Question: Since for my [last question](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/47334/16806), I did not get a satisfactory answer I am reducing the question to its barebones.

What is the difference between 'Witnessing' and 'Mindfulness' from the context of meditation? I mean when I am looking at the sunset without any thoughts in mind and feel a oneness, am I witnessing the sunset or I am being mindful of the eye-consciousness?

In the [Mahāsatipaṭṭhānasutta MN 10](https://suttacentral.net/mn10/en/sujato?layout=plain&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin#mn10:2.1) the word mindfulness is used, can I replace it with the word, 'Witnessing' without changing the meaning?

Answer: 
the other answers are already good so I'll just add this quote from [wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakshi_(witness)) regarding witness:

> 
> "When form is the object of observation or drshyam, then the eye is
> the observer or drk; when the eye is the object of observation, then
> the mind is the observer; when the pulsations of the mind are the
> objects of observation, then Sakshi or the Witnessing-Self is the real
> observer; and it is always the observer, and, being self-luminous, can
> never be the object of observation. When the notion and the attachment
> that one is the physical body is dissolved, and the Supreme Self is
> realized, wherever one goes, there one experiences Samadhi. "
> 
> 
> 

of course I don't see how the eye can be the object of observation but that's just me...i'm not a god
Maybe see the Quora thread on Osho's "witness": <https://www.quora.com/What-is-witness-meditation-as-described-by-Osho>

I can only tell from my personal experience: I've read books where "witnessing" was used synonymously with perceiving with mindfullness (sati) and without follow-up thoughts (<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conceptual_proliferation>)

Your sunset example seems to be a mix of different elements: The basic perception process goes from the object (external) to the eye sense organ to perception to sign (nimitta), but then stopping there (if you are right that there is no mental proliferation).

The feeling of oneness seems to be a separate, second perception from your "internal sense organ". However, it's unclear if the source of this feeling is directly the eye-consciousness, if it is mediated by the perception of "beauty", or if it's the result of a separate associative process based on the memories of what Osho told you about oneness.

You may also have a look at oneness and it's background: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nondualism>
However, attaining advaita usually takes years of meditation practice. Perception of beauty is said (by Sangharakshita somewhere) to provide a glimpse of it.