence, thank God that He has made pain.He has given ego, because of ego there is pain, and hence you are able to be a witness. You are able to watch all that which is calm within you and are able to watch the waves of agitation, which emerge because of ego. This is because if you embark the boat of witnessing then it takes you to peacefulness and one day it takes you to nothingness.

Therefore, your experience is correct. It is authentic. You say that you even witness the situation and yet the pain remains in its place. It should remain. If it does not stay then you will not be able to remain a witness. Moreover, if you were not able to be a witness then you would not be able to progress into the Knowing. What is the meaning of Knowing? Knowing means that you have reached where now there is no more agitation, where there is no pain, you have reached the shore.

One sadhika informed us that when she prepares to do active meditation in the morning, her neighbors start to abuse her and her husband. She asked us to do something, such that her neighbors are transferred to other place. I said that for her I would pray. But I asked her that before that, she must do an experiment. When pain arises due to her neighbor’s abuses and derogatory remarks, then she must witness that pain. She called up 3-4 days later stating that something unique had occurred. She informed that for active meditation one has to do activities like hoo-hoo, jump, jog and generate energy. Now she does not have to do any of these because when her neighbor arrives and starts to abuse them the energy just raises on its own and she witnesses the pain, the sorrow, the insult and thereafter peace dawns upon her. Meditation dawns upon her. She revealed that now they look forward for the neighbors to arrive and facilitate the meditation. In addition, she requested us not to pray to God for their transfer from our neighborhood.

Difference between a Sadhak and a Siddha
This is why Kabir says:
NINDAK NIYARE RAKHIYE AANGAN KUTI CHHAVAY,
BIN PAANI SABUN BINA NIRMAL KARE SUBHAY.
It means: “Do not distance away critics”, do not alienate your rivals. Keep them close to you. “Do not alienate them; instead give them respect”.

Do not let them go away from you. Hence, if such an arrangement is made which brings sorrow, agitation, then do not try to escape it because something favorable is happening. This is the reasonwhy saints never ask you to flee to the Himalayas. In the Himalayas, there are no provisions for Sadhana and hence I have not seen anyone being integrated with the Divine Sound. They were able to become SIDDHA, but not saints. They became ARHAT but they could not become Masters. Among the saints from Himalayas, no one has been able to become a Master. Why was this? Because, somewhere in their Sadhana there is escapism. Kabir, Buddha, Mahavir, Nanak, Dadu, Dariya, Raidas, Meera, Sahjo, Daya all these are saints. No Dadu could emerge from the Himalayas. It could not deliver any Kabir. The Himalayas could not raise a Buddha. I have many a times met with the sages of Himalaya. They are more like sadhaks and not like saints, not like Buddha, they are not masters. If one wants to be a Master then know that the Master emerges from a market place. True Sadhana, correct Sadhana, Right Sadhana, balanced Sadhana is possible only in amidst market place.

Ram Krishna Paramhans says:
VEER SADHAK KAHA KE BOLE
JIN SANSAR MADHYE THAKE
SADHNA KARTE PARE TEENI VEER SADHAK.

He is a brave sadhak, who is able to do Sadhana inthe heart of the world. In addition, I say that the Sadhana of witnessing is far more easier for those who do it in the world. Hence, your Sadhana is absolutely on the right track. Let agitation happen, let pain occur, let it hurt, you continue with your witnessing.