So Near and So Far

 I experience clarity.
I know my higher self.
I see my soul.
I am that.

 Can you see the obscuration?
This a mistaken reality.

 Reality is:
Clarity
Knowing
Cognising
Is-ness.

 Without I.

The word ‘consciousness’ may be used in different contexts. Here, is it referring to areas in the mind. There are many consciousnesses. Here, we are talking about eight consciousnesses – five of the senses, three of the mind*.

We are talking the difference between the 8^th consciousness, called ‘alaya’, or all ground, and pure essence, which could be called the 9^th consciousness. This 8^th consciousness is very close to empty essence, but it is the difference between duality and non duality. This is very subtle, and takes some analysis and experience in meditation.

The 8^th consciousness, which is the storehouse of mental imprints of experiences, has two aspects: it is both the hard drive, and the information on the hard drive (the software). Through our practice of letting be, we gradually exhaust the software…Karma (the biased filter through which we see everything, and which contaminates our perception). The hard drive itself (the alaya or all ground) is a thought-free state: once the software is exhausted, the hard drive collapses, and enlightenment dawns.

Unfortunately, the 8^th consciousness is similar to empty essence, and can be mistaken for such. However, it is still dualistic because a perceiver remains . There are moments if clarity in the 8^th consciousness, and there is essence clarity; the good news is that the recognition of this is near enough!

The 8^th consciousness is very close to empty essence. All that is needed is to recognise awareness of awareness of the emptiness of emptiness. Merely drop all doing and maintaining. There is no longer perceiver and perceived, just pure perception.

This is either recognised through the progression of meditation, or through receiving the pointing out instruction.

If you do find yourself saying
“I am that,”
merely say,
“Not this, not this,”
to that.

*The first 5 consciousnesses are the physical senses, the 6^th is perception and the 7^th is judgement.