Sleep, Fear, and the Consciousness-Only View in Meditation

Hi Francis. Um, two quick questions. The  first is, I fell asleep during the meditation.   That's good. Yeah, I think so, too. Um,  I find that as I fall asleep, or as I'm about   to fall asleep, there's, not enough energy  for my defences to be up and I go into this   calm, almost asleep state ,with an intention of  nothingness or doing nothing. And I feel myself   sink further and further into awareness and this  clarity. And I feel that the closer asleep I get   while also not being asleep, the door, so to  speak, opens wider and wider. But it gets to the   point where, I'm so close to asleep that there  is no longer any intention at all or any doing at   all. And that's when the door opens up the widest, but that's also when the fear and the contraction,   the alarm bells go off. And I'm aware  of them going off, but I'm asleep enough to   the point where I can't do anything about them.  And so it seems like a catch-22 because there's   nothing I can do about them, because there's  just awareness, but they happen nonetheless. Don't resist the fear that arises. It's not a problem. It's in fact, it's something that needs to   come out. So don't be afraid of your fear. Face it, it's not going to kill you. Don't do anything to escape  it or to ignore it. No. Be interested in knowing, understanding, knowing your... because these  things are not you. They are, they are kind of a wrinkle in your fabric, so they will iron themselves out. Okay. The second question is, I can  understand that everything appears in my   consciousness, but what I don't understand  is how it can be made of consciousness. If I turn around and I no longer see this  camera to me, it doesn't really exist. And   so I can understand how as it comes  into my awareness that it appears in my   awareness. But how can it be made of  awareness? Yes. Let's do that in two steps. Number one, understand that you never see the camera. It just... what you see is your perception  of the camera, or of the flower. Because you and I, we don't see the same thing.  You understand? Because my flower is big,   your flower is much smaller because you're further  away from that which we call the flower. So which   one is the real flower? That neither you nor  I, nor anybody sees the flower, each of us we see   our perception of the flower. It is similar  flying IFR - you don't see the ground. You see   your instruments, you see your horizon, you see  your altimeter, you see all of that stuff, but you   don't see the ground. You see a representation  of what is out there, which is sufficient for you.   But you don't see the...and so  it's the same. So now what is your   perception of the flower made of? It is  like a thought right because it has the   same nature. So let's take a thought before  the thought begins, where was the thought? Nowhere. Right? It appears in consciousness during  its appearance, it is tied to consciousness, you   can have you cannot have the thought  without consciousness, right? So they   are one together. And then when the thought  disappears, consciousness remains. Right?   Which means that the substance, that which  the thought is made of, is consciousness. Just as if, if you take a ring - before  the ring was made, there was metal and   then the metal was melted and or forged  to take the shape of the ring and then at   some point the ring will disappear, and the  metal will exist, survive. The metal is the   substance of the ring, why? Because it was  there before, during and after the ring. In the same way, the consciousness is a substance  of the thought because it was there before, during   and after the thought. Right? So the thought is  made of consciousness. Now our perceptions, I'm   not talking about the flower, but our perception of  the flower, is like is a thought you see because it   it doesn't exist before it begins, during the perception it is one with consciousness,   and after the perception, consciousness remains.  Right? So the substance of all perceptions,   by which I mean thoughts, sense  perceptions, visual perception,   sounds etc. and bodily sensations, what we have at  all times is only consciousness. In other words,   experientially, experientially we experience at  all times consciousness and only consciousness.   Now, so that's the first part to recognize. Now,  there is another part which is okay, but there   is more to reality than that which I perceive  through this mind. There are other minds, right?   And possibly there is more to it. Possibly  there is reality exists even without minds, at   least without minds that would be like human  minds, or the minds of ants or the minds   of creatures that we know on the earth, right? So  then what about that? What about this reality? So   what about the universe? Right? What about  the universe? So then to understand that is   this: the universe, this body mind let's assume  that this body mind is made out of matter, like   the universe, right so the reality of this body  mind and the reality of the universe are the same. But moreover, now we talk about consciousness, and  consciousness is a reality that perceives, right?   Whatever consciousness perceives either  directly, or indirectly via perceptions.   So we agree we don't perceive the world, we  perceive only our perceptions of it, but in   order to perceive somehow the world through  perceptions, we need to interact with the world. There is no perceptions without interaction.  Right? Here is consciousness, here is the world,   if they are separate, there is  there is a need for an interaction, a connection between whatever we  perceive out there and the   reality that perceives consciousness.  So, and that's a fine point.   Consciousness and the world, in order  for consciousness to perceive the world,   they have to belong to the same reality. But in  fact, they have to be, they have to...yeah. So the   reality of consciousness and the reality of the  world is the same reality. In other words, there   is only one reality, which is both the reality  of the world and the reality of our perceptions. You see? So I call consciousness  the reality that perceives, which   means the reality of our perceptions. You  see? But if there is only one reality,   the reality of our perceptions has  to be also the reality of the world. You see, perception requires  connection and connection means somehow   the two elements that are connected belong  to the same reality share the same reality.   See, for instance, we cannot connect with  someone that has appeared in our dreams because they belong to two different realms,  to two different realities. You see, we cannot   connect. But here we can connect possibly with a  very distant galaxy. We take time but we receive   light from them. So there is a connection  through space and time. So and as we said   earlier I mean everything is interconnected  the universe. That's why there is only one.   It's one more proof that there is only one  reality. This interconnection of everything.   So, but so I'm just putting doing a  recap of what I've said. Right. First,   it's obvious that on the level of mind on  the level of mind, consciousness is by mind,   I mean all of our perceptions, consciousness  is a reality of mind, right? Because everything   is made of mind. And regarding the world and  possibly other worlds, whatever can be perceived,   whatever can be experienced, in order to  experience it, consciousness needs to connect   with it and then they share the same reality. But  I define consciousness precisely as the reality   that perceives. You see that's why I use the word  reality when I speak of consciousness. So then the   difficulty now the difficulty you have is  this that when we hear the word consciousness   we usually think in terms of mind. In other words  we think in terms of thoughts and perceptions in other words of that which is perceived. But  we don't think in terms of the powerful thing   that perceives. You see this extraordinary  mystery of perception that, that we perceive   rather than not perceive. You know that's,  that's a given. We have no choice. We   are consciousness. We have not been asked  would you like to be consciousness or not. You see, it's a fact, it's a fact  which is as stubborn and as strong as the   fact that there is something rather than  nothing. You see even if we say there is   nothing our saying there is nothing is already  something right so it defeats its own purpose.   You see? So there is something rather than  nothing, that's what Parmenides says, "Being is."  That's a fact, we cannot, and as a result absolute  nothingness, is not. You see? It's a fact that there   something implies that there is not nothing. So when  people place being, existence, that which exists,   and that which is not, on the same level  they're making a mistake. You see Shakespeare,   "To be or not to be that's the question." It's not  the question! Why because being is, and not being is   not. So you cannot hesitate between something  that exists and something that doesn't. You see? Being, existence has no opposite  because being is, because there is   something rather under nothing  and there is consciousness. Yeah. So you're saying, I guess I'm getting hung up on  the fact that because something out in outer space   is not being currently perceived... Yeah. That  it's not a sensical question, because it can't not be... I'm not saying it doesn't have a  form of existence, especially because it is first,   it can be perceived by other people or other minds,  but it can be also perceived in a certain way by   its effect. For instance, an astronomer may  detect an abnormality in the motion of a planet   and conclude from that, that there is another  planet which is not visible, but which exerts   a gravitational force that distorts... that  explains the discrepancy on the movement of the   celestial body. So and that's a way of  perceiving also, indirectly you know. In i   science, science is about perceiving - we  call it measuring but it's perceiving. But we   perceive through all kinds of instruments, not  directly, our means of perceptions are very   limited as a human body, but we have all kinds  of telescope and microscope and instruments   and so on. But even that which we don't see  or it doesn't mean it doesn't exist you see?   Some people say only that which is perceived  can exist. If a tree falls in the forest   and nobody hears it, it didn't happen. Right?  That's a very childish form of philosophy.   It's interesting because it questions, the... what is called, the realist or  physicalist philosophy. That's   a good thing. But in fact, we don't care whether the tree exists when it is not perceived,  or whether it has an existence while not   being perceived. Who cares? Because  it doesn't make a shred of difference. And the only thing that matters that there is  only one reality. In both cases, there is only   one reality. In one case, there is mind which is  the only reality, but in the other case there is   consciousness and there is the physical reality.  Right? But their common reality is consciousness. The conversations, the discussion about...   between what is called idealism and  physicalism is a little bit like yeah, a pure intellectual game splitting hairs, but  in fact with no practical consequences. In France, we call that  making love with flies. And I express that in a very  polite fashion. The French   expression is a little more stringent. Yeah. Thank you. Hi, Francis. I'm to your right,  through the orchids. Yeah. Yeah.   Yeah. From the vantage point of  consciousness, what are emotions? I don't know but from my vantage  point what I would call emotion   is a subcategory of bodily sensations.  They can be positive or negative.   And the negative one, corresponding  to an increase in tension. So, like what happens in the presence of danger. And the positive ones being the opposite,  corresponding to release, relaxation. So an example   of positive emotion is laughter. Laughter  corresponds to bodily sensations and corresponds   at the same time as a letting go and  the other example is fear for instance, or aggression,   anger - these are the negative emotions. Now  what is important from our vantage point? I   mean, the positive emotion- no problem right, just we enjoy them. The negative emotions, either they are triggered by a real problem,   a real danger and they are normal. Yeah.  Or they are false alarms. In other words,   they are triggered by events that don't  correspond to a real clear and present danger.   And usually these are triggered by the belief  to be a separate entity and our imagination. So they're the ones that will disappear  the moment we distance ourselves from this   belief, to be a separate entity. The positive ones, there is nothing to do   about them. And I would add something, that not  all negative emotions have to be thrown away. A certain amount is useful and they  are like spices for Indian cuisine. You see, if you put too much spice it's not  good, but if there is no spice, the food is bland,   right? So you need a certain amount of spice  and of hot stuff, right? It is the same when you   go to the movies, what I call a Christian movie  where everybody is an angel, smiles all the time,   goes to church, you know, and plays by all  the rules. Who wants to go to a movie   like that? You need bad guys, right? You need  you need a little bit of hot stuff, right? And, same thing about music. If you if you would  listen to a music which is always perfectly   we say consonant, you know, always perfect  chords, you know, and you move from one perfect   chord to another perfect chord to another perfect  chord. You know, it's okay for a little, in the   beginning you say hmm, but then you see... it's like eating  too much sugar. You see, you need a little bit of you see you need a dissonance  because then you have attention and   you anticipate, the resolution and  then when you get the resolution,   ah it feels good. You see? So, a little bit,  you know, the spice, the dissonances in music,   the bad guys in the movies.  You see what I mean, right? Yeah. Yeah. I asked this because and that plays  along well with... I'm thinking of the play of   consciousness.... the way I'm thinking of it is...  and in my experience, it's like well the mind is   not something else, it's consciousness, it's  a it's a modula.., it's a function modulation,   you know, it's consciousness, so emotions must  be too. And that makes a lot of sense. I don't have to think about it, I guess. But it  Yeah, we in fact we discover later on that   the enjoyable part is consciousness. You know,  it's not what is going on is consciousness. So when we go away, when we have this kind  of excitation you know and then when we   go back to peace, that's when we get  the... it's a kind of a an addiction. It's a   sweet addiction, because consciousness  becomes more vibrant you know. It's like...   another example, the same mechanism in fact  of the it's a mechanism of desire. When we   desire something and when we get, when the desire  gets fulfilled, at that moment the tension   of the desire goes down to zero and that's when  we experience happiness in the release of   the desire. You see in the release of the  tension. So really happiness is really a   return to peace. That's why the fundamental, if you will, quality of consciousness is peace. And you find that in all religions somehow you know, peace is important. So all the  emotions are circling around   the drain of peace we could  say perhaps? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. But the point I was I was making,  because the positive emotions in the body   are that which happens when we go back  to peace, right? There is a relaxation,   there is a letting go. But in order  to experience this, we need we need   a little bit of tension. That's why in the  music, a music which would be always like  this would be boring. So there are these  buildups of tension and then a resolution and   in the movie you observe also and usually the  resolution is quick. You see you have a buildup   of tension over time and then the resolution  is flaff you know, it's like a glimpse. Thank you.