Subject is the seer/knower, object is the scenery. I am the subject who witnesses the object and its properties. Anything that can be objectified cannot be me.
Eyes see computer screen, eyes are subject and the screen is the object. Screen may have many properties like brightness, colour, size, resolution etc. Intellect knows about eyes, here eyes are object and intellect is the subject. Eyes may have many properties like colour, size, eyesight etc. Intellect knows about various emotions. Here, intellect is the subject and mind is the object. However, intellect is not present in deep sleep but I am always present. I am the knower of the absence and of the presence of the intellect. So, I am the subject and intellect is the object. Intellect has the properties of reading the signals sent by various senses, reading various emotions etc. Since, intellect has been objectified it is not me. The only thing that can never be objectified is Impersonal Awareness. That is me, so are you.
Self (awareness/consciousness) is not an object that can be known by the ego. You can only experience the reflection of the Self when your mind is quite (please refer to the video in this post). Self cannot be known by the ego as an object because ego appears in Self and not the other way. You can only know the Self as Self. The teachings of Vedanta make you do the Self Inquiry. No amount of reading can help unless Self Inquiry is done. As you find answers to your existing and new doubts, your mind becomes quieter and quieter. The mind eventually becomes fixed thinking about the Self almost continuously. The Self which is always present hears its name being called and a stage comes when a subtle cognitive shift takes place. Earlier, it was you as ego seeking the Self, now you become the Self and the ego becomes an object in the Self. There is no thunder, no lightening, just a subtle shift in the reference point through which you look at the world.
Earlier, Ego = I,
Now, Pure Self = I and Ego = Expression of pure Self
One way to realise Self is to follow the traits of a Self-realised person*. Karma Yoga effectively means working just like the way a Self-realised person* would work. After realising Self, there is no identification with body-mind and hence there is no false ego so why would someone work exclusively for making money, for getting promotion in job, for higher social status etc. One would just work till the previous karmic debt is burnt with the intention to sustain the body and since there is a sense of oneness with everything as everything is Self as known to this person* he/she would do work as love/service towards the consciousness in everything (just like a common man works for himself due to his love for himself). Naturally, this type of work would be the work without bondage which would not be the work done solely for the sake of fruition of the work.
*Whether you realise Self or not, you are still a person to the outside world (the world comprising of people who are not Self-realised). But, after you realise Self you do not consider yourself as person as Self means consciousness.
Vedanta, Vedic Astrology, Vaastu, Sound Healing Consultation & Courses Online or in India (Bhopal)
