Vedanta Philosophy: Your Life’s Not a Movie, You’re Just Watching It

Become the Observer, not the Actor: A taste of Freedom with Sakshi Bhava

Vedanta Philosophy: Your Life’s Not a Movie, You’re Just Watching It — AI Image by Author (Bing).

In Advaita Vedanta philosophy, as interpreted by the great philosopher Adi Shankara, the spiritual journey involves a transition from seeing oneself as karta (the doer) to bhokta (the experiencer). Initially, we identify as the agents of our actions. Through practice and understanding, we begin to recognize ourselves as witnesses of experiences. This shift from karta to bhokta is a crucial step, helping us detach from ego-identification. However, it’s not the final stage. Ultimately, one transcends both karta and bhokta to realize our true nature as pure consciousness, beyond action and experience.

The Karta Myth: What I’m Learning

In Advaita Vedanta, as taught by Adi Shankara, the idea that we are karta — the doer of our acts — is seen as a big myth/illusion (maya). This false view comes from mixing up our true Self (Atman) with our body, mind, and ego.

Adi Shankara in Varanasi - AI Image by Author (Microsoft Designer) + Animation (Luma Dream Machine)

I’m starting to see that this myth stems from not knowing our real nature (avidya/ignorance). I often think I am my body, thoughts, and feelings. I think I caused my acts. I’m trying to grasp how this wrong view happens through adhyasa (false overlay). Enveloped in ignorance, we tend to confuse the Self (Atman), the absolute and unchanging reality, with the egoic self (ahamkara), a temporary and mutable identity created by the mind.

The results of this myth are huge. I know that seeing myself as karta ties me to karma, but it’s hard to live this truth day to day.

The Bhokta Truth: My New View

Vedanta says we are bhokta — the ones who know and feel — not karta. This switch is key, and I’m working to fully get it.

I now have times when I feel more like a bhokta, just seeing what goes on in my mind. This includes thoughts, feelings, and what I sense outside me. I’m trying to see how bhokta, at its core, is a pure aware mind (chit).

In Advaita Vedanta, the real bhokta is Brahman, the one true thing that knows and is known. I still find this hard to grasp, but I’m slowly getting there.

My Path: From Karta to Bhokta

My growth in Vedanta is a slow shift from seeing myself as karta to knowing I’m bhokta. This path has steps, and I’m at different points on each:

I try to tell what’s real from what’s not (viveka), but it’s often fuzzy.
2. I work on letting go of false views (vairagya), which is very hard.
3. I follow the path of hearing truths, thinking about them, and deep focus. 
4. I try to watch my life like it’s a show (sakshi bhava), but I often get caught up in it.

The witness view (sakshi bhava) is a key idea in Vedanta. It means watching your thoughts, feelings, and life events as a detached observer, not seeing them as part of you. It’s like watching your life as if you were an audience member at a movie.

It’s akin to watching one’s life as a spectator of a movie. This practice aims to overcome identification with the ego, allowing one to recognize their true nature as pure consciousness. Although challenging to maintain consistently, sakshi bhava can lead to greater mental clarity and inner peace.

AI Image by Author (Lumalabs.ai)

How This Changes My Life: A Work in Progress

As I learn more about karta and bhokta, it starts to change how I live, though I’m just at the start:

1. I have times of less stress when I recall I may not have caused my acts.
2. I try to accept life more, but it’s hard not to act like I’m in charge.
3. I get short tastes of inner peace, free from what goes on outside. But these are rare.
4. I’m learning to act well without care for the result (nishkama karma), but it’s tough.
5. I try to feel more for others, seeing we’re all one. But I often still see things as split.

Hard Parts and Mix-Ups: What I Face Now

As I learn, I face many hard things and wrong ideas:

1. I fight the urge to think fate rules all. I try to see this view doesn’t mean I should just sit back.
2. I must remind myself that this view doesn’t mean I can act badly or do nothing.
3. It’s very hard to grasp how karta and bhokta can both fade in the highest truth.
4. I see how hard it is to live this truth each day. It takes lots of work and deep change that’s just started.

My novella on Adi Shankara - Free Download on Google Books (Just click on the image)

And…so?

My shift from seeing myself as karta to knowing I’m bhokta is still going on. It’s one of the deepest changes I’ve ever made. I’m slowly seeing that this isn’t just about thinking, but about changing who I am at my core.

I try to see my true self as a pure aware mind, beyond the myth of doing. I get glimpses of freedom and peace that go past my normal limits. Vedanta asks me to see that I might not be karta or bhokta, but the one mind that holds all in Brahman.

This path keeps going in my daily life. It brings new insights and tests as I try to use this deep truth in all I do. I know I have far to go and much to learn, but I’m glad for each step on this path of growth and change.

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