Acharya Prashant explains the concept of witnessing as described in the Ashtavakra Gita, specifically focusing on the transition between states of perception and the meditative state. He defines witnessing not as an active observation of truth, but as the non-identification with transient and temporal phenomena. Using the metaphor of a storm, he describes how one can fully experience external chaos and physical sensations while remaining internally unshakeable and unmoved. This state is characterized as being illogical because it defies the laws of nature and the mind; despite provocations or temptations that should logically cause a reaction, the reaction simply does not happen. He further elaborates that witnessing involves observing the transition between various mental states and the 'non-state' or statelessness. Since statelessness cannot be experienced as a conventional state, it manifests in consciousness as a gap or a blankness in memory. Acharya Prashant emphasizes that true witnessing is a form of 'non-happening' where there is nothing for the mind to record or remember. He cautions against the ego's desire to track or claim credit for witnessing, noting that the mind's attempt to turn spiritual progress into a measurable achievement is a misunderstanding of the process.
