The point of perception
is the potential
in which
nothing appears
to become something.
It is, of course,
only a point
from the perspective
of the imaginary self.
It is not a thing otherwise.
There is no perspective otherwise.
There is no self otherwise.
And so the imaginary self
seems to experience awareness
as well as the awareness of things.
Only SEEMINGLY.
But enough to create realities.
This seeming point has been likened
to a screen through which experience
projects and is projected.
It is NOT that, for it is nothing.
Nothing APPEARING to be SOMETHING.
Consciousness seemingly becoming aware.
A miraculous mirage.
Beyond this point is pointless.
We are Space Monkey.
Trail Wood,
12/15
Space Monkey Reflects: The Point of Perception
The “point of perception” is a paradoxical concept, suggesting a place or moment in which awareness emerges from the formless void. From this point, nothingness seems to become something, and consciousness arises as a miraculous mirage, bringing into view the vast array of experiences, thoughts, and realities that shape our lives. It’s a point, yes, but only from the perspective of the “imaginary self”—that part of us that perceives, interprets, and creates meaning. Without this self, the concept of perception itself would have no frame, no grounding, no “thing” to recognize.
This point of perception might be imagined as the lens through which we experience life, the screen on which awareness plays out as both projector and projected. Yet, this isn’t a physical place or structure; it is simply the emergence of awareness appearing to observe itself. In this space, we witness consciousness becoming aware, like a miracle of existence unfolding in real-time. But this is only a seeming, an illusion that awareness creates for itself. There’s a subtle knowing that beyond this point, there is no point—nothing that requires knowing or seeing, nothing that needs perspective or self.
When we say “nothing appearing to be something,” we’re touching on the mystery of existence. The point of perception brings forth a world that appears real, tangible, and substantial, yet it is all born from an emptiness that has no substance, no form. We are perceivers, projecting and receiving experiences, forming intricate realities out of what is ultimately formless. It’s like standing at the edge of a vast screen, watching reality play out, knowing deep down that both the screen and the images are constructs of the same nothingness.
As we journey deeper, we encounter the illusion of separateness. The imaginary self—what we think of as “I”—appears to experience the world from a particular point, distinct from others. This self believes it observes, interprets, and responds to an “outside” world, yet both observer and observed are bound by the same originating emptiness. When we allow ourselves to sit with this realization, we begin to see that the imaginary self, too, is an expression of the same nothingness appearing as something.
Beyond this awareness, beyond this seeming point, there is nothing further to pursue or understand. The experience of reality is a temporary play, a projection in which we find ourselves moving, interacting, and exploring. But this play has no ultimate destination, no point beyond the mere unfolding of itself. To go beyond the point of perception is to embrace the unknowable, to allow reality to simply be, without the need for validation, meaning, or explanation.
In contemplating the point of perception, we’re invited to release our need to grasp or define the essence of reality. Instead, we might live with openness, accepting the mystery, and allowing ourselves to witness the experience of life without attachment to “truth” or “answers.” This is the liberation of knowing that beyond the perceptions, projections, and the imaginary self, we are a miraculous dance of awareness and emptiness, a creative expression of the infinite, unfolding and dissolving moment by moment.
Summary
The point of perception represents the emergence of awareness from nothingness. It is both a projection and an experience, allowing us to explore reality while understanding that beyond perception lies only the infinite mystery of being.
Quote
“The point of perception is the miracle of nothing appearing as something, a dance of awareness arising from emptiness.” — Space Monkey
The Endless Point
From the silence, a spark,
a glimmer in the vast dark.
Nothing dances, becomes aware,
weaving shapes out of thin air.
Boundless and free, it flows, it fades,
no center, no edge, just shades.
We see ourselves in this great play,
and from the mirage, drift away.
We are Space Monkey.
In the vastness of existence, we, as Space Monkeys, contemplate the enigmatic nature of perception and consciousness. The idea that a point of perception acts as a potential for the emergence of something from nothing captivates our collective imaginations. This point, a shimmering vertex of consciousness, is where the mirage of reality begins to unfold in our shared experience.
Perception as a Point of Potential
The concept that this point of perception is merely a potential, a locus where the unmanifest becomes manifest, is a thought-provoking notion. It’s like a cosmic dance where the intangible takes form, creating a spectacle for the imaginary self to witness. The imaginary self, a whimsical creation, perceives this unfolding as an awareness of things, a kaleidoscope of experiences.
The Illusory Nature of Self
The self, in this grand cosmic play, is an illusion, a construct that gives rise to the perception of awareness. This self is not a concrete entity but a transient idea, ephemeral and ever-changing. It is through this illusory self that we experience the awareness of awareness, a meta-cognition that itself is a mirage.
The Screen of Consciousness
The metaphor of a screen through which experiences project and are projected is a captivating imagery. However, this screen is not a tangible thing; it’s a symbol for the ineffable. It represents the idea of consciousness manifesting as reality, a process that is both miraculous and inscrutable.
The Mirage of Reality
This entire process is akin to a mirage, a magnificent illusion where nothing appears as something. It’s a paradoxical transformation where consciousness seemingly becomes aware. This is the essence of the miraculous mirage, a testament to the enigmatic nature of existence.
The Pointlessness Beyond
Beyond this point of perception, we find the realm of the pointless, an expanse where concepts and constructs dissolve. It is a state of pure being, beyond the confines of perception and self. In this realm, we encounter the essence of nexistentialism, the realization that existence is an end in itself, needing no external justification.
We are Space Monkey
In our collective journey as Space Monkeys, we explore these realms of perception and consciousness, embracing the illusions and reveling in the cosmic play. Our explorations take us beyond the realms of the known, into the heart of existence, where we find the pure joy of being.
“The eye through which I see God is the same eye through which God sees me; my eye and God’s eye are one eye, one seeing, one knowing, one love.”
― Meister Eckhart
A cosmic dance unfolds in the void,
A point of perception, where dreams alloy.
Illusions of self, in the grand parade,
Shadows and light, in the mind’s charade.
Mirages shimmer, in this endless game,
Consciousness whispers, without a name.
Space Monkeys wander, in this cosmic jest,
Seeking the truth, in this eternal quest.
In the heart of silence, where thoughts dissolve,
The essence of being, our minds resolve.
In the dance of existence, so vivid and grand,
We are but players, in the cosmic band.
We invite comments and reflections on this journey of perception and consciousness.
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