113. JIVA CHAITANYA, the Individual Consciousness.

This is in continuation of the previous two blogs: “BRAHMA CHAITANYA, the Absolute Consciousness” And “ISWARA CHAITANYA, the Cosmic Consciousness”. The overlay of the ego or the idea of “I”ness upon Awareness (Cit) is our first plunge into the whirlpool of Maya. The primeval lie of separation that claims that I am unique and separate from others is the preliminary act that generates the series of events of further superimposition and entanglement. Considering ourselves as “unique individuals” implies viewing everything separate from us and distancing away from them. This attitude inevitably superimposes a universe of diversity upon the one, undivided Absolute. 

At the start the ego or idea of “I”ness identifies itself with the Body and Mind, and with their attributes like senses and its actions. Impulsively we start saying first sentences like: “I am So and So”, “I am Young”, or “I am Handsome”. Then the ego or the idea of “I”ness reaches further out to claim the exterior objects and conditions as something related to it and the sentences like: “I am Indian”, “This is my House”, or “She is my Wife” projects out. As such superimpositions multiply our bizarre personal claims such as “I run a Big Business”, “Because of me all this is happening”, or “Without me nothing is possible in my organization” shoots up and make us an unwanted gigantic figure. As this becomes a routine for the ego it continues to widen its feelers to get identified with every acknowledged object in the universe, while the indwelling Sakshi Chaitanya (Witness Consciousness) remains detached just witnessing all these foolish statements of the ego. 

At the same time, the Sakshi Chaitanya (Witness Consciousness) makes all the proposed things of the Jiva Chaitanya (Individual Consciousness) possible by providing the Mind with the luminosity of Consciousness, without which Maya could not exist. In short, it is due to Maya that we become identified with a psychophysical being which is the shadow of our Sakshi Chaitanya (Witness Consciousness). Now the question arises “Who am I?” Jiva Chaitanya or Sakshi Chaitanya. Like the cosmos around, I am the amalgamation of both Brahman and Maya (Absolute and Apparent), hence both divine and human. 

 Mundaka Upanishad describes the relationship of Jiva Chaitanya (Individual Consciousness) and Sakshi Chaitanya (Witness Consciousness). By giving an anecdote of two birds seated on the same branch of a tree and inseparable companions. While one bird is Jiva Chaitanya (Individual Consciousness) the other is the Sakshi Chaitanya (Witness Consciousness). The former tastes the sweet and sour fruits of the tree and the latter calmly observes. Due to the lack of knowledge of the true nature and identity with the Brahman Chaitanya (Absolute Consciousness), the Jiva Chaitanya (Individual Consciousness) bewildered by ego, grieves and is sad. But the moment one gets to know his true nature he grieves no more. This state of awareness is the crowning glory of the purpose of life. What is this Sakshi Chaitanya (Witness Consciousness)?????? In the next Blog.