Read more about '''[[Self Observation Compilation|Self Observation]]''' from the works of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo.
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=What is Self-Observation?=
__NOTOC__Self observation is to know what stands behind one’s surface nature and personality. To observe oneself is to become conscious of oneself, of the different parts of one’s being and their respective activities. It is to know one’s inner mental, vital, physical and psychic being and its powers and movements... In its advanced stages where one takes an impersonal poise, Self-observation also consists of knowing the universal laws and processes of the occult Mind and Life which stand behind the material-front of the universe. <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/21/memory-ego-and-self-experience#p5</ref><ref> http://incarnateword.in/cwm/09/18-june-1958#p3</ref>
<h1>=Why is Self -Observation Summary</h1>Important?=
{|class="wikitable" style= "background-color: #efefff; width: 100%;"|To Overcome Ignorance==
=What is SelfIn our everyday life, we always look outwards into the appearance of things and get trapped into the surface ignorance and rarely turn inwards. Amongst other things, this comes with ignorance, unconsciousness, egoism. If we wish to overcome these limitations and discover & utilise our potentialities beyond the surface appearances, we need to observe ourselves. <ref> http://incarnateword.in/cwm/09/18-Observation?=june-1958#p3</ref>
Man must know himself and discover and utilise all his potentialities: but to know himself and the world completely he must go behind his own and its exterior, he must dive deep below his own mental surface and the physical surface of Nature. This he can only do by knowing his inner mental, vital, physical and psychic being and its powers and movements and the universal laws and processes of the occult Mind and Life which stand behind the material front of the universe.<ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwm/09/18==Self-june-1958#p3</ref> awareness==
Your consciousness becomes a screen or mirror; but this is when you are in a state of contemplationThrough self-observation, a mere observer; when you are active, it is like a searchlight. You have only one learns to turn it ondistinguish different parts one from another, if you want to see luminously and examine penetratingly anything in any place. <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwm/03/30-june-1929#p7</ref>...we discover and can know so that one may become clearly aware of the origin of the inner being movements that secretly thinks and perceives occur in usoneself, the vital being that secretly feels many impulses, reactions and acts upon life through us, the subtle-physical being conflicting wills that secretly receives and responds to the contacts of things through our body and its organs. <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/21/knowledge-by-identity-and-separative-knowledge#p12</ref>By Observing one’s dreams, drive one can come to understand them and their significance to our inner lifeaction.<ref>h http://incarnateword.in/cwsacwm/3012/threethe-experiencesscience-of-the-inner-beingliving#p6p5</ref>
=Why is Self-Observation Important ?=In our everyday life, we always look outwards into the appearance of things and get trapped into the surface ignorance and rarely turn inwards to seek self and discover and utilize our potentials. ...if each element which comes with its ignorance, its unconsciousness, its egoism, is put before the will to change and one remains awake, compares, observes, studies and slowly acts, that becomes infinitely interesting, one makes marvellous and quite unexpected discoveries.<ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwm/04/19-april-1951#p14</ref>To Utilise One’s Full Potential==
To work for your perfection, the first step is Man must know himself and discover and utilise all his potentialities: but to become conscious of yourself, of know himself and the different parts of your being world completely he must go behind his own and their respective activities. You its exterior, he must learn to distinguish these different parts one from another, so that you may become clearly aware of dive deep below his own mental surface and the origin physical surface of the movements that occur in you, the many impulses, reactions and conflicting wills that drive you to actionNature. This he can only do by observing oneself.<ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwm/1209/the18-science-ofjune-living1958#p5p3</ref>
=How to Observe Oneself?=
Projecting oneself on a screen and then observe and see all that is moving there and how it moves and what happens.<ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwm/05/29-july-1953#p47</ref>
'''==By Vigilance'''Cultivating the Inner Attitude of Witness==
Not fearTo observe oneself, but vigilancefirst & foremost is cultivating an inner attitude of witnessing. Witness attitude is not the same as introspection. If you remain vigilantIn introspection, then one looks with one part of the increase surface mind at what happens in another part of the Force upholding yousame surface mind. Whereas when we have the witness attitude, a power of selfour consciousness frees itself from habitual entanglements in thoughts, feelings and sense-control will comeperceptions and becomes peaceful, silent, and capable of watching whatever happens in nature as a power to see and reject the wrong turn pure witness, sakshi, without bias, reaction or the wrong reaction when it comesinvolvement. <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/31/fear#p12</ref>
'''By Developing However, in the beginning, it helps to use the introspective mind, especially if a Quiet Mind'''human has a well-development introspective mind. It helps in not getting carried away by thoughts and feelings. A man with a very developed with very identifies with this part of his mind and observes his own thoughts and studies their nature. That is a beginning which makes it easy for the full detachment to come.
If Further, to develop the whole mind remains quiet witness attitude it helps to Project oneself on a screen and detached observing the vital movement, but not giving its assent, then to reject observe and see all that is moving there and how it becomes more easy. This established quietude moves and detachment of the mind marks always a great step forward made in the sadhanawhat happens. <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsacwm/3106/the-vital-and-other-levels13-ofoctober-being1954#p45p2</ref>
'''By Developing Look at oneself objectively as a third person engaging in the Witness Attitude'''surface level activities. One need not like or dislike the activity but sincerely observe the movements of nature.
In order to become conscious, one needs to develop within a part ==By Developing the Contact with a witness attitude that observes and is not carried away by thoughts and feelings. A man with a very developed with very developed introspective mind identifies with this part of his mind and observes his own thoughts and studies their nature. That is a beginning which makes it easy for the full detachment to come. <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/30/inner-detachment-and-the-witness-attitude#p</ref>Psychic Being==
The process of self-observation should be objective mental being within watches, observes and one should look at oneself as a third person engaging passes judgment on all that happens in the surface level activitiesyou. One need The psychic does not watch and observe in this way like or dislike a witness, but it feels and knows spontaneously in a much more direct and luminous way by the very purity of its own nature and the divine instinct within it, and so, whenever it comes to the front it reveals at once what are the activity but sincerely observe right and what the wrong movements of in one’s nature.<ref>h http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/29/work-and-yoga#p45</ref>
'''==By Education of the Senses'''Being Vigilant==
By Secondly, vigilance helps in self-observation. If one remains vigilant, not fearful, then with the education increase of the senses the growth of one's general education is aided.In factForce upholding oneself, they should be used for this, as instruments a power of seeing and self-observation, control and knowledgecomes. <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwm/06/31-march-1954#p13</ref>Consequently, all life The power of seeing is an education pursued more or less consciously, more or less willingly. In certain cases this education will encourage accompanied by the movements that express power of self-control and the light, in others, on power to reject the contrary, those that express wrong turn or the shadowwrong reaction when it comes. <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwmcwsa/1231/vital-educationfear#p6p12</ref>
==Difficulties in Self-ObservationBy Developing a Quiet Mind==
Be aware Thirdly, quietude and detachment of the “escape attitude’’ as man always rushes into external action mind helps in self-observation. If the whole mind remains quiet and looks for reasons to not have time detached, then to observe himself the vital movement without giving assent and turn inwardrejecting it becomes more easy.<ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/31/the-vital-and-other-levels-of-being#p45</ref>
There is “danger of ego” in observing ==By Exercising the movements and attaching the sense of ‘I’’to the process of self-observing and not going behind the surface level I.Will to Change==
Focussing on By putting each element that enters our consciousness before the negative- To be always will to change while remaining awake, comparing, observing faults , studying and wrong movements brings depression and discourages the faith. <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/31/steps-towards-overcoming-difficulties#p28</ref> You have slowly acting, we are able to observe them, of course, but not stress them.<ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/31/dealing-with-depressionhone our ability at self-observation and-despondency#p22</ref>make interesting discoveries within oneself.
Surface -level observation It is evident that our state on ==By Educating the surface is indeed a state of knowledge, so far as it goes, but a limited knowledge enveloped and invaded by ignorance and, to a very large extent, by reason of its limitation, itself a kind of ignorance, at best a mixed knowledge-ignorance.<ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/21/knowledge-by-identity-and-separative-knowledge#p7</ref>Senses==
By the education of the senses the growth of one's general education is aided. The senses can, in particular, be used as instruments of observation, control and knowledge. For instance, the way one keeps one’s room is often a reflection of where one is in one’s consciousness. Taking this feedback, and consciously trying to use the sense of colour and form, order and organisation helps develop the ability to use one’s senses a logical, rational, useful way. Going further, it also helps discover who one is in the conscious way of designing one’s room.
<ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwm/06/31-march-1954#p13</ref>
=Difficulties in Self-Observation=
==Escape Attitude==
Man always rushes into external action and looks for reasons to not have time to observe himself and turn inward, thus it is important to be wary of the “escape attitude” within oneself.
==Ego==
The second is the “danger of ego” in observing the movements and attaching the sense of ‘I’’ to the process of self-observing and not going behind the surface level I.
==Focussing on the Negative==
To be always observing faults and wrong movements brings depression and discourages the faith. <ref> http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/31/steps-towards-overcoming-difficulties#p28</ref> One has to observe them, of course, but not stress them.
<ref> http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/31/dealing-with-depression-and-despondency#p22</ref>
Instead it is important to focus on the good part and give it strength, whilst not denying the limitations and the wrong movements. .
'''Content curated by Aditi Kaul'''
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