Who is Aware Even of Perception?

That which we call the world is nothing but an object, which is an object on that side of your attention but what is on the other side? The objects, which are being perceived, who is perceiving them, just look and say. [Pause] How will you look there? Here often in satsang we say look, but attention can’t go there, so how to look. So what is the extent to which attention can go? Can go to just these things [points to objects in front], now we have layered them out and say these are the five sheaths or seven sheaths of human existence, just for ‘understanding’, but the object is getting replaced, all these ideas of layers and distance, all of this is for our intellect isn’t it? So it doesn’t matter whether the object is our hand or a pristine feeling, it doesn’t really matter. But who is all of this coming to? All of this input who is taking? [Pause] This can be super confusing for the mind but it is clear to you, it is you, no? It is you. Why is it confusing to the mind

Yeah, it’s trying to make you in the sense that it is saying, this is your quality, this is how you perceive yourself. So I hope nobody is now, that’s why I made it clear it is a metaphor, otherwise some of you will start visualizing (and we have some artists here that’s why we have to be careful). So we start visualizing, there is a world on that side which is being perceived, and there is a blob of pure light or something like this, it’s not like that. It is beyond any lowest or highest concept we can have. It means You. You are beyond any highest or lowest concept because you cannot visualize It, you cannot conceptualize It and yet you are not confused, It is You. Who is perceiving this hand [holds up his hand]? It is You. Maybe today we are spending a lot of time explaining this simple idea. So let’s say on that end of your attention is this hand, what is on the other end? [Silence] It is you, it is coming to you, you are perceiving the hand. But what is the quality of you? What is the attribute that you have? [Silence] So how are you recognizing this? This is how we miss true Self-recognition because we expect it to be some fantastical discovery or something like that. How do you recognize it is you that is perceiving the hand? Through what means? Through what tools? [Silence] Clear? The question is at least clear? Through what means or tools are you recognizing that is it you that is perceiving the hand? In what way?

How do you know it is available to you? [Silence] So everything is available. How do you know it is to you? Through what tools? Through what mechanism do you recognize this? Is it through attention? That attention, which was on the camera, now has turned back so much, is on ‘me’ now. I see there is a ‘me’, which is a blob of darkness. Is it like that? I’m making light of these things but the thing is this a very common confusion that I find. So I see that I see the camera. The ‘I’ that sees- how do I see that? What is the basis of that recognition? And this is so simple but has one pre-condition, the pre-condition is that you have to be empty. You cannot come into this question taking yourself to be the body, mind or something and then say, okay, then you make it into an intellectual exercise. It is just super simple. [Snaps his fingers]. The pre-condition is open and empty. Then, see that who is that - who is aware of even perception? You don’t have to try and do something; many times I also feel like when I say..., you’ll are trying to see like [grimaces] this. What will you try with? You will try with your attention, no? So I’ve said the maximum your attention will go to is your Being, further than that where will it go? Isn’t it? So, what will you try with, isn’t it obvious that you are aware. What makes it obvious? Is it just a notion? Is it like ‘Oh, yes it is obvious we are sitting on earth’. No that is just a conceptual obviousness. It’s obvious that I’m sitting and not standing, but that is just a perceptual obviousness. What makes it obvious that I am aware of my perceptions? But to even meet these kind of questions which are actually super simple, you have to be empty, open and empty because otherwise these will also become oppressive.