Is There A Distinction Between Awareness And The Field Of Perceptibles?

[Joseph Maynor]

We like to say that reality is self-aware.  But I'm starting to realize that even this distinction is false, a model.  

Awareness is a kind of control-seeking, if you think about it.  Natural awareness is very different from awareness as we often understand it.  You can't really individuate natural awareness that way.  

Enlightenment is letting go of the mind.   This is the only real problem.   I figured this out by the school of hard knocks.  I guess all the theory is just to get you to release the mind.   No mind, no ego, no problems.  It's that simple.  You could fit this on a postcard.  Shorter than the Heart Sutra.   Check it out.  Am I right?  

The Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore (the "Heart Sutra")

Avalokiteshvara
while practicing deeply with
the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore,
suddenly discovered that
all of the five Skandhas are equally empty,
and with this realisation
he overcame all Ill-being.

“Listen Sariputra,
this Body itself is Emptiness
and Emptiness itself is this Body.
This Body is not other than Emptiness
and Emptiness is not other than this Body.
The same is true of Feelings,
Perceptions, Mental Formations,
and Consciousness.

“Listen Sariputra,
all phenomena bear the mark of Emptiness;
their true nature is the nature of
no Birth no Death,
no Being no Non-being,
no Defilement no Purity,
no Increasing no Decreasing.

“That is why in Emptiness,
Body, Feelings, Perceptions,
Mental Formations and Consciousness
are not separate self entities.

The Eighteen Realms of Phenomena
which are the six Sense Organs,
the six Sense Objects,
and the six Consciousnesses
are also not separate self entities.

The Twelve Links of Interdependent Arising
and their Extinction
are also not separate self entities.
Ill-being, the Causes of Ill-being,
the End of Ill-being, the Path,
insight and attainment,
are also not separate self entities.

Whoever can see this
no longer needs anything to attain.

Bodhisattvas who practice
the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore
see no more obstacles in their mind,
and because there
are no more obstacles in their mind,
they can overcome all fear,
destroy all wrong perceptions
and realize Perfect Nirvana.

“All Buddhas in the past, present and future
by practicing
the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore
are all capable of attaining
Authentic and Perfect Enlightenment.

“Therefore Sariputra,
it should be known that
the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore
is a Great Mantra,
the most illuminating mantra,
the highest mantra,
a mantra beyond compare,
the True Wisdom that has the power
to put an end to all kinds of suffering.
Therefore let us proclaim
a mantra to praise
the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore.

Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha!
Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha!
Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha!”

https://plumvillage.org/news/thich-nhat-hanh-new-heart-sutra-translation/

Edited July 18, 2017 by Joseph Maynor

[Ananta]

@Joseph Maynor said- "Is There A Distinction Between Awareness And The Field Of Perceptibles?"

"All" is awareness/consciousness, one is real (satya) in the sense that it's the substrate of all, permeates everything, attributeless and unchanging.

The other (universal field/manifestation) is an appearance (mithya-illusion) in the sense that it comes/goes and constantly changing. It exists, its experienced,  it's just not "ultimately" real. 

The body of your post I didn't comment on because I don't understand what you're trying to say in the first 2 paragraphs. Perhaps it's the wordage used? Or it's just me.

Example, what's your definition of "reality" in that first sentence (substratum or phenomenal?). What do you mean by, "Awareness is a kind of control-seeking". What do you mean by, "Natural awareness is very different from awareness as we often understand it." 

No need to expand if you don't want to. I was just letting you know what caused me to not be able to respond.

Edited July 18, 2017 by Anna1

[Joseph Maynor]

@Anna1 There really is no answer possible.   Only being reveals the wordless answer.  Garbage in, insight out -- paradoxically.  What can words teach us about being?  It's like trying to build a skyscaper with Jello -- it just creates a huge mess.

Edited July 18, 2017 by Joseph Maynor