“The first principle is becoming aware of our thoughts and the nature
of thought. By taking the position of just being an observer of the
thoughts and images that come and go we discover all thoughts are the
same: they are temporary appearances that come and go like clouds in the
sky.
Give no importance to one thought over another. If we pay no attention
to any thought but remain in the “observer” role, it seems the space of
awareness becomes more open and thoughts less demanding of attention.
We discover all thoughts are without substance and importance. We could say our thoughts are “empty”, like clouds: appearances without any core or entity.
The second principle is recognizing
our stories and emotional dramas are structured only from thought, our
“empty” thoughts. In continuing to observe our thoughts we should notice
how they tend to link together in chains of meaning and particular
significance. It is this linking together of thoughts that creates our
stories, beliefs and emotional drama in a convincing and powerful way.
As a result we may spend most of our time going from one mini-daydream
to another.
It is this trance-like state of mind
that we need to break up again and again as often as possible. We do
that by shifting our attention from thought to the presence of the five
senses in immediate now-ness. Just notice your physical environment and
the direct sensory experience free of analysis. Practice this shifting
away from mental engagement in thought to noticing your physical
environs as often as possible.
The third principle is recognizing
that one’s sense of self is also only an empty story made of thought; a
mental construction without an actual identity as an entity that exists
independently and with self-determinism.. There is no personal self
present other than this make-believe “me” story.
Even science makes clear there is
just one unified field of energy as the universe without separate parts.
The entire field is inter-dependent without any breaks or splits in the
unity. The sense of being an independent entity like a “personal self”,
is just an illusion and has never existed in fact.
By observing the “me” thoughts that
arise from moment to moment we can notice the “personal me” is nothing
more than a chain of linked thoughts about identity that are supported
by memories and imagination. Seeing this directly and clearly, not just
intellectually, the emptiness of personal identity becomes obvious to
the mind at which point the illusion ceases…
The fourth principle is recognizing
what exactly is the nature of that which is observing and experiencing
the empty nature of thoughts, stories and personal selfhood. What is
doing the “recognizing”? What is this impersonal aware consciousness
that perceives and knows? In these recognitions there seems to be an
ever increasing evolution or revelation of wisdom. As a result one’s
cognitive space seems expansive, open and vividly transparent without a
center…
The fifth principle is recognizing
the inseparable relationship between one’s empty, aware “seeing” and the
five senses. One can’t find awareness separate from one’s sensory
perceptions. There isn’t first a sensory perception and then an
awareness of it. The five senses are this “knowing awareness” seeming to
be split up into five separate sensory components. These sensory
capacities are not limited to the physical five senses. “Knowing
awareness” can perceive independently of the five physical senses with
no limitations regarding time and space.
Merging our
attention fully with the five senses instead of with the mental
phenomena of thoughts, stories and beliefs in personal identity, reveals
a state of total “nowness” beyond thought and mind. A limitless vista
of knowing transparency and Clear Light reveals itself to be our true
nature beyond any descriptions or assumptions of mind. In merging our
attention totally with the five senses, the luminous nature of
appearances reveals the empty vividness of our Aware and Knowing Space.
If one
incorporates and integrates these five principles into one’s daily
practice, in my opinion no other methods or practices should be
considered necessary…”
Special Thanks to:- Jackson Peterson~ Transparent Being
