Wikipedia informs us that a “selfie is a self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a hand-held digital camera or camera phone. Selfies are often shared on social networking services such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.” Most people think that the “selfie” is a symptom of narcissism, while others consider it to be a vehicle of self-empowerment. What it does for you is that it enables you to see yourself without the help of any other person. It is direct. But what you see is the superficial you as the camera has limited penetration. There’s another camera gifted to us by nature herself the camera of the inner eye.
We can use our inner eye just like the eye of a camera to look within. Here’s how we can do it. Close your eyes and follow the trail of your thoughts. Take as much time as it takes to bring your attention inward. See the thoughts floating as clouds in the sky of your consciousness. Just see. Do not interfere. Do not edit. Do not judge. A perfect camera accepts things as they are without adding any colour to them.
Witness your emotions and feelings without suppressing or controlling them. Gradually, you will enter the cave of your heart, what the sages of Upanishads call antargupha (the inner cave). Keep transcending all that comes on the way. With practice, you will reach a point where you leave yourself behind. The Zen masters describe this state as “freedom from oneself”. You arrive at the threshold of kingdom of God.
Now you will experience self-realisation. Behold yourself in full glory. Sage Ashtavakra described this experience to his disciple, King Janak: “You are the solitary witness of all that is forever free. Your only bondage is not seeing this.” And King Janak exclaimed, “Mera mujhko namaskar (I greet myself)”.
Swami Chaitanya Keerti, editor of Osho World, is the author of Osho Fragrance
