There’s an interesting phenomena that takes place in the evolution of perception. One that may not make sense in our typical understanding of how the senses work. But if we understand that senses and their forms arise in consciousness, it makes more sense that a change in consciousness may change the process of perception.
When our consciousness flows out through the mind, the senses experience the world of form in a conceptual framework. The world is physical and we relate to it by seeking to explain it. Once the mind has a reason, it is satisfied and we live life on the basis of our often conditioned concepts.
As we step into the less bounded layers of consciousness, other types of perception can unfold. We have for example identified “psychic” versions of the senses that are less constrained than the physical senses. Clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience, clairgustance (taste), clairolfaction, and variously described knowingness or intuition, the “6th sense”.
While we may not consider ourselves psychic, everyone has had ‘extrasensory’ experiences of one sort or another. Typically though, if they don’t fall into the concepts of mind, they get quickly forgotten. Or we read way too much into it.
As the nervous system is refined by our practice, there are a series of stages of unfoldment of the senses. First, it will be occasional impressions, then fuller experiences, then a sustained ability to explore with the faculty. As they deepen, whole worlds appear that are unseen by the physical eyes. We discover that the physical world is a small part of a much bigger place.
Of course, this will sound like fairy stories, literally, if it’s not your experience. Compounding this is the muddiness of “personalization“, like giving things wings. Perception at subtler levels is more pliable to thought, so expectations change how it’s seen. Thus, such things are often described less consistently and sometimes more fancifully. Especially if the person experiences a lot of happiness with the opening. For example, angels, which have amorphous bodies best described as fields, are widely portrayed as having clothes, hair, and wings. While there’s nothing wrong with that and it makes such experiences easier to relate to, it’s better if we understand what we’re adding to the equation. They’re about feeling, not form.
This effect of pliability has another quality. If you offhandedly reject such experiences when they come along, they will not be seen. Or if seen, written off as fantasy. I’ve seen people quite surprised when they realized this was part of their experience but they’d chalked it up to daydreams.
There are, of course, a number of ways of dividing what is really just a continuum. Some people talk of other dimensions, but that is the perspective of the person. It is one space, separated only by resolution of perception.
If we look at sight for example, we find:
1 – Physical sight (visible spectrum)
2 – Etheric sight (auras, emotional energy)
3 – Vital Sight (light fields, life flow)
4 – Celestial sight (devas or angels, etc.)
5 – Universal sight (pre-universe)
6 – Cosmic sight (creation)
7 – Spiritual (transparent sight, Self in all)
Of course it’s not as tidy as this. “light beings” may be seen far before 4. Some define many levels of the celestial. Different people have different natural perceptive tendencies so may perceive one level more than others. Other forms of Clairvoyance such as remote sight in time and space, seeing inside the body (common in some healer families), and seeing a life with the aid of objects may develop. Depending on areas of the nervous system that are clearer and history, one may do sound or taste better than sight. Patanjali, in his Yoga Sutras, documents some of this as abilities, complete with the technique to develop it.
However, he also touches on another key point. All of this can be a trap. The key is to develop spiritual depth, allow for this if it comes up, but focus on our connection to source. When you are grounded in source, what develops naturally will not catch you in desire.
But there’s more. The above is simply the development of what some call the third eye. All of which can be processed with mind. In other words, we are still perceiving via mind. (although we have to be stepping out of individual mind for 5+)
When the divine moves into the heart, it is filled with love. When the upper centers clear, their energy joins love as compassion. When the lower centers clear, they join love as faith.
Gradually, the center of perception shifts from the head to the heart. Those same values of perception, but now seen through love. We begin to see as as God sees. And we gain a new, deeper wisdom, the wisdom of the heart.
That cannot be explained as that takes concepts. But suffice to say, it exponentially exceeds anything the mind can process.
Davidya
Last Updated on April 8, 2014 by
Its worth remarking that the head to heart transition can happen at any time. It simply tends to be later for those on a path of intellect.
Hmm. What is the other path, than that of intellect.
Very interesting post. What of the above have you experienced?
Connection to Source, is such an important point. What use is meditation is it doesn’t lead to connection to Source.
A well written and meaningful post. Thank you for sharing you’re thoughts on this.
Hi Uzma
Gyan or jnana yoga is the path of the intellect
Karma yoga is the path of action and perception
Bhakti yoga is the path of devotion, the heart
Hatha yoga is the path of the body, what people often call “yoga” in the west.
Raja yoga is the royal yoga, a blend of the above. Patanjali recommended it.
Most of us have some mix of this and at different points on our journey, the emphasis can shift.
There are also other more specialized yogas like Laya, the path of the warrior, will.
hmm – probably should do a post on that.
As for what I’ve experienced, that’s not relevant. This is not about a me. You will however find material here that is less commonly available as it is a reflection of a specific exploration and I’ve been blessed with understanding not commonly given until later on the journey. That has brought it’s own set of challenges. But little of it is book learning. Much of it is drawn out by things I hear or run into during the life.
The blog is a reflection of my own journey which is by no means complete. If you go back over older posts, you’ll see a progression and a shift in tone. Much of the stuff arises from Self, but builds on a framework of existing understanding. It’s weakness is the weakness of the vessel.
Meditation brings you to the door of source so you can have that experience. Over time, it becomes familiar and we discover who we are and can become it. It also helps culture he body, mind, and emotions to prepare the ground for awakening. And it gives that inner connection so we won’t as easily be swayed by flashy experiences. Without it, the path is much longer and harder.
Hi David
I know this is an old post, but I would be quite interested in a post on Laya yoga, as you mention in the comment above, if you feel like doing that some time.
Hi Jesper
I don’t know enough about Laya to do a post. Only that a version of Yoga was developed for warriors.
My comment about doing a post was more about how we’re a mix and different paths become emphasized at different times. That resulted in this post:
https://davidya.ca/2009/03/31/the-yogas-or-paths/
Ah, Ok!
Nice post. As I progress through this, I’ve learned to be completely open to any experience, but not expect any particular experience. Not long ago I would laughed at the ‘extrasensory’ experiences. But when we stop consider, awareness itself, just raw awareness, is an amazing, mysterious, mystical experience.
Hi Kaushik
Yes, awareness is about as profound as it gets.
I’d say you have the right approach. Whatever shows up, shows up. An experience is an experience, just another part of the story. Awareness is the key.
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More recently, I’ve been writing about the koshas. This a slightly more accurate perceptual list as it aligns with our energetic structure.
https://davidya.ca/2013/05/13/its-elemental/
This article mentions 2 more and a little more detail
https://davidya.ca/2013/05/21/understanding-shakti-in-awakening-part-1/
The above is a more subjective list.
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Hi Davidya,
For a long time, I unconsciously rejected the heart because that intimacy reminded me of the sense of separate self, or the I AM -sense. This error in understanding caused me to avoid the heart. But finally I got more conscious of what was going on and really let that intimacy and closeness be felt, and it’s paradoxically super-intimate yet there’s no sense of “me” experiencing it.
For me this is just the beginning though, the heart hasn’t yet bloomed but now I have discovered it.
I think Adyashanti has talked about a “profound intimacy with everything.” Not there yet, but I can feel the potential for expansion now that I’m not blocking myself in that regard. Weird how the mind can have it so wrong.
– O
Hi Olli
Fun to see an old article.
Excellent insight. Many of us repress the heart in various ways. Byron Katie’s The Work and Brene Brown’s research points at this. A willingness to look at our stuff and thus see through our old ways of defending against hurt.
It’s worth distinguishing here between personal emotions and actual love, which is universal. But in either case, we often need to learn new ways of being with emotions. In your case, not rejecting the personal but observing it and allowing whats arising to resolve. Then the fuller, more universal qualities can flow. Love, compassion, and bliss can come alive.