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क्षेत्र, क्षेत्रज्ञ, भोक्ता, साक्षी || आचार्य प्रशांत, वेदांत पर (2020)
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4 years ago
Kshetra (Field)
Kshetrajna (Knower of the Field)
Bhokta (Enjoyer)
Sakshi (Witness)
Shri Krishna
Bhagavad Gita
Mukti (Liberation)
Experience
Description

Acharya Prashant explains the concepts of 'Kshetra' (the field), 'Kshetrajna' (the knower of the field), 'Bhokta' (the enjoyer), and 'Sakshi' (the witness). He begins by defining 'Kshetrajna' as the knower of the 'Kshetra'. The 'Kshetra' is the entire field of our experience. Everything that is perceived—seen, heard, touched, thought of, imagined, or dreamt—and leaves an impression on the mind is part of this field. This includes the entire world at all levels of existence and experience, from the physical to the mental and even the dream world. The speaker then differentiates between the various ways of relating to this field. The 'Bhokta' is the one who wants to know the field in order to enjoy it and derive pleasure from it; this represents the worldly mind. When the enjoyer gets tired of the cycle of pleasure and pain, they become a 'Kshetrajna', a seeker who wants to know the field in order to be liberated from it. The 'Kshetrajna' is not yet free but desires liberation. The ultimate state is that of the 'Sakshi', which is the consciousness that is completely free from the field and has no self-interest left, not even the desire for liberation. The 'Sakshi' is not the enjoyer, nor the seer, but simply the illuminator. Acharya Prashant draws a distinction between the 'Kshetrajna' and the 'Sakshi' using an analogy: the 'Kshetrajna' is like the eye that observes (avalokan), while the 'Sakshi' is like the sun that merely illuminates (aalokan). He also references the Bhagavad Gita, where Shri Krishna advises learning the distinction between the field and its knower to attain the Self. The speaker explains that the 'Kshetrajna' is the consciousness that has become detached from the material world and now wants to transcend the Gunas (qualities of nature). When the 'Kshetrajna' becomes completely free, it is called the 'Sakshi' or the Self. Therefore, for a seeker ('sadhak'), it is imperative to gain a thorough knowledge of the world ('sansaar') or the field, because the highest thing a seeker desires—liberation—can only be found within this world.