Jnana term is used, “the knower.” The knower is the witness of the objects known.

It is the Self, purusha.

Same. Conscious principle alone is the witness. The unconscious can’t witness. Manifest and unmanifest by nature are unconscious. Unmanifest is primordial nature. Manifest is the intellect, ego, mind, 5 subtle senses, 5 subtle elements and 10 gross elements.

Our ego of individuality is the biggest enemy of neutrality. It always works when the notion of neutrality is not there. What is neutrality for us when we are always seeking for self-interest? If we remove self-interest, then what will be the function of the ego? The ego will sit there dormant. In that state, the truth starts shining in the mirror of intellect. You can call it a state of neutrality because all aspiration and efforts cease. The ego merges in its own reality.

It witnesses all the time but we are not aware of it. In a car accident, people see a crashed car and do not look at the license plate. But when they are hypnotized, they can tell what was the license plate number. When the consciousness principle works through the mind, then the mind witnesses the perceived world.

Enlightenment means achieving knowledge of the truth (Self). Witness is a conscious principle in the mind. Consciousness comes from the Self. So the Self is also called a witness.

Yes, it is in levels.

The witness (Self) is witnessing the functions of the mind. It seems like two different rascals there. Witness witnesses the ignorant state in the mind. When the mind gets purified, the witness witnesses the pure mind as well as what was witnessed before.

Witness as the embodied soul is duality but in itself it is non-dual. As long as the ego functions through the mind-body complex, it creates duality.

Yes. The eternal, infinite, the Self is the witness of everything.

Non-dual state is the supreme enlightenment.

Yes. Seer means aware. These last verses are mainly talking about meditation and what we achieve by meditation. The human mind gets restless when one sits for meditation. A man went to a monk who was living in the jungle and asked him how to meditate. The monk said, “just don’t think.” The man said, “It’s easy” and got up and left. The monk yelled, “one more thing. Just don’t think, especially about a monkey.” The man went home and started meditation. A monkey at first came in his mind. “The monk said ”don’t think about a monkey“ and I won’t think about a monkey.” But the monkey started chasing him everywhere. We carry a mind which always keeps a memory of those things which are not good for us.

If the sensations are watched without attachment, then the mind will not get involved in sensation because the mind enjoys sensation when there is attachment. We may think “I am simply watching the sensation,” but internally we are enjoying the sensation.

Sattva buddhi is nonattachment. Sense enjoyment is an act of rajas guna. Its nature is desire and attachment.

By being neutral, you will know.

It’s good. You can’t reflect with restless mind.

You do it for your worldly life. Nonattachment doesn’t stop you from working hard. It is not hard to see the self-interest and attachment.

It’s developed by training the mind. You have to have some time for meditation.

Because there is self-interest.