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SEARCH FOR TRUTH
One who has decided to engage himself in prakṣā meditation (perceptive meditation) takes the vow of perceiving truth. The ultimate aim of meditation is the search for truth. One who does not meditate cannot pursue truth. We are surrounded by all kinds of truth and some of them are so subtle that it is not possible to see them with the bare eyes. These subtle truths cannot be comprehended even by the gross mind. They do not become the objects of empirical consciousness. It is only with insight, the subtle mind and subtle consciousness that we can perceive them. Nor can we make the vision subtle and seasoned except with the help of meditation. Consciousness lies buried under layers of attachments and aversions. It cannot be refined until these layers have been removed. That is why the practitioner engages himself in the search for truth. This search begins with self-perception. He does not scareh truth outside himself but within.
Let us begin with perceiving the breath. Breath is the first pre-requisite of life. Breathing keeps us alive, therefore let us begin the search for truth with breath-perception. We live because we have a body, and, therefore, the body is the second object of our perception. Life depends on the activivities of the mind like thinking, search for alternatives and reflection. Therefore we will have to try to perceive thoughts, mind and reflection as the objects of prèkşā meditation.
Consciousness lies at the base of our existence. Everything is driven by it. It drives our body, mind and breath. The entire universe stands on the base of consciousness, and, therefore, let us make consciousness the object of perceptive meditation. The more we perceive, the more do we find to be worthy of being perceived. There are four main areas of
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