Purification - Transcending the Ego | Beyond the Illusion of "I": Embracing the Witness - July 25, 1996

Beyond the Illusion of "I": Embracing the Witness

In this episode (July 25, 1996), the teacher explores how to transcend the false self or ego through the practice of dhikr. He explains three states of consciousness: deep sleep, dreaming, and waking, and contrasts the fleeting, changeable waking state dominated by the illusion of "I" with an unchanging, blissful no-awareness witness that always remains.

Using examples from sleep, dream, and spiritual practice, the talk shows how sincere remembrance (Ya Raheem and La ilaha illa Allah) can return attention to the inner witness and to the eternal reality beyond the body and mind. The witness watches thoughts and desires without identifying with them, allowing inner states to surface without struggle.

The speaker emphasizes negating the illusion of ownership and control—recognizing that everything belongs to Allah—and cautions against result-orientation while practicing dhikr. Practical guidance includes watching thoughts as a witness, returning to the no-awareness state through regular zikr, and trusting that when one is established in remembrance, Allah’s mercy guides the rest.