I observe that even though I have a lot of feelings and perceptions,
very little of what is really happening enters my mind.
Cats can smell better. Bats can hear better.
Eagles can see better. Pigeons can geolocate better.
Eagles can see better. Pigeons can geolocate better.
Of the trillions of cells in my body, my nervous system only senses
a tiny fraction
of the chemical reactions and processes that are happening.
a tiny fraction
of the chemical reactions and processes that are happening.
So consciousness is very limited.
And what is it?
For sure, it's not a 'thing'.
For sure, it's not a 'thing'.
I'm aware of being aware, but never know what awareness is,
except that life is constant motion, time, and change.
except that life is constant motion, time, and change.
Maybe consciousness is
an empty container.
an empty container.
But a container is a thing.
And how can it contain itself?
And how can it contain itself?
Some people conclude that it's the soul, timeless and spaceless, synonymous with God, Tao, or the uncreated force
beyond yin and yang.
beyond yin and yang.
But those are just words.
You might say that it's a formula, or a spirit, or my essence, or the essence of reality — but no words can describe it since it's not a thing that can be described and it isn't like anything.
Maybe it's a dimension. But it can't be defined.
I know it's real
but I can't know anything about it.
but I can't know anything about it.
That's the mystery. Unknown and unknowable.
That's why Ramana Maharshi suggests self-inquiry and says
'abide as the self'.
You know it's real, and you can notice the thing that knows it
because it is the emptiness that includes everything I could ever know.
because it is the emptiness that includes everything I could ever know.
The 'headless way' of Douglas Harding is sort of the same idea in a different style,
turning attention back on itself.