Consciousness functions as both a knower and an experiencer but is primarily an observer, separate from actions and emotions. It does not engage in enjoyment or suffering, nor does it perform actions; rather, it reflects experiences through the instruments of knowledge and action. Like a movie screen that simply portrays events without participating in them, consciousness remains uninvolved in the experiences it reflects. Understanding this distinction clarifies the nature of consciousness as a passive witness rather than an active participant.
Inspired by the 15th chapter of the Ashtavakra Gita, Swami Sarvapriyananda gives a discourse on the nature of the Self.