All that we see, and will ever see, unto whatever concept of eternity that we may have or develop, is ourselves.
Is that a blessing, a curse, or a combination of the two?
Straight away, I will define for the reader the type of “seeing” that I am referring to. There is the seeing with the eyes, the lights, darks, colors, scenery ad infinitum, there is the “seeing” of the mind, where we understand a new concept, or share in an idea that someone else has shared with us. There is the seeing of the heart, where love and acceptance cuddles with whatever our physical eyes or conceptual eyes are revealing to us. And, more esoterically, there is the seeing without the eyes, beyond the human heart, or even the concept laden minds that we all use. One might ask
“what is the nature of seeing without the eyes, the heart, or the mind?”
It is wise to first present some foundational material. I want for you to put your thinking cap on firmly here, we will be walking into some serious headwinds.
Explain how the eyes translate light into electrical impulses that the brain interprets as images.
Explain how our emotional nature interprets and expresses, often non-verbally, the beauty and love that we have within the boundaries of our sense of self.
Then explain how concepts are built upon words strung together to represent something more than just a material form, like the word compassion, interest, or intelligence.
Then explain a type of seeing where there are no concepts, or even a personal sense of self, what some call cosmic awareness, or seeing without the word.
The complicated truth, and the simple truth, are both the same here. Humans live in a world dominated by their minds. If their minds are filled with concepts and memories, most of what is seen is based upon that foundation. If their minds have been practicing mindfulness and meditation, they have developed enough humility to start to see beyond personal memories and concepts into a different reality where the direct apperception of reality, whatever that might be, is more likely.
Yet, everything appears to exist within the human mind, does it not? Every concept, every memory, every word naming some objective feature like a mountain or a tree, or another human being, exists as a sensorial stream in the mind, accompanied by some sort of conceptual stream, does it not? As we know, our senses probably pick up less than one percent of all available sound and light frequencies, and other vibrations at any point in time, so humans are incredibly limited beings, thus, the concepts developed through sensorial awareness must also be quite limited.
Are you feeling humble enough to accept that you know very little, regardless of what your mind tells you?
So let us take this discussion to our human bodies. We each know that we have a body, because our senses give us feedback telling us it is there, and we are somehow connected with it. It is either, on one end of the spectrum, either a vehicle that our consciousness uses to transport itself around planet Earth, or, on the other end of the spectrum, it is some sort of out- picturing of our very sense of self. Are we the body, or aren’t we, that is an important question?
Yet that question appears in our mind, doesn’t it? Is our mind our self, or is it just another component of our self, like the body in some interpretations? Are we the mind, are we the body, or are we just accessing the mind and the body?
These questions have ultimate importance for those who want to live forever, and for those who are just tired of living, and want everything to end forever.
Look into the mirror, and what do you see? We see a face attached to a head, which sits atop a human body.
Now pay attention here, this is where it gets interesting.
Does not that face, and the rest of what you see, exist as an image in your mind? Hold that thought a moment. Now close your eyes, and think about your body.
Don’t those thoughts only represent just an image, or collection of images, in your mind? So your reflection in the mirror, the self that others see, and the reflection you have of yourself in your mind, only exist as images, do they not?
It makes a thinking person want to ask, do I only exist in the human mind, subject to its limitations and misunderstandings? Am I just an effect, a child born of human parents, just another marionette controlled by the strings of the material existence I witness and participate within?
Or, am I something different, perhaps a causal agent trapped in the hypnotic suggestions of the conceptual and sensorial world?
To leave the world of effect, and to become a causal agent, we must be able to see through the hypnotic trance that has captured humanity on planet earth since its entry into the conceptual universe. How do we see beyond the illusions of materialism, then?
First, we must recognize that all that our senses and concepts reveal about us are an extremely limited version of who we are. It appears that we are predominantly material beings, yet quantum scientists know that we are much more energy based than material based by several factors. Do our senses and concepts reveal to us this truth? Of course not, they are limited, and always will be, no matter how educated we become. Just more concepts that never reveal direct vision and experience of what is true about us as energetic beings, the place where we are causal beings, and not the effect of biology or culture.
So, how can we ever make conscious contact with our true bodies, and our true natures? Is there a way to perceive energy, using senses that transcend normal human ones that we are not aware that we have?
And, can those senses be accessed through our proprioceptive sensory apparatus, perhaps through some sort of algorithmic upgrade?
There are energy workers who have developed this vision, where they not only see the material body, but see the energy body, as well. Some mystics calls this the spiritual body, and this is the vehicle where the person who wants immortality would best direct their energy towards. Those who just want to die and forget about life should just stick to material awareness, and they might be able to convince themselves that they die when the body dies,
That is a huge question mark, however.
Key sections will cover:
- The illusion of conceptual boundaries in perceiving reality
- Moving beyond subject-object duality to unitive awareness
- Spiritual proprioception as a bridge to direct experience
- Practical pathways through mindfulness and meditation
Step 2: The Article
Rethinking Perception: A Journey Beyond Duality to Realign with the Infinite
What if everything we believe we know about reality—every concept, every spiritual teaching, every profound revelation—has been filtered through the very mechanism that prevents us from truly seeing? What if the “you” that seeks divine truth is itself the greatest obstacle to experiencing the infinite?
For millennia, humanity has attempted to grasp the divine through conceptualization, creating elaborate theological frameworks and spiritual practices. Yet despite our accumulated wisdom, we remain fragmented, perpetually seeking what feels just beyond reach. The question emerges:
Are we using the wrong instrument to perceive the very reality we seek?
Our default mode of perception operates through duality—creating an artificial separation between the observer and the observed, between “self” and “other,” between the finite and the infinite. This dualistic framework isn’t merely a philosophical error; it’s the fundamental barrier that prevents direct apperception of reality.
When we attempt to conceptualize the divine, we immediately reduce the infinite to the finite. We create mental idols that reflect our human limitations rather than divine limitlessness. Every definition, every spiritual concept, every attempt to understand God through thought necessarily creates the very separation we’re trying to overcome.
Consider this: If the infinite is truly infinite, then any act of perceiving it as “other” creates an impossible chasm. We trap ourselves in what spiritual traditions call Maya—the veil of illusion that obscures our fundamental unity with all existence.
The challenge extends beyond intellectual understanding. Even our emotional and intuitive responses to the divine—what we might call “seeing with the heart”—remain caught within the dualistic framework. Love, devotion, and spiritual yearning, while beautiful, still maintain the subject-object division that perpetuates separation.
But what lies beyond conceptual seeing?
What exists past the boundaries of heart and mind?
There exists a form of perception that transcends these familiar instruments—a direct apperception that sees without concepts, experiences without the filter of personal identity. This is what mystics have called “seeing through God’s eyes” or cosmic awareness—a state where the artificial construct of “you” dissolves, revealing what was always present.
In this unitive perception, we discover that what we’ve been seeking was never separate from us. The divine isn’t an object to be perceived but the very fabric of perception itself.
Just as physical proprioception allows us to sense our body’s position in space, spiritual proprioception enables us to perceive our consciousness within the infinite field of awareness. This isn’t metaphorical—it’s a tangible sense that can be developed through dedicated practice.
Unlike physical proprioception, which operates within the boundaries of the body, spiritual proprioception reveals the boundless nature of consciousness itself. It allows us to sense our “position” not in physical space but within the infinite expanse of being.
Research in consciousness studies is beginning to validate what contemplatives have long known: our sense of self isn’t fixed or limited to the physical body. Studies on meditation and mindfulness demonstrate measurable changes in brain activity that correspond to expanded states of awareness, suggesting that consciousness is far more fluid and expansive than previously understood.
Silent Contemplation
Move beyond intellectual analysis into wordless awareness. Release the compulsion to understand the infinite and instead rest in unknowing. In this space of conceptual emptiness, direct experience becomes possible.
Mindfulness Beyond Objects
Traditional mindfulness often focuses on observing thoughts, emotions, or sensations. But there’s a deeper practice: becoming aware of awareness itself. This involves recognizing the consciousness that observes all phenomena while remaining untouched by any particular experience.
Energy Body Awareness
Develop sensitivity to the subtle energetic dimensions of existence. Through practices like breathwork, energy healing, and conscious movement, we can begin to perceive beyond the limitations of physical sensation.
Dissolution Practices
Engage in contemplative exercises that temporarily dissolve the sense of separate self. This isn’t about losing consciousness but about expanding it beyond the boundaries of personal identity.
When perception aligns with infinite awareness, everything changes. The world doesn’t disappear—it’s revealed as an expression of consciousness itself. Every person encountered becomes a face of the divine. Every challenge becomes an opportunity for deeper recognition.
This isn’t mere philosophy; it’s a lived reality that transforms how we engage with existence. Decision-making becomes intuitive guidance. Relationships become sacred encounters. Work becomes service to the whole.
Most importantly, the desperate seeking that characterizes spiritual life gives way to simple being. The infinite isn’t something to attain—it’s what we are when the illusion of separation dissolves.
The rational mind may resist these concepts, dismissing them as abstract mysticism. This resistance is natural and even valuable—it ensures we don’t abandon discernment for wishful thinking. Yet the limitation of purely rational approaches becomes evident when we consider the profound experiences reported across cultures and centuries.
Scientific materialism, while valuable for understanding physical phenomena, may be insufficient for exploring consciousness itself. Just as we needed new instruments to perceive subatomic particles, we may need to develop new “instruments” of perception to explore the subtle dimensions of reality.
The growing field of consciousness research is beginning to bridge this gap, offering frameworks that honor both rigorous inquiry and direct experiential knowing.
This exploration isn’t merely intellectual exercise—it’s an invitation to fundamental transformation. By recognizing the limitations of dualistic perception and cultivating direct apperception, we can break free from the cycles of seeking that have defined human spiritual experience.
The pathway requires courage. It demands that we release our attachment to being right, to knowing, to maintaining the comfortable boundaries of separate selfhood. But the reward—direct communion with infinite reality—makes any sacrifice worthwhile.
Begin with small experiments in awareness. Notice the observer behind your thoughts. Sense the space in which all experience arises. Question the reality of separation. These simple practices can initiate a profound journey of discovery.
The infinite awaits your recognition—not as something distant to be attained, but as the very ground of your being. The question isn’t whether you’re capable of this recognition; it’s whether you’re willing to release the illusions that obscure it.
Take the first step today.
Set aside time for silent contemplation. Practice sensing your spiritual body. Challenge your assumptions about reality. Share your insights with others walking this path.
The transformation of human consciousness isn’t a distant dream—it’s happening now, through individuals like you who dare to see beyond the veil of conceptual limitation. Your awakening contributes to the collective awakening of our species.
How will you choose to see today?
