The text in chapter 19 explains that the sense of being a 'doer' and 'enjoyer' is directly tied to the ego's identification with the body, intellect, mind, and life-force. As long as this identification, or the false ego of 'I am the body,' persists, the experience of pleasure and pain is unavoidable. This is because the individual falsely attributes actions ('doer') and their consequences ('enjoyer') to their true Self. The liberated soul, however, understands that the Soul is distinct from these transient aspects—it is pure consciousness, changeless, and formless. By transcending the false ego, one transcends the dualistic experience of pleasure and pain, which are products of Maya's illusion. The ultimate goal, as described in chapter 19, is for the senses and mind to find rest, which signifies the end of this cycle of doing and enjoying.
What does it mean to be a 'doer' and 'enjoyer', and how does this relate to the experience of pleasure and pain?
📖 Chapter 19