Imagine All Faculties of Perception Removed, What Remains?

Spiritual practice can be divided into two approaches. In the Vedantic tradition, we turn our attention away from the content of experience. In the Tantric tradition, we turn our attention towards the content of experience. These two approaches are complementary and mutually supporting, and one can go freely back and forth between them. To begin the contemplation, we imagine that the faculty of perceiving is removed from us. When all these faculties are removed, what remains? What remains of the world? Can a distinction be made between ourself and a world? The purpose of these contemplations is first to recognise the nature of reality and then to infuse all aspects of our experience with this recognition. It is not enough for the way we think to be in line with this understanding. It is necessary for the way we feel and perceive the world and others to be an expression of this understanding.

Spiritual practice can be divided into two approaches. In the Vedantic tradition, we turn our attention away from the content of experience. In the Tantric tradition, we turn our attention towards the content of experience. These two approaches are complementary and mutually supporting, and one can go freely back and forth between them. To begin the contemplation, we imagine that the faculty of perceiving is removed from us. When all these faculties are removed, what remains? What remains of the world? Can a distinction be made between ourself and a world? The purpose of these contemplations is first to recognise the nature of reality and then to infuse all aspects of our experience with this recognition. It is not enough for the way we think to be in line with this understanding. It is necessary for the way we feel and perceive the world and others to be an expression of this understanding.