Two kinds of Vision

             Vision is of two kinds—phenomenal and eternal. The former is a modification of the mind when it stretches out through the eyes. It is dependent on the objects perceived. It has a beginning and an end. But the latter is the very nature of the Self, just as heat and light are the very nature of the sun. The Self is said to be a seer, hearer, thinker, etc, only when it it is associated with the respective limiting adjuncts such as the eye, ear, mind, etc.  

Br.up.3.4.2.S.B--- dr.shtiH iti dvividhaa bhavati laukikii paaramaarthikii cha------- vidyate iti cha.

Vision is of two kinds, phenomenal and real. Phenomenal vision is an action of the mind when connected with the eye. It is an act and has therefore a beginning and an end. But the vision that belongs to the Self is like the heat and light of fire, being the very essence of the witness; it has neither beginnig nor end. The ordinary or phenomenal vision, however, is coloured by the objects seen through the eye. It begins when the eye comes into contact with the object and ends when the contact ends. The eternal vision of the Self is only metaphorically spoken of as the witness. It is a witness only when it is looked upon as associated with the limiting adjuncts, namely, the mind, body, etc. By itself it is only pure consciousness and cannot be described even as a witness.

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