Hour 12 Meditation – Vedanta Meditation: Neti Neti and the Witnessing Self

Vedanta Meditation: Neti Neti and the Witnessing Self

Vedanta and Meditation Introduction

Vedanta is one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, based on the teachings of the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Brahma Sutras. The word Vedanta translates to “the end of the Vedas,” which indicates the culmination of spiritual knowledge of the Vedas. The fundamental concept of Vedanta is the realization of Brahman (the Supreme Reality) and the Atman (individual soul) as identical, which goes on to state the ultimate truth that “Atman is Brahman.”

In Vedanta, meditation is largely concentrated on self-asking questions and realizing the essential nature of the self. It entails looking inwards to discover the unconditioned consciousness which lies beyond limitations and to gain moksha, or release from birth-death reincarnation. The teachings of Vedanta revolve strongly around two insightful meditation concepts: Neti Neti and the Witnessing Self.

The Idea of Neti Neti in Vedanta

Neti Neti is a Sanskrit term that translates to “Not this, not this,” and is a central technique in Vedantic meditation and self-enquiry. The term is used as a process of negation to enable the practitioner to realize what the self is not, and eventually, to know the true nature of the self.

The Principle of Neti Neti:

In Vedanta, it is taught that the true self (Atman) is beyond all physical, emotional, and mental attributes. It is the eternal witness consciousness that transcends all things. Everything in the world, including the body, mind, senses, and emotions, is considered to be temporary and illusory (Maya). Neti Neti is a method of negating everything that is not the Self.

The Neti Neti process is one in which the practitioner disidentifies with different parts of their experience. An example would be:

Body: “I am not this body.” The body is physical, ephemeral, and mortal.

Mind: “I am not this mind.” The mind is ephemeral and subject to mental and emotional influences.

Emotions: “I am not this anger, sorrow, or joy.” Emotions are ephemeral and not the true nature of ourselves.

Thoughts: “I am not this thought.” Thoughts come and go, and they do not constitute the true self.

By this exercise, the meditator slowly learns to dis-identify with the changing parts of their experience and start realizing that what is left is the unchanging, eternal consciousness—the Atman, which is identical with Brahman.

Path of Dis-identification:

The foundation of Neti Neti is negation. It is not a matter of becoming identified with anything of the world or of the mind but of peeling off everything that is not the self. Through the negation of the body, mind, emotions, and thoughts, the meditator comes to 

realize that the self transcends all form, all identification, and all experience. This negation results in the direct experience of the Self, which is pure consciousness—untainted by the transient fluctuations of the world.

As the practitioner persists with this practice, they start to feel a state of stillness and awareness that transcends the mind. It is here that the meditator experiences their identity with Brahman, the ultimate reality.

The Witnessing Self: Sakshi and Its Role in Vedantic Meditation

In Vedanta, the Witnessing Self (Sakshi) is a core concept in meditation. Sakshi is a term that means “witness” and describes the unchanging, formless awareness that witnesses all experiences without identification or attachment. 

What is the Sakshi (Witnessing Self)?

The Sakshi is the pure awareness that witnesses all things but is untouched by them. It is usually likened to a mirror which reflects all images but does not get influenced or modified by them. The Witnessing Self has no part in the physical or mental activities. It is the silent witness which remains separate from all things, including thoughts, feelings, and sensations.

The key teaching of Vedanta is that the Atman is Sakshi—the real self is the witness of all experiences. The Sakshi is eternal, untainted by time, and beyond all change. It is the essence of consciousness that perceives the world but is not involved in it. That is, the Sakshi is the substance of pure awareness that witnesses everything without becoming attached to it.

Witnessing as a Meditative Practice:

The meditation practice of the Witnessing Self entails looking inward to witness the movement of thoughts, feelings, and sensations without becoming identified with them. The practitioner develops the consciousness that they are not their thoughts, their feelings, or their body. Instead, they are the quiet observer of these things.

Attaining the Witness: The initial process of doing Sakshi meditation involves disentanglement from the never-ending thoughts and turning into a witness to the mind. 

As the mediator observes thoughts, they start acknowledging that thoughts are not thought themselves. They are momentary processes in the mind.

Watching Without Identification: The meditator increasingly develops the power to watch their experiences without taking them as theirs. Whether a thought, feeling, or sensation, the meditator just observes it, knowing that it is a temporary phenomenon and not the real self.

The intention of this practice is to realize that the self is the unchanging, eternal Witness consciousness. Once the practitioner starts identifying himself with the Witnessing Self, he feels a deep sense of peace, detachment, and clarity. He no more becomes entangled in the changing moods of the mind but remains in the eternal, changeless awareness of the Atman.

The Union of Neti Neti and the Witnessing Self

The practice of Neti Neti and the becoming the Sakshi are two common practices that go hand in hand with each other in Vedantic meditation. Neti Neti aids the practitioner in rejecting everything that is not the real self, while the Sakshi practice assists them in the direct realization of the nature of the self as the pure witness.

The meditator synthesizes these two practices in order to come to the realization that:

I am not the body, mind, or emotions.

I am the permanent, ever-witness of all phenomena.

I am one with Brahman—the absolute, all-pervading consciousness.

This union of negation (Neti Neti) and witnessing (Sakshi) results in the final understanding of non-duality(Advaita). The meditator realizes that there is no duality between the world and the self. The world is a manifestation of Brahman, and the self, as the Sakshi, is the same consciousness that pervades everything.

Neti Neti and the Witnessing Self Practical Meditation

Prepare for Meditation: Sit comfortably in a quiet area, close your eyes, and take a moment or two to get settled into the here and now. Allow your breath to relax and become stable.

Start with Neti Neti: Begin by denying everything you associate with. Think to yourself:

“I am not my body.”

“I am not my mind.”

“I am not my emotions.”

“I am not my thoughts.”

Let each negation land deeply within you, sensing the letting go of identification with each one.

Transition to the Witnessing Self (Sakshi): After you have negated everything outside of yourself, bring your attention inward and start to witness your thoughts, feelings, and sensations without attachment. Just watch them as if you are watching a film.

“I am the witness, watching this thought.”

“I am the witness, watching this feeling.”

Stay detached and aware of your pure consciousness that observes, but does not participate.

Experience Pure Awareness: Keep watching as the thoughts vanish, and you are left with the experience of pure awareness. In this state, acknowledge that you are not merely the witness, but the Atman, the ever-changing, eternal consciousness.

Conclusion: The Journey to Realizing the Self in Vedanta

The meditation of Neti Neti and the Witnessing Self (Sakshi) in Vedanta is a deep meditative process towards self-realization. By excluding everything other than the true self, the practitioner realizes that the Atman is Brahman, and that his or her real nature is the changeless, eternal consciousness.

This meditation technique not only results in profound inner peace but also allows the final achievement of moksha, freedom from the cycle of birth and death. The more one practices Neti Neti and the Witnessing Self, the more they realize the truth of non-duality and that the Self is one with the universe.

Reflective Questions:

How does the practice of Neti Neti contribute to cleansing the mind and focusing attention within?

How can you connect with the idea of the Witnessing Self (Sakshi) in your own life? How might it assist you in letting go of the play of the mind?

How does Vedantic meditation result in an experience of non-duality and freedom?