Sentiency permeates the entire body. This pervasive feeling suggests the existence of a separate self.
Yet, upon careful analysis, this sentiency becomes objectified. It becomes clear that no actual individual person exists within. What remains? Merely a reflection of all-pervading consciousness—a blend of consciousness and matter.
This is simply abhasa: a natural, feeling-sensation occurring within everyone. Paradoxically, this very sensation creates the identity—the individuality—of the supposed “person.” This constructed entity is the jiva: the sentient, conglomerate individual.
The entire phenomenal world arises only alongside this jiva. Therefore, the duality of knower and known is an occurrence, not an ontologically real entity existing independently.
Now, this reflection itself possesses no inherent reality. To whom does this reflection belong is an interesting question! The reflection per se does not belong to the reflecting medium. Not it belongs to the original reflected entity. The reflection by itself is just a lookalike, an illusory appearance due to lack of proper discrimination.However, abhasa necessarily implies a real counterpart. Just as any mirror reflection demands a real object existing outside the mirror and its reflection, so too does this abhasa. That Reality—which reflects within the body-mind frame yet transcends and is unlimited by it—is pure consciousness. It exists beyond all dualistic appearances.
This Reality is the true “I,” often termed the Witness in spiritual teaching.
This is the process of discriminating between consciousness and non-consciousness within experience.