To silence the mind it is not enough to throw back each thought as it comes, that can only be a subordinate movement. One must get back from all thought and be separate from it, a silent consciousness observing the thoughts if they come, but not oneself thinking or identified with the thoughts. Thoughts must be felt as outside things altogether. It is then easier to reject thoughts or let them pass without their disturbing the quietude of the mind. <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/31/interactions-with-others-and-the-practice-of-yoga#p99</ref>
= Right Attitude for Self-Observation = Becoming Conscious ==
== Witness Attitude ==But a time comes when instead of doing things automatically, impelled by a consciousness and force of which one is quite unaware—a time comes when one can observe what goes on in oneself, study one's movements, find their causes, and at the same time begin to exercise a control first over what goes on within us, then on the influence cast on us from outside which makes us act, in the beginning altogether unconsciously and almost involuntarily, but gradually more and more consciously; and the will can wake up and react. Then at that moment, the moment there is a conscious will capable of reacting, one may say, "I have become conscious." This does not mean that it is a total and perfect consciousness, it means that it is a beginning: for example, when one is able to observe all the reactions in one's being and to have a certain control over them, to let those one approves of have play, and to control, stop, annul those one doesn't approve of. (The Mother, 28 November 1956) <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwm/08/28-november-1956#p19</ref>
Have you never felt this? As though you were a little behind or above things, and were looking at them taking place but were not doing anything yourself? Witness means an observer, someone who looks on and does not act himself. So, when the mind is very quiet, one can withdraw a little in this way from circumstances and look at things as though he were a witness, a spectator, and not participating in the action himself. This gives you a great detachment, a great quietude, and also a very precise see of the value of things, because it cuts the attachment to action. When you know how to do this with yourself, when you can withdraw and watch yourself acting, you learn many things about yourself. When you are all mixed up and take part in the action, you do not observe yourself acting, you don't know what you are like. But when you draw back and look at yourself, you can perceive many imperfections which you wouldn't have seen otherwise. (The Mother, 13 October 1954) <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwm/06/13-october-1954#p2</ref>== Being Vigilant ==
It has been seen One can be quiet, happy, cheerful without being all that in a most effective way of purification light or shallow way—and the happiness need not bring any vital reaction. All that you need to do is for the mental Purusha to draw backbe observant and vigilant, —watchful so that you may not give assent to stand as the passive witness and observe and know himself and wrong movements or the workings return of Nature in the lowerold feelings, darkness, confusion etc. Not fear, the normal being; but this must be combined, for perfectionvigilance. If you remain vigilant, then with a will to raise the purified nature into increase of the higher spiritual being. When that is doneForce upholding you, the Purusha is no longer only a witnesspower of self-control will come, but also a power to see and reject the wrong turn or the master of his prakriti, īśvarawrong reaction when it comes. <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/2431/the-action-of-the-divine-shaktifear#p7p12</ref>
The witness Purusha in the But you have only to observe yourselves... you can observe yourself, catch yourself at least a hundred times a day, with a mind observes that the inadequacy of his effortwhich decides everything, knows everything, judges everything, knows very well what is good, all the inadequacy in fact of man's life and nature arises from the separation and the consequent strugglewhat bad, want of knowledgewhat is true, want of harmonywhat false, want of onenesswhat is right... It is essential for him to grow out of separative individualityAnd also how one should act, what this person should have done, how to universalise himselfresolve that problem.... All men know, to make himself one with the universeyou see... This unification can be done only through If they were at the soul by making our soul head of mind one with the universal Mindgovernments, our soul of life one with the universal Life-soulfor instance, our soul of body one with the universal soul of physical Naturethey would know very well how to manage everything! But people don't listen to them... that's all! (The Mother, 21 July 1954) <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsacwm/2406/the-perfection-of-the21-mentaljuly-being1954#p15p40</ref>
== Being Sincere and Impartial ==
For that you must be absolutely sincere and impartial. You must observe yourself as if you were observing and criticising a third person. You must not start with an idea that this is your life's mission, this is your particular capacity, this you are to do or that you are to do, in this lies your talent or genius, etc. That will carry you away from the right track. It is not the liking or disliking of your external being, your mental or vital or physical choice that determines the true line of your growth. Nor should you take up the opposite attitude and say, "I am good for nothing in this matter, I am useless in that one; it is not for me." Neither vanity and arrogance nor self-depreciation and false modesty should move you. As I said, you must be absolutely impartial and unconcerned. You should be like a mirror that reflects the truth and does not judge. (The Mother, 12 November 1952) <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwm/15/12-november-1952#p6</ref>
== Being Vigilant Witness Attitude ==
One can be quietHave you never felt this? As though you were a little behind or above things, happyand were looking at them taking place but were not doing anything yourself? Witness means an observer, cheerful without being all that in a light or shallow way—and the happiness need someone who looks on and does not bring any vital reactionact himself. All that you need to do So, when the mind is to be observant very quiet, one can withdraw a little in this way from circumstances and vigilantlook at things as though he were a witness,—watchful so that you may a spectator, and not give assent to wrong movements or the return of participating in the old feelings, darkness, confusion etcaction himself. Not fearThis gives you a great detachment, but vigilance. If you remain vigilanta great quietude, then with and also a very precise sense of the increase value of things, because it cuts the Force upholding attachment to action. When youknow how to do this with yourself, a power of self-control will comewhen you can withdraw and watch yourself acting, a power to see you learn many things about yourself. When you are all mixed up and reject take part in the wrong turn or the wrong reaction action, you do not observe yourself acting, you don't know what you are like. But when it comesyou draw back and look at yourself, you can perceive many imperfections which you wouldn't have seen otherwise. (The Mother, 13 October 1954) <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsacwm/3106/fear13-october-1954#p12p2</ref>
But you have only to observe yourselves... you can observe yourself, catch yourself at least a hundred times a day, with a The witness Purusha in the mind which decides everythingobserves that the inadequacy of his effort, knows everythingall the inadequacy in fact of man's life and nature arises from the separation and the consequent struggle, judges everythingwant of knowledge, knows very well what is goodwant of harmony, what bad, what want of oneness. It is trueessential for him to grow out of separative individuality, what falseto universalise himself, what is rightto make himself one with the universe... And also how This unification can be done only through the soul by making our soul of mind one should actwith the universal Mind, what this person should have doneour soul of life one with the universal Life-soul, how to resolve that problem.... All men know, you see... If they were at our soul of body one with the head universal soul of governments, for instance, they would know very well how to manage everything! But people don't listen to themphysical Nature... that's all! (The Mother, 21 July 1954) <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwmcwsa/0624/21the-perfection-of-the-julymental-1954being#p40p15</ref>
== Becoming Aware of Desire ==
For that you must observe yourself very, very attentively, and if there is anything in you which produces something like a small intense vibration, then you may be sure that there lies a desire. For example, you say, "This food is necessary for me"—you believe, you imagine, you think that you need such and such a thing and you find the necessary means to obtain the thing. To know if it is a need or a desire, you must look at yourself very closely and ask yourself, "What will happen if I cannot get the thing?" Then if the immediate answer is, "Oh, it will be very bad", you may be sure that it is a matter of desire. It is the same for everything. For every problem you draw back, look at yourself and ask, "Let us see, am I going to have the thing?" If at that moment something in you jumps up with joy, you may be certain there is a desire. On the other hand, if something tells you, "Oh, I am not going to get it", and you feel very depressed, then again it is a desire. (The Mother, 25 January 1951) <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwm/04/25-january-1951#p3</ref>
== Becoming Conscious ==
But a time comes when instead of doing things automatically, impelled by a consciousness and force of which one is quite unaware—a time comes when one can observe what goes on in oneself, study one's movements, find their causes, and at the same time begin to exercise a control first over what goes on within us, then on the influence cast on us from outside which makes us act, in the beginning altogether unconsciously and almost involuntarily, but gradually more and more consciously; and the will can wake up and react. Then at that moment, the moment there is a conscious will capable of reacting, one may say, "I have become conscious." This does not mean that it is a total and perfect consciousness, it means that it is a beginning: for example, when one is able to observe all the reactions in one's being and to have a certain control over them, to let those one approves of have play, and to control, stop, annul those one doesn't approve of. (The Mother, 28 November 1956)
<ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwm/08/28-november-1956#p19</ref>
= Limitations of Self-Observation =