The Essence of Faiths
Whispers from everywhere
Nothing to Perceive
‘Perceptions employed as a base for building up positive concepts are the origins of all ignorance; perception that there is nothing to perceive - that is wisdom. Being able to behold men, women and all the various sorts of appearances while remaining as free from love or aversion as if they were actually not seen at all - that is what is meant by “nothing to perceive”.’ (Surangama Sutra)
Zen Buddhists talk of enlightened Mind as the root of ordinary mind. Everyone is aware of his ordinary mind. It is a product of cultural conditioning in a particular time and place within a particular family and community. It is the basis of that dogmatic common sense which the individual shares with his immediate society. It is the source of patriotism and loyalty on the one hand and tribalism, racism and various forms of bigotry and intolerance on the other. But it is common knowledge, especially amongst those who travel around, that this dogmatic common sense is very much tied to a particular time and place and has no abiding reality.
Ordinary mind ‘knows’ what to like and dislike, what is good and bad, what is to be valued and what is to be despised. Such ordinary ‘knowing’ is the ignorance of which the Buddhists speak.
The truly holy men of whatever culture are seen as holy because they manage to go beyond their ordinary mind. By thinking about their thinking they can reflect and get in touch with that deeper Mind which lies at the root of ordinary mind but is so often buried by it. This deeper Mind is the Mind of God which is within us all if we would only see it. It is infinite and eternal rather than being tied to the here and now. It is calm, fearless and detached like Nature itself. This is the mind which does not systematically build up concepts from ignorant perceptions. This is the mind which perceives that there is nothing to perceive.