Reflection Support: Unperforated

In the Asheyana path, reflection practice is located after practicing Calm Abiding and experiencing the Insubstantial Basis of Being for oneself. Reflection itself can take place at any time.

Here is a support for working with Reflections that arise spontaneously from the Insubstantial Basis of Concepts, related to some kind of residual wound or trauma from having received or perceived wrong-doing or harm-doing.

The support practice described below is intended to help one reconnect with progression along the path. This practice is not intended as a substitute for social accountability for one having done wrong or done harm. 

Note that this support practice is not intended to resolve the presence of effects of physical injury.

Main Support Practice

1. Take a stable seat or stance. Gentle movement such as rocking or pacing is fine, as needed.

2. Connect with the body and feel the breath.

3. Abide imagining the consciousness as an ocean of perception, gently undulating under the night sky of space of mind.

4. Notice if trauma has asserted itself. Trauma here is seen as a perforation made to the surface of consciousness, turning consciousness tautly in towards itself across the perforation. A model for viewing and understanding this Perforation of Consciousness follows.
   
   

Dynamics and Drawbacks of Perforation of Consciousness

1. At the bottom of the Perforation of Consciousness is some Base Perforating Concept--either phenomenal or noumenal--that has bound the consciousness tightly around it.

• • The Perforation of Consciousness could be viewed like a funnel of agitated consciousness indenting some local but significant site within the ocean of consciousness.

  • The perforation is held in place both by a Base Perforating Concept and by a Distorted Identity feedback loop of consciousness rigidly perceiving itself across the perforation as subject and object--maintaining a Distorted Identity perception of perpetuator and victim.

  • Desire to confront a perceived perpetrator of the perforation within one's own consciousness heightens the Distorted Identity 'far edge' of the perforation, keeping the perforation in place.

  • Desire to strengthen a perceived victim of the perforation within one's own consciousness heightens the Distorted Identity 'near edge' of the perforation, keeping the perforation in place.

  • Desire to ignore the appearance of perforation Distorted Identity does not resolve the Base Perforating Concept at the bottom of the perforation, keeping the perforation in place.

2. The perforation remaining in place can sap a good amount of internal energy and resources from participation in daily life, instead requiring these to manage the perforation.

• • In extreme cases, the perforation remaining in place could lead to the replaying of perforation dynamics overlaid onto daily life, giving rise to a kind of 'augmented reality' or phantasmagoric interaction with one's daily world.

  • The perforation remaining in place may also lead one to attempt to perforate the consciousnesses of others in a similar way, for purposes ranging from request for help, demand for sympathy, or even to 'educate others' about 'how the world really is' through the process of sharing wounding concepts.

  • The perforation remaining in place is, in the long run, an obstacle along the path home.

Resolving Perforation

1. Understanding the dynamics and drawbacks of a Perforation of Consciousness, give rise to intention to resolve the Perforation of Consciousness. 

• To begin resolving the perforation, first undermine clinging to Distorted Identity.
  
  

Clinging to Distorted Identity is Undermined

1. To undermine clinging to 'far-edge' Distorted Identity, consider the following: 

• My image of this perpetrator is marked by Impermanence: They are no longer the same people now as then; 

• My image of this perpetrator is marked by Not-Identity: Who they showed me was only one facet of their conditioned momentum, the base of which is Insubstantial;

• My image of this perpetrator is marked by Perfect Inadequacy: The appearance of their actions and words was a true expression of the confusion of being human.
  
  

2. To undermine clinging to 'near-edge' Distorted Identity, consider the following: 

• My image of this victim is marked by Impermanence: I am no longer the same person now as then; 

• My image of this victim is marked by Not-Identity: My body may heal or may retain wounds, but am I this body..? My mind may heal or may retain wounds, but am I this mind..? My expectations may heal or may retain wounds, but am I my expectations..? Free from the weight of identity, I can inhabit the present moment of my experience, unimpeded; 

• My image of this victim is marked by Perfect Inadequacy: My appearance in this way has opened a direct path for cultivating wisdom and extending compassion, a path of growth beyond this fading image.
  
  

3. Clinging to Distorted Identity is undermined until tautness of consciousness gives way to some return of undulation.

• Other considerations or contemplations can be used to undermine clinging to Distorted Identity.

• Note: One may need to continue undermining Clinging to Distorted Identity for a number of sessions. A return of undulating consciousness between appearances of perpetuator and victim within one's own consciousness is a good sign of progress.

• To continue resolving the perforation, next work to metabolize the Base Perforating Concept.

Base Perforating Concept is Metabolized

1. To metabolize the Base Perforating Concept, consider the following: 

• This concept is marked by Impermanence: Concepts appear and have meaning, yet dissolve when looked at directly, leaving only wisdom perceiving space. In this way, this concept is no different than any other concept;

• • This concept is marked by Not-Identity: Concepts appear and have meaning, yet there is nothing solid underneath them. In this way, this concept is no different than any other concept;

  • This concept is marked by Perfect Inadequacy: Concepts may approximate lived experience, but cannot substitute for lived experience. The ability for a concept to frame and guide lived experience is only ever granted consensually. In this way, this concept is no different than any other concept.

2. Base Perforating Concept is metabolized until the binding of consciousness at the bottom of perforation begins to relax. The perforating appearance of the concept begins to dissolve as the wisdom present within the concept is drawn into the consciousness ocean.

• Other considerations or contemplations can be used to metabolize the Base Perforating Concept.

• Note: One may need to continue metabolizing the Base Perforating Concept for a number of sessions. A release of binding consciousness around the concept and a dissolving of the concept's perforating appearance is a good sign of progress. 

• To continue resolving the perforation, next extend the consciousness from within.
  
  

Consciousness is Extended from Within

1. To extend Consciousness from within: 

• • Once both clinging to Distorted Identity has been undermined and the Base Perforating Concept has been metabolized to a workable degree, allow your breath to deepen. 

  • Imagine the breath filling your lungs also filling your chest with bright light emanating from the heart-center. 

  • As you breathe, feel the breath extend throughout your whole body, through the internal organs, through the muscles, and to the skin. 

  • With each breath, also imagine bright light extending from the heart-center to the Boundaries of Being, illuminating all that is within.

  • Without unduly forcing the breath, pause at the end of a few cycles of breathing in, imagining the light illuminating from the heart-center to the boundaries of being much brighter than before, intensely brilliant, pushing against the Boundaries of Being.

  • Imagine that the brilliant internal light is pushing the Perforation of Consciousness out, towards the Boundaries of Being.

  • As the perforation is pushed out, the perforating appearance of the Base Perforating Concept is completely dissolved, yielding its wisdom into the ocean of consciousness.

  • As the perforation is pushed out, the consciousness perceiving itself with Distorted Identity is returned to the night sky space of mind as a unified whole.

  • As the perforation is pushed out, a smooth, undulating surface returns to the ocean of consciousness where the perforation previously appeared.
    
    

• Note: One may need to continue extending the Consciousness from within for a number of sessions. An increase in internal energy and resources for participation in daily life is a good sign of progress. 

Concluding Support Practice

1. To conclude, imagine that the ocean of consciousness around the resolved perforation is joyfully undulating once again. Concepts that it perceives do not create or contribute to perforation but rather are received and metabolized by the power of healthy perception.

2. One dissolves the imagined model for viewing and understanding consciousness and its perforations and rests with gentle presence.

May these words help return the Asheyana practitioner to viewing the night sky of mind with healthy, joyful perception. May it be of benefit.