So far, we have observed that the common symbols we have explored represent emptiness, which is concluded to be synonymous with consciousness. However, emptiness itself is nameless by its very nature. Let us delve further into the contemplation of emptiness.
Reincarnation and Ego
In the symbolism of emptiness, the Hindu deity Shiva, with a third eye located on the forehead, is sometimes depicted. This eye is said to burn desires into ashes. Burning desires signifies becoming free from attachments, and concepts related to non-attachment include the inner eye, the eye of the mind, intuition, the state of flow, Brahman, the true self, reincarnation, liberation, and enlightenment.
Reincarnation is the belief that the soul, after death, returns to this world through multiple rebirths. This concept is found in Buddhism and Indian philosophy, as well as in Plato's philosophical work "Phaedo," where Socrates, Plato's mentor, discusses death and rebirth as follows:
"From this point of view, we have come to an agreement. Just as the dead come into existence from the living, the living also come into existence from the dead. Now, if this is the case, it is a sufficient proof that the souls of the dead must exist somewhere and must be born again from there, as we concluded earlier."
Among the indigenous Yanomami people of the South American rainforest and the Dogon people of West Africa, there is also a concept that the deceased become spirits and return to the afterlife or heaven.
The Alacaluf people, who inhabit Tierra del Fuego in southern South America, believe in the supreme being Solas, who imbues each newborn with a soul, and when a human dies, that soul is reabsorbed by Solas.
Although the term "reincarnation" is not explicitly mentioned in the Christian New Testament, there is an explanation in Paul's letter to the Corinthians about how the deceased become spiritual beings and are resurrected in the kingdom of God:
"The resurrection of the dead is similar to this. (Omitted) So it will be with the resurrection of the dead: The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
"Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality."
Although not revolving around reincarnation, the Ashanti people of West Africa also have concepts related to spirits. Here, it is believed that every individual receives the "Sunsum" (Ego) and "Kra" (vital force). They state that humans transmit their own spirit, known as "Ntoro," to their children. This indicates that the Ashanti people already had concepts of ego and spirit since ancient times.
Returning to the topic, the state of liberation from the cycle of rebirth is referred to as "gedatsu" in India and Buddhism. It signifies liberation from the bondage of afflictions and reaching a state of freedom, often expressed as enlightenment. Afflictions, or human desires, arise from the sense of self (ego) and result in suffering. The elimination of desire involves the annihilation of the self (ego). Liberation is considered the ultimate goal in Indian philosophy and the purpose of human life. To break free from the cycle of rebirth, the only way is to extinguish the self (ego).
The position of Shiva's third eye, which burns desires, is related to liberation. The presence of the ego gives rise to thoughts and desires. When the mind is free from thoughts, the ego does not exist. No-mind is a state that everyone experiences momentarily on a daily basis, but consciously being in that state is a way to annihilate the ego. Now let's explore how to achieve this state.
Method to Stop Thinking
"1. Focus your awareness on the point between your eyebrows."
Whether standing or sitting, close your eyes for 20 seconds. If any thoughts or words come to your mind during this time, that is thinking. It is from there that suffering arises.
Next, close your eyes again for another 20 seconds. This time, take slow and deep breaths through your nose, and as you exhale, focus your awareness on the point between your eyebrows. As your awareness concentrates at a single point, thinking subsides, and you enter a state of no-mind. In other words, you have consciously stopped thinking. The area between your eyebrows and the pineal gland at the back of your eyeballs is where thoughts arise. It is here that past events, future predictions, and anxieties unexpectedly surface. When in a state of no-mind, tranquility arises. In this moment, there is no suffering, as the random chatter of thoughts ceases. The key is to consistently maintain this conscious attention. With continued practice, your mind will remain quiet throughout the day, and even if thoughts arise, you will quickly become aware of them and subdue them. This becomes a habit, leading to deeper states of concentration and a calm mind. The measure of your spiritual progress is determined by how much conscious attention you can sustain throughout the day. This practice can also be done with your eyes open.
These states involve being consciously attentive. The opposite is the state of unconsciousness. We have all experienced moments when we become angry or excited and say disrespectful things to others based on our emotions. This occurs because we are in an unconscious state and lack attentiveness. When we consciously observe our inner being, as we just practiced, we enter a state of attentiveness where we are no longer swayed by emotions. People who are not conscious of their thoughts are at the mercy of their thinking, leading to sudden feelings of inferiority, past anger, and a perspective that is filtered through fixed beliefs. It is important to recognize the nature of these thoughts and understand that sudden thoughts are not the true self.
Focusing your awareness on the point between your eyebrows is one method, but the object of focus can be anything. For example, you can gaze at drifting clouds, concentrate on your breath, or focus on any single object. However, it is advisable to avoid things like television or videos that bombard you with information.
"2. Directing awareness to awareness itself"
Once you become accustomed to concentrating on an object, shift your focus to awareness itself. Awareness has no form, scent, or sound. In a state of no-mind, when thoughts are absent, only awareness remains. This state of being, existing purely as awareness, is the true essence. This awareness has been referred to as the divine and emptiness since ancient times.
Mushin, Shingan, and the Flow State
By consciously observing a single point, one enters a state of no-mind, leading to a state of non-desire, which, when sustained, results in a tranquil state. This state of no-mind, where one perceives daily matters, is referred to as the inner eye, the eye of the mind, or Shingan. In this state, since there are no thoughts, one sees with the same pure eyes as a child, free from biases. Therefore, one can discern the essence. Additionally, in activities such as craftsmanship or sports, where one moves automatically in a state of no-mind and experiences a high level of focused performance known as the flow state or "the zone," one is also seeing through the eye of the mind. During such moments, one is in a state of conversing with the inner voice, observing the inner self with intense concentration, and easily generating the next move. Sometimes, the surroundings may appear to move in slow motion. It is as if one is using both physical eyes to see 50% and the eye of the mind to see the remaining 50%. The body doesn't move only when there is no thought; rather, the body moves even in a state of no-thought, and its maximum potential is unleashed. This is because one follows intuition without opposing it, and that intuition comes from consciousness (emptiness).
By surrendering to intuition and acting as an instrument of the flow state, one can harness the maximum human potential. Intuition arises from a state of no-mind. Conversely, when one engages in activities while consumed by anxiety, fear, or impure thoughts, the quality of performance diminishes. These mental states are thoughts, and they are significantly slower than the instantaneous response of the body to intuition. Moreover, if one's actions are driven by seeking rewards, it stems from desire, whereas actions not motivated by such seeking can be considered pure actions.
All humans, whether aware or unaware, are consciousness (emptiness) itself. Consciousness is eternal, while the physical body is merely a temporary garment that is discarded at the time of death. Thus, consciousness is the fundamental essence of life. Without knowing this, one becomes attached to material things, the body, and forms. The following passage describes the supreme existence passed down since ancient times in Africa and South America. If you replace the word 'god' with 'consciousness,' it becomes evident that every tribe has revered the same entity since ancient times.
The Akan people of West Africa refer to their god as Nyame, which signifies the "supreme existence," the "sole radiance," the "originator," and the "prime mover of all." Nyame is represented as follows:
"No one can point out Nyame to the children."
"The world is vast, but Nyame is the longest."
"All people are descendants of Nyame; no one is a descendant of the earth."
"The hawk says, 'Everything Nyame does is good.'"
"No one can break the order set by Nyame."
"There is no escape from the destiny given by Nyame."
The Yaghan people, who reside in Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost part of the South American continent, worship a supreme being called "Watawinewa" (the most ancient one). The supreme god is a compassionate deity who does not possess a tangible body but resides in the sky.
Similarly, the Ona people, also living in Tierra del Fuego, worship a supreme being named "Temaukel." Temaukel lacks a physical body, as well as a wife and children, and exists constantly, upholding cosmic and societal moral standards. He resides above the stars (seishin), invisible to the eyes, and is merciful. When individuals encounter difficulties, he serves as the recipient of their prayers.
As we have seen so far, beliefs from various regions since ancient times, consciously or unconsciously, have revered consciousness as a god. This leads to the conclusion that these beliefs stem from the same source. Moreover, the profound contemplation of the supreme existence (consciousness) from Africa to South America implies that even before humanity migrated out of Africa, there were individuals in Africa who attained liberation similar to what Buddhism refers to.
Consciousness and Liberation
Consciousness (no-mind) can be easily understood by using the analogy of a television. The television set represents "consciousness." When the television screen turns on, it signifies the Big Bang. The movies displayed on the television screen represent the universe, and the characters in those movies represent human beings. Just as the characters and the world within the screen are part of the television set, actual human beings are also consciousness. However, these characters are unaware that they exist within the television. They are born, die, and are repeatedly reborn within that screen, playing various roles and experiencing pleasure and suffering while gaining experience. The actual television set may have colors and shapes, but consciousness does not possess such qualities.
Life is like a movie, where the ego plays a role and gains experiences. Just as the television set remains unharmed when a bomb explodes in the video, consciousness is the same. Therefore, everything happening in this world is like an illusion, similar to the images appearing on a television. When humans realize that they are living in the illusory world of the ego and let go of attachment to this world, becoming conscious of consciousness itself, they can attain liberation and transcend the cycle of rebirth. At the moment of death, if one still holds attachment to worldly riches, fame, family, regrets, or anger, they become tasks to be overcome, and they will be reincarnated once again to resolve them.
When one achieves no-mind, only consciousness, which is the recognized entity, remains within the brain. Indian philosopher Shankara (700-750 CE) referred to this in his teachings known as Upadesha Sahasri. He stated the following:
"The Atman attains liberation and does not undergo reincarnation."
"I (Atman) exist as a reality and the subject of cognition."
"Just as a flame does not require another flame to manifest itself, since cognition is the essence of Atman, no separate cognition is necessary to recognize Atman."
"I (Atman) am the all-pervading, pure, enlightened, unborn, omnipresent, immortal, and everlasting. I am the overseer, witness, observer, eternal, attributeless, and non-dual. I am neither being nor non-being, nor both. I am absolute and auspicious. I have no night, day, or twilight. I am the Brahman without even empty space."
"There are no obligations for that which is already established."
"Atman encompasses both the internal and external, transcending birth, death, and old age. Those who already know that they are Atman have nothing to fear. This is called wisdom, and not knowing it is ignorance."
"If all individuals attain liberation, the world will cease to exist."
Shankara states that being as Atman is to exist as consciousness, and realizing oneself as Atman is enlightenment and liberation. In Buddhism, the Buddha describes no-mind and liberation in the Udana-Varga (Utterances Chapter) as follows:
"The serene state beyond the reach of thought is the cessation of suffering and the tranquil bliss of cessation of fabrication. There, nothing that previously existed exists, there is no emptiness, no discriminating function, no sun, and no moon. I am well acquainted with that state."
"The enlightened ones, understanding their own silence regarding that state, completely transcend all forms, formlessness, and all forms of suffering. Having reached the ultimate wisdom, they fear nothing, doubt nothing, and have no regrets. They have severed the arrow of existence. This is their final body, the supreme and unsurpassed state of tranquility. It is the state of liberation where all phenomena perish without returning."
In Buddhism, a person who has attained enlightenment is called a Buddha or a Tathagata, and the term "Buddha-nature" refers to the nature of consciousness itself, indicating the inherent quality of enlightenment. In the ancient Indian scripture, the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Bhagavan (Purusha, Brahman, i.e., consciousness) states the following:
"At the time of death, those who depart by remembering only me (Lord Bhagavan) attain my state. There is no doubt about this. At the moment of death, regardless of the state one remembers and leaves the body, they will invariably attain that state. Therefore, remember me at all times and engage in battle. Entrusting your mind and intellect to me, undoubtedly you will come to me. Through steadfast practice of yoga and single-pointed devotion, one reaches the sacred and highest Purusha."
In the ancient Chinese text, the Tao Te Ching by Laozi, it is mentioned that when one becomes no-mind and observes the surroundings, they realize that all things return to the Dao, which is emptiness.
"Empty the mind as much as possible and steadfastly maintain a calm state of mind. Then, although all things are constantly undergoing generation and change, I can perceive their return to the Way. In fact, all things engage in active generation while ultimately returning to their roots."
Not only in Asia but also in ancient Greece, the philosopher Plato (427 BCE - 347 BCE) expressed similar ideas in his work "Phaedo." Here, the soul refers to consciousness (the non-physical aspect).
"Suppose the soul were to depart from the body in its purest form. In that case, the soul would not carry any bodily elements with it. This is because the soul, throughout its life, willingly avoids engaging with the body and instead concentrates on itself. The soul always practices this, which is, in essence, the practice of true philosophy and, indeed, the practice of calmly facing death. Or could this be a practice for death?"
"Now, if the soul were in such a state, it would depart toward something invisible to our eyes, something divine, immortal, wise, and similar to itself. Once it reaches that state, could it not be freed from wandering, erratic behavior, fear, violent desires, and other human vices, and find happiness? And as it is said about those who have received the mysteries, would it not spend the remaining time in true communion with the gods?"
In the First Epistle of John 1 in the New Testament of the Christian Bible, it is expressed as follows:
"Do not love the things of the world, for if someone loves the world, the love of the Father (God = consciousness) is not in them. For everything in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."
Understanding such phenomena can also be gleaned from one's own surroundings and events. One of the things that can be realized when consciously becoming mindless is the sudden occurrence of thoughts. These thoughts arise from past memories, including anger, regret, suffering, and joyful experiences. Conversely, fears about the future may also arise. If one is not aware of this nature, their mind becomes captivated by these thoughts, and they live in reaction to them. Therefore, humans engage in self-centered actions. In other words, sudden thoughts give rise to emotions, which then generate the next thought, creating a chain reaction. This conditioning of past memories is referred to as karma or fate in Hinduism and Buddhism. Without understanding this, thoughts do not cease, and desires persist.
Many people are always seeking material possessions or opportunities, and if those things are not too difficult to attain, they usually obtain them by persevering in their attachments for a short time. In the case of more challenging matters, strong and prolonged attachments are necessary. In other words, through attachment, the desired things manifest in material form. Someone who wants to read books will attract opportunities to read books. Those who love money will attract money. Those who desire to have pets will encounter opportunities to own animals. This can be considered a law of this world.
Similarly, if attachment to life persists at the time of death, one is reborn. If attachment to life is extinguished before death, there is no rebirth. This is what various religions have described thus far.
Eliminating attachment to life does not mean doing nothing; rather, the things that need to be done in life arise as intuition from consciousness. After that, it becomes a matter of going with the flow. Eliminating attachment to life does not belittle the value of life.
In this way, by focusing one's attention on a single point, such as the space between the eyebrows or consciousness itself, one attains no-mind, and desires are not generated. With continued practice, attachments diminish, and tranquility is achieved. If one remains focused on consciousness even at the moment of death, they attain the ultimate goal of liberation, which is the purpose of human existence.
Creation of the Universe through Consciousness
In Chinese Yin-Yang philosophy, it is believed that from the original chaos (chaos), the Yang energy became the heavens, and the Yin energy became the earth. In the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, it is stated that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. In other words, from the ultimate emptiness, two poles of Yin and Yang were born. These include the concepts of heaven and earth, light and darkness, joy and suffering, and North and South poles. Every human being, to some extent, possesses desires, becomes attached to things, experiences the joy of acquiring something, and conversely, suffers from longing for something. By not being swayed by either and becoming mindless, suffering disappears, one exists as consciousness, and by establishing that state, liberation is achieved. It is like a kind of experiential game. To experience the emptiness of oneself, one creates finite things that are the opposite of emptiness and becomes attached to them, thus generating pleasure and suffering. Through human activities, one can experience these and have a taste of their own emptiness.
However, this understanding is a conceptual understanding and not something that the mindless consciousness comprehends. It simply happens without any reason. In other words, there is no meaning in the universe, life, or existence itself, and there is no experience or perception. Put simply, when one becomes mindless, there are no thoughts present, so it is impossible to understand anything or have a purpose. Purpose and understanding arise from the presence of thoughts.
As we have seen so far, religions around the world represent the emptiness of consciousness, which is also the consciousness of human beings, and the sole existence that existed even before the birth of the universe. This consciousness is not something separate as an individual, but everything is interconnected. Eventually, all life returns to this consciousness.
Author: Hiloyuki Kubota
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