“All the world’s a stage,” wrote William Shakespeare in “As You Like It.” That stage, too, is the mind and the perceptions of (and “as”) the mind. Whatever characters — as the thoughts and mental images of the mind — that make an appearance on that stage are inevitably what was absorbed from imitating others or from copying and taking mental snapshots of the external world. How these snapshots were taken and how they become rearranged, recognized, and recalled in (and “as”) consciousness has always involved learned and inherited processes. Snapshots and thoughts are of a partial, piecemeal, fragmentary nature; they are never the complete essence of that which they try to capture. The usage of supposed volition regarding the manipulation of these thoughts and images is itself sketchy and quite questionable, since — if truly intelligent observation is taking place — the “I” or supposed center that is allegedly manipulating is likely itself another specimen of the learned (sequential) images or thoughts. Mentally, whatever appears upon the stage (of consciousness) is fundamentally old and of the past; this is because it comes from stored memory (which is always of the accumulated past). Most of us are mentally existing as these images and thoughts (brought out and rearranged) from the past. Most of us are living in the past.
That stage — of consciousness — can exist (some of the time, anyway) without the components of the past making their appearance upon it. Then there is no spurious volition; then there are no obtrusions from (and “as”) the past… neither in the form of thought-oriented symbols nor imagined visual (or auditory) snapshots. Technique and practice have nothing to do with this, as techniques and practices are all extensions of the old, dead past. Then the stage is not the same-old stage anymore.
When the stage is truly empty naturally and intelligently, without having willed anything, or thought anything, or practiced anything, then it may be beyond the concocted, the old past, the symbolic, and the partial. When that takes place, the stage is not of mere experience, partial images, learned symbols, and jaded characters. You know, a limited little stage, with superficial dimensions, is what anyone can recognize and fill with the old and ordinary. However, a living, dynamic, whole, uncorrupt, limitless (immeasurable) stage is another thing altogether. Such a stage (in life) is beyond measurement by the antiquated patterns of the hoarded past.
The learned image of self (or “me”) creates an intrinsic radius (from a center) and a circumference around itself… with limited space between what is considered the central “me” and that which is observed. It is this learned image and absorbed space that helps manufacture a stage of limitation. Such a stage, with its concocted (or learned) center and a radius and circumference, is full of absorbed demarcations/boundaries. Compassion can take place when the falsity of that stage is wisely perceived. Such compassion involves eternity; it goes beyond the many limitations. If it is not perceived with (and “as”) wholeness and integrity then there will not be much compassion. There is no wholeness in a limited, false center (thinking that it is the center of the stage); such a center is partial and learned; neither does the limitless (which is not something that can merely be learned) manifest for such a center.
Two Together. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
Well analyzed, Tom. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
Thank you, Amy! (I hope those woodpeckers are doing well!) 🙂
Hi Tom, Thank you for asking the W family. Babies are griwing fast. I will have a post next week. 🙂
Awesome! 🙂
I can only agree with Amy, Thomas. Very nice photo with cute insects, regards Mitza
Thanks, Mitza! 🙂 I wish I could share some of the neat 3D holograms that I made over the years. Our 2D computer and tablet screens do not make that possible, though. I much prefer 3D over 2D.
Could it work with a new computer? I have no idea about such things, Thomas, or you ask Tweetie, she’s so clever, hehe
Very logically argued 🙂 I never thought of myself as living in the past before!
And great photo. I don’t know how you manage to capture these tiny insects. I wouldn’t even see them! 🙂
Thanks much, Sci! 🙂 Most people are living in the past; they even look to the future with images and concepts of the past.
They were really small insects. I saw some today too, but couldn’t photograph them as the winds here have been
overly strong and very turbulent! We’ve had strong winds, lately, so much more than usual.
Wow, I’m surprised you have strong winds at this time of year? Or is that usual?
We get a few gales ourselves over winter! 🙂
Buddha Tom, I liked what you said, this is how I heard it: the world doesn’t revolve around you (the egoic self).
I have experienced myself as light (various colours, and sometimes swirling rainbow like colours too), and I have heard the “Celestial Music of the Spheres”, these are transcendental experiences that are beyond the scope of the linear mind that most people identify with.
How cute as that — the two little insects flying together, very nice. 🔮
The world doesn’t revolve around me… (hope so!) 🙂
Personally, one feels that the deepest “transcendental experience” is not an experience (as we conceive experience to be)… and is not of the five senses at all; it doesn’t involve any kind of light (or unusual light) or sound or anything like that. It does make one feel a trillion times more alive than what one was before it happened. It only visits; you can never remain with (or “as” it). You can never remain as that energy which is beyond all things. (Of course, i may be full of crap regarding this!)
It’s been so windy here; it was a fortunate moment when taking this picture was possible!
I’m not sure about this… I think that one can be out of the five senses and see light and hear celestial sound (third eye), also, one can be in that energy that is beyond all things and just be, no light, etc., and as you say, it comes to you, it’s not anything that one achieves.
Perhaps the society is way over the top polluted in all ways for one to stay in that transcendental place, I mean, it’s a chore to be here some days, the wars, injustice, etc., bring one down, and perhaps that’s important too: Compassion, is transcendental too…
That’s just it, Buddha Tom, you were in touch with the Tao when you took the photo — wind and all, that’s why you have that title! 🙂
Personally, one feels that that nameless, eternal, unlimited energy can only visit someone just for a while (the original Buddha included)… though it certainly can leave an impression on the (human) vessel that it filled.
Yes, true compassion is beyond the ordinary (and is like a priceless jewel)! Too bad that so many don’t care to cherish it! 🙂
Wonderful shot Tom!
Thank you Karen! 🙂 As I was telling Mitza, i wish i could show people (online) the 3D holograms that i used to make. They are truly what is breathtaking!