the open field

(untitled) (c) D Harris 2011 B uddhist thought and its central preoccupation with the concept of impermanence also leads it to delve into the realms of perception itself. The "appearance" of the world as fixed and permanent on a macro level is seen as a concept of mind, conditioned by time and space. "This floating world", a common Zen expression, encapsulates this idea. Buddhist thought influenced the Indian concept of "non-duality" or Advaita Vedanta . One of the main postulates of this idea is that when the 'I' that arises from deep, dreamless sleep arises, the phenomenal world arises, and when the 'I' ceases during deep, dreamless sleep, the phenomenal world ceases. In deep dreamless sleep, who exists? What is this 'I'? Our perception is therefore conditioned by appearances, and appearances are conditioned by time, space, and hence perspective. Is a rock alive? From the atomic perspective, we could say yes, bec

(untitled) (c) D Harris                                                                       I mpermanence as a world view is either denied or frightening to most people.   As a core concept of Buddhist thought, it posits that every manifest thing is in a process of change, and that nothing in and of itself, is enduring. Everything that is compound, arises from conditions, continues for a duration, declines and ultimately disperses.   All conditioned things depend on other causes and conditions for their arising, duration and cessation. Part of this view originates from observing nature. The implication naturally is that if all things are impermanent, then the self must be impermanent too. Thoughts in the mind, which give rise to the sense of self, the “I”, arise, continue for a duration, subside and cease. Observing this process is the basis of meditation in its classical sense. "Who am I?" "What is this ‘I’"? In the process of meditating on who I am, I bec