Colorless

 

Here is the challenge if you choose to accept it.  As you go about your day, start to become just a bit more aware than you normally would of the sounds and visual images that occur in your experience.  You don’t have to strain or overthink this process.  There will be moments when it will come easy and moments you will forget, but none of that matters.  If you make an effort to give a bit more attention than usual to the sights and sounds around you, you will not fail.  I promise.  Doing this should not feel like an effort, it should feel relaxing and like you are letting these sensory experiences come to you.  Let them wash over you, even replace you in those little moments.

 

This next part is very important:  Don’t pick and choose!  Let whatever arises in your experience arise naturally and without judgement.  Don’t be concerned with the type of sound that is arising.  Whether it is a car passing, the wind howling, music playing  or a dog barking just allow it to arise spontaneously and begin to notice the depth and quality of the sound.  Similarly, don’t worry about the type of visual image arising, whether it is a face, the sky, a dead bird or a piece of furniture.  Notice how when you do this things start to look a little bit clearer and a little bit brighter.  Just notice the color, form and brilliance of the image without labels.  As far as listening goes, notice the quality of the sound coming into your awareness and not the content or meaning.  Also notice how sounds become clearer and fuller.

 

 

 

Let whatever arises in your experience arise naturally and without judgement.

 

Simply allowing a deeper and more intimate noticing of the quality of sights and sounds may have a profound effect.  It may feel subtle at first but I am certain that if you decide to take on this challenge for one day you will notice something begin to shift.  Doing this part alone will suffice, but if you want an added challenge read on.

 

By “added challenge” I do not mean that it is more difficult, it actually isn’t.  It is actually more simple and more intimate than the simple noticing that has already been described.  Here’s what I suggest.  As you begin to notice some increase in the depth of sights and sounds around you, then add the following.  As you notice sounds arising you might also start to notice what is simultaneously not a sound.  It is not the sound and yet it is right inside of the sound.  This is the part where our logical minds say, “That doesn’t make any sense!”  That is perfectly OK.  It is the mind’s job to point out boundaries and limitations to you.  Thank it for the concern and read on.  The thing is that as you begin to notice the silence beneath the sound (at the same time you are noticing the sound) you begin moving past the conceptual mind.  This doesn’t mean the mind will shut off, it likely won’t.  It just means that where attention has moved is beyond the confines of the concept forming mind.  This is perfectly OK.  It is the whole point actually.  So as a sound arises and you notice that there is a bit more depth or richness to it, you may also faintly perceive a silence that is right there within the experience.  If you strain trying to do this you are definitely going in the wrong direction.  Just let the sound and the silence come to you.  Let them overtake you for a single moment.

 

Similarly with visual images, notice that as the depth and quality of the colors and shapes increase, there may be perceived something that is no color at all!  Again, please understand that even if you experience the Colorless or the Shapeless, it might be very subtle and momentary and the mind will likely say, “Oh that’s not it!”  This is all very normal and perfectly OK!  The conceptual mind cannot see the Colorless but that doesn’t mean that You can’t see it.  I promise you can and when you do there will be no mistaking it.  There will be no way to talk about it but it will be closer than your own nostrils.

 

Give it a try and let me know what you find, I’d love to hear feedback, even if it is, “This all makes no sense!”