“If the conscious Self Itself is taken to be ignorant an evidence is necessary in order that It may know Itself to be so. It is surely necessary in knowing the Self if one (i.e. the ego) other than It be regarded as ignorant” (# 135 Chap. XVIII Upadesa Sahasri)
The Self is taken to be changeless and as knowledge arising out of the activity of knowing or cognition implies a change the Self is not a knowing subject.
“The intellect has no consciousness and the Self no action. The word ‘knows’ can, therefore, reasonably be applied to neither of them.” (#54 Chap. XVIII Upadesa Sahasri)
The evidence for the Self comes via its reflection in the intellect. The Body/Mind/Intellect complex is inert matter seeming to be conscious due to its pervasion by the Self.
“The intellect, being transparent and next to the self, easily catches the reflection of the intelligence of the Self. Therefore even wise men happen to identify themselves with it first..”
“It (the Self) thinks as it were: By illumining the intellect, which does the thinking, through its own self-effulgent light that pervades the intellect, the Self assumes the likeness of the latter and seems to think.....” (Brh.Up. IV.iii.7 Sankara’s commentary)
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