Mysteries of Mind

Author(s): Mahapragna Acharya
Publisher: Today and Tomorrows Book Agency

Page 93

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THE MYSTERIES OF MIND
the means of perception. You can perceive even with closed eyes. Insight comes into operation when the eyes are closed. Insight has a wider perspective than that of the eyes. It commands a deeper penetration. That which cannot be seen with the eyes can be seen by insight.
We do see things with the eyes. This kind of perception is called animëșa prekşā or perception with a fixed gaze which is also capable of seeing in depth. If you gazed at a face for half an hour, you will be able to see thousands of its facets. Ultimately the face will assume the form of a bright flame. This is not a hearsay but an actual experience.
The third kind of perception (prekșä) is seeing with half open eyes. In this perception you have to fix your half open eyes on the lower end of the nose. If you did so for half an hour or so, you will have strange experiences. You will come to see that the lower end of the nose which is a lump of skin and flesh has become a shining object. Prekşā or perceptive meditation reveals to us newer and newer sights and experiences.
When you begin to perceive, you cease to think and vice versa. There are three kinds of perception : cursory, concentrated and full. Cursory perception is accompanied by thinking. In concentrated perception there is very litile thinking. Full perception takes place in a state of thoughtlessness. It is perception in depth.
A certain man felt that it was very cold and began to tremble. His companion advised him to cover his body with a piece of cloth. The man covered his body with a very thin piece of cloth. But it failed to warm his body. When he complained, his companion reprimanded him saying. “You should have been intelligent enough to cover your body with a piece of thick cloth or with a woollen cloth. How can a piece of muslin ward off the cold ?” This applies to perception also. Perceiving and thinking cannot go together. If you want to perceive something, do not think. This can be possible only when you are perceiving in depth.
Then comes the question as to what you are going to perceive. You may perceive anything good or bad. If you are under the spell of anger, try to perceive your anger also. One who can perceive anger can perceive pride also. Anger is the