Do you actually do that in meditation though? Do you literally have no sensory stimuli whatsoever? Do your sense of touch and smell totally disappear in meditation?
Yes, through Dzogchen meditation, or meditation upon Death. Sensory experiences are transcended in stages, gradually. It is not like a switch, of course. Eventually, the sensory experiences cease to manifest, as such. (In which, "manifest" would mean physically manifested and thus, are able to be detected through our physical senses.)
I know what you are getting at though, and I don't think it really contradicts the point I am making. If the experience of thought, being and awareness, separate from sensory stimuli, is the experience of the Supernals and Ain Soph Aur - then doesn't that presuppose a relationship between the Sephiroth and that which we perceive through our five senses?
Of course there is a relationship between our sensory experience and the some of the Sephiroth. I would question that experience in the case of Kether, or the Supernal Triad. While I understand that there is sensory experience, most definitely, the meditation upon the unmanifest nature of Kether transcends sensory experiences. NOW, when one then "returns" from such and experience, one can then realize this nature of Kether in all that is perceived as manifested experience. Kether is in Malkuth, but in another manner. or As Kether is in Malkuth, so Malkuth is in Kether. this is the proper meditation of the Sephiroth from the highest view possible.
It can be compared to The Heart Sutra:
"Oh, Sariputra, Form Does not Differ From the Void,
And the Void Does Not Differ From Form.
Form is Void and Void is Form;
The Same is True For Feelings,
Perceptions, Volitions and Consciousness."
"Sariputra, the Characteristics of the
Voidness of All Dharmas
Are Non-Arising, Non-Ceasing, Non-Defiled,
Non-Pure, Non-Increasing, Non-Decreasing."
"Therefore, in the Void There Are No Forms,
No Feelings, Perceptions, Volitions or Consciousness."
"No Eye, Ear, Nose, Tongue, Body or Mind;
No Form, Sound, Smell, Taste, Touch or Mind Object;
No Realm of the Eye,
Until We Come to No realm of Consciousness."
(I was taught in a mixture of Eastern and Western traditions. Apologies if this is upsetting to anyone.)
So, yes. Without this Understanding of Form (Binah), this Point (Chokmah), is not realized, and therefore neither is the experience of Kether. Thus, the true nature of each Sephira is skewed, and rooted in Daath.
Heh, that wasn't so easy to explain, but I hope it helps! |
