श्रीरामSatsang with Ananta
Awareness & Attention

What Is Perception Made Up Of?

What we call perception is just labeling and thoughts superimposed on Awareness, which remains unchanged whether the manifest world arises or dissolves.

Ananta

Inherently in our percepHon, there is past, there is a future, there is now?

Seeker

No.

Ananta

So this is just… the mental version of this. Now you are coming to God’s version which is not so three dimensional or four-dimensional.

Seeker

So if I am this, in the end, it is a concept. And maybe say the reality is not linear.

Ananta

Yeah.

Seeker

Then that will be a bunch of conflicts every now and then.

Ananta

Like?

Seeker

It should not comply to my concept isn’t it?

Ananta

So it is definitely not advisable to now build a new concept around non-linearity. Because then they will have conflict. It is just like to come to the innocence of a child again. Which is like they have no concept of linearity or non-linearity. Because otherwise, you try to fit this into some non-linear idea. Then that again trying to construct.

Seeker

So in deep sleep there is only Awareness.

Ananta

Ahh? And in waking state?

Seeker

Waking state [Sangha Ananta Smiles] so many things coming.

Ananta

There is more than Awareness? [Sangha Chuckles]

Seeker

So we should always be in deep sleep.

Ananta

In the coming of anything… in the arising of anything, does anything arise which is not in Awareness or not Awareness?

Seeker

Awareness is watching everything arising.

Ananta

That which is watching is not Awareness?

Seeker

That percepHon in not Awareness.

Ananta

PercepHon is not Awareness?

Seeker

No.

Ananta

Then, what is it? What is percepHon made up of?

Seeker

Labeling, thoughts, all these things.

Ananta

What is… so the manifest arises from…?

Seeker

The senses and thoughts, interpretaHons.

Ananta

And goes into, when it dissolves?

Seeker

That goes into Awareness.

Ananta

But when it comes out it doesn’t come out from Awareness? [Laughs] [Inaudible] You don’t have to worry too much about it that. But when you look at the waking state arising, you will that it is not separate from that which never lee. It is just like (what is a good metaphor)... It is just like a sort of light is switched on and it shines on an aspect of myself which is more qualitaHve. But, it is not separate from that which is Aware of It.

Key Teachings

  • Perception itself is made up of labeling, thoughts, and interpretations—it is not Awareness
  • The manifest world (waking state) arises from senses and thoughts, and dissolves back into Awareness, yet it is not separate from that which never changes
  • Building any concept—even non-linearity—creates conflict; one must return to childlike innocence without concepts
perceptionawarenessconceptsnon-linearitywaking statemindlabeling

From: When You Are Open & Empty, You Are Not Confused about Who You Are - 19th November 2019