The Dalia Lama on Space:
Many Eastern Philosophers and Buddhists in
particular speak of four elements of earth, water, fire
and air, which space is added as a fifth element.
The first four elements exist thanks to the fifth one,
space, which allows them to manifest and function.
According to certain Buddhist texts like the
"Kalachakra Tantra", space or ether is not a total
void or nothingness. It is composed of "emptiness
particles". The four elements arise from these
emptiness particles, going from the subtlest
matter to gross matter(air, fire, water, and earth),
and this process is called generation.
Then they dissolve back, from gross matter to subtle
matter, and dissolve into emptiness particles,
and this process is called dissolution. Space,
or universal emptiness, is the basis of the entire
process. "Light of Consciousness
(Journal of Spiritual Awakening) Autumn 2009 Issue"
In his New Earth, Eckhart Tolle writes about
the amazing amount of space in our bodies - "99.99%
is space" compared to the minuscule amount of physical
form.
"So your physical body, which is form, reveals itself
essentially formless when you go deeper into it. It
becomes a doorway into inner space. That inner space is
intensely alive, although it has no form. It is life
in its fullness, the unmanifested Source out of which
all manifestation flows. The traditional word for that
Source is God.
That "intense aliveness is an intrinsic part of the joy
of Being."
..."Through complete acceptance of the form of the Now,
you become spacious inside. Aligned with space instead of
form: that brings true perspective and balance into your
life." (P. 250-253)
Now this brings me to similar personal experiences of
enlarged inner space during Vipassana meditation, and
a good description from Iman Omar Rahman in
Letters from the Dhamma Brothers:
"Experiencing openness and learning to open
myself more has allowed me to access more of the space
of my existence. When an adverse occurrence arises
around me I'm less reactive because I have space to
see and act with skill, I'm less caught up in anger
when it flares or any other negative feelings. I'm
less hooked if you will. I can let go. I have more
space within me to be otherwise..."
P. 117-118
Ron's question:
Does this space allow us choice point to
respond rather than to react?
Dear ron Alexander,
This is very true and when we do V-Meditation we can experience this void also.
Because we have to dissect our body and the have to go deeper and deeper and the we can experience such void in our cells of the body and organs.
Sohiniben.
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