Beyond the Witness

Observing the mind is an important step on the path of awakening, but it is not the destination. When we observe the mind, we create a distance between ourselves and our thoughts. In this state of awareness, we can see the mind’s patterns, its restless nature, and the endless stream of desires, fears, and judgments. Observation grants clarity, and with clarity comes the understanding that we are not our thoughts. This recognition is powerful—it’s a glimpse of freedom.

However, simply observing the mind keeps us in the realm of duality. There is still an "observer" and the "observed." Though this practice may bring peace and insight, it is not the same as true liberation. True liberation lies in letting go of the mind entirely—releasing identification with the thoughts, emotions, and egoic structures that shape our sense of self. 

To let go of the mind means to dissolve the illusion that the mind holds any real authority over who we are. In this letting go, we fall into a deeper, boundless awareness that transcends the mind altogether. It is here that we experience true freedom—freedom from the grasp of the ego, from the limitations of time and space, and from the endless cycle of becoming. Observing can show us the door to this deeper freedom, but only total surrender—letting go of the mind—opens it. Only then do we realize that liberation is not something to be achieved but the natural state of our being.