CONSCIOUSNESS OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Almost every creature is conscious and the human creature, with the evolved attribute of supporting form with names, is able to enlarge that consciousness to the point where he can say that the human creature is "conscious of something or other," ranging from the "external associations of form" to the "internal word-and-concept associations of the mind."

And with that attribute we stop and declare that we are evolved human creatures.

Really, if we examine what we are, despite all the complex inventions and great works of literature and other forms of art we produce, and despite the presence of the far-reaching minds of a few scientists, we find that the creature that we over-dignify with the label of "human" is still with a near-Neanderthal mind. 

Ask any human creature in the street to describe man and he will speak about his intelligence, his science and his art. Yet when you ask him to show exactly what he has contributed as a human creature to mankind he would on careful examination of his true nature have to admit that he is a mindless shell riding upon the shoulders of those who have "advanced" civilization to its dubious state of progress.

Take away all that he has not contributed and he would find himself back in the caves with his club grooving as he does now upon conflict, violence and sex, disguised today as gladiator wealth-controlled sport and the semblance and lie of natural physical togetherness. 

He knows about the Compassion which is mental, for his Egoism has been balanced socially with ideas of Compassion and Benevolence, sponsored by Religion which seems somehow to remain wealthy while the poor continue poor.

The mental products of consciousness as external and internal phenomena become the objectives of a clinging craving Identity.

The only valid solution is a return to natural Dharma, which means in great part the full realization of the Consciousness of Consciousness itself.

Now what does that mean?

What is this Consciousness of Consciousness?

It is not to be confused with Pure Awareness, but is in fact Pure Mindfulness.

We can say then that it is a Pure Mindfulness. 

HOW DOES THAT MANIFEST ITSELF?

Ordinary Awareness is mundane and is always an Awareness "of" something presented by "Clear Comprehension," whereas "Pure Awareness" is without a subject or object. Pure Awareness manifests itself as the SUBLIMINAL experience of "Life" translated by Cognitive Consciousness as "being alive."

Ordinary Mindfulness is also mundane and is always a Mindfulness "of" something presented also by Clear Comprehension. Pure Mindfulness is also without a subject or object.

The important point to be made then is that Pure Mindfulness manifests itself SUBLIMINALLY as the experience of "Being" translated by Cognitive Consciousness as a Pure Illusory "Existence."

The Identity Existence is generated on the other hand as a result of "Mundane Mindfulness."

That Pure Illusory Existence arises in the right hemisphere and balances correctly the sensory power of the natural Illusions of "Existing" but not "Identity Existence."

Make sure that you understand this.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS?

The Pure Mindfulness resultant experience of "Existing" without "Identity" means that cognitive conceptualization of "Existing" is not divorced from the "Existing as the Unity of all living things, of all Life."

This means that with this Pure Mindfulness, which we can term when it is Cognitively made Conscious, is the experience of "All Being."

Try and understand what that means beyond words, for that is indeed the...

FULL EXPERIENCE OF THE LIFE FORCE ITSELF

That experience links all Life Forms into one basket and changes the chip of human cognition when it is realized.

The CONSCIOUSNESS OF CONSCIOUSNESS is then PURE MINDFULNESS converted into a Conscious state in which there is no conscious object or subject.

Those who are wise will, I hope, realize now that this is a very advanced teaching that requires, for a full understanding, that the full series of seminary teachings have been understood.

Let us then revise for a moment what we have revealed up to this point.

The Consciousness of Consciousness is a Cognitive unbound experience transformed from the state of Contemplation that arises from the attainment of Pure Mindfulness. This experience is that of Existing without the presence of one who exists.

As such it is the experience of the Universal Existence of all things, "all being" and a reflection of the "Life Force" that Unites all living creatures, namely "Oneness."

It has therefore an indelible link with Pure Awareness, which has as a corresponding subliminal experience that of "Life" itself reflected within Cognition as an illusory individual "Being Alive."

There is then a deep understanding within Cognition and Mundane Consciousness, through correct advanced Contemplation, when Pure Mindfulness together with Pure Awareness is attained. This produces the Cognitive experiences of:

Universal Existence (existing, all being)

Being Alive (as True Self)

Oneness of the Life Force (with great Awe)

FURTHER INTO THE BEYOND

You can then see that when there is the overwhelming impression of Universal Existence that has "No Particular Existence" then there will be a full experience of "Vacuity" which is greater than that attained in the Chan paramita Contemplations.

Now that experience of Universal Existence is not a static experience. It is rather like observing a great sea with its undulating waves in which there is constant but peaceful change. There is then a rising and a falling away of those waves, without specific or fixed direction, which is akin to the rise and fall, the "Impermanence" within a boundless, timeless Universal Existing.

Knowing then the rise and fall within a Universal Existence there will be attained a full experience and an understanding beyond the words used to describe it, of "Universal Non-Existence" called the "Ever-Changing End of Consciousness".

Now then we have available potential experiences of:

                                      Universal Non-Existence

                                               Vacuity

                                          Impermanence

CONSEQUENCES OF THE COGNITIVE MINDFULNESS OF THE TRUE SELF

The Cognitive Mindfulness of the True Self achieved in the Contemplation allows the "Clear Comprehension" to operate bringing a "Comprehension of UNIVERSAL SUFFERING", which is far beyond that which is achieved by the use of mundane cognition alone. That universal suffering is accompanied not with a corresponding empathy, but with a "Well-Being" which is "Equanimity" and the determination that there is a "RELIEF FROM UNIVERSAL SUFFERING".

I think that you will be able to see here the root of the experiences that allowed Buddha to understand and formulate the "Four Noble Truths."

But that comprehension of Universal Suffering does not stand alone. The internal experiencing of the Life Force releases with that Cognitive Mindfulness of Universal Suffering, the energy which flows throughout the system that we know as the energy of a maintenance and homeostasis. When named we can call this energy flow "True Compassion", "Benevolent Affect" and "Gladness."

The human creature then has available:

                                 Comprehension of Human Suffering

                                                Equanimity

                      Comprehension of Relief from Human Suffering

                     The comprehension of Buddha's four Noble Truths

           True and Natural Compassion, Benevolent Affect and Gladness

Need I really say more about this available Consciousness of Consciousness which arises from correct Advanced Contemplations and the awakening of the internal wordless experiences?

From my own point of the vision, the greatest reward is yet the most simple perhaps. A Unity with all living things within Consciousness that marks my being and reflects the internal wordless Survival state of Oneness.

This understanding has induced me to make available, for all sensitive readers, the Chan Dharma Protection Nature which follows.

May your meditations and contemplations continue with diligence and understanding.

Shanjian