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There is a difference. You watch television, you don't witness it. But, while watching television, if you start witnessing yourself watching television, then there are two processes going on: you are watching television, and something within you is witnessing the process of watching television. Witnessing is deeper, far deeper. It is not equivalent to watching. Watching is superficial. So remember that meditation is witnessing.
Rajneesh
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes the difference between passively observing and actively engaging with one's consciousness.

In this quote, Rajneesh highlights the distinction between simply watching something, like television, and the deeper act of 'witnessing'β€”an introspective awareness of one's own thoughts and feelings. He suggests that while watching is a superficial activity, witnessing requires a more profound connection to the self, akin to the practice of meditation. This concept implies that true understanding and mindfulness come from being aware of the processes of our perceptions rather than just passively experiencing them.

Themes

WitnessingMeditationAwarenessObservationConsciousness

In practice

Example use cases

In a meditation workshop, I quoted Rajneesh to illustrate the importance of self-awareness.

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Quote by Rajneesh | QuoteProject