What is suchness?
Suchness – as it is. The flower as a flower.
Almost everyone believes they see the flower as it is, but in fact there is very little perceived by the normal mind that is appearing in suchness. This is due to all the filters, projections and reification happening from the normal everyday mind.
Suchness is seeing things free from all of this. Perceiving from this place of freedom – everything radiates light and being. Living presence pervades the perceiving consciousness.
Suchness is simplicity itself – nothing added. It is very difficult to imagine the radical shift sihft in perception required to experience suchness.
Who we take ourselves to be is far from suchness. Our normal experience of self is similar to a sticky piece of candy that has been rolled around a carpet for a couple of years – so covered with obscurring material we can’t even recognize it as candy. But this is not what we belive – of course I see you, know you – you’re…
And that you that we see is lightyears from suchness.
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Comments
2 responses to “Suchness – Suchness of Being”
To whom it may concern, i’ve been reading the Complete Idot’s Guide to Buddhism by Gary Gach, and i’ve found that I’m having a difficult time understanding the concept of ‘suchness’ and ‘Sunyata’. I must inform you that I am new to this way of thinking. I decided to look into Buddhism recently in order to create some foundation for my life. If possible, I’d appreciate it if someone could provide me with some insight about the two.
Thanks,
Bryant G.
Bryant – it is difficult to grasp the concept of “suchness” as it points to an experience that is beyond the conceptual mind. Contemplating suchness is a koan – an unanswerable question. Holding the question or tending to the curiosity can move you closer to experiential knowing.
The understanding is in the experience, the mind will then conceptualize that in a way that makes sense to it. Relying on that understanding (as memory) moves one out of suchness and back into the normal reified mind.
Here’s a quote on suchness – http://www.facebook.com/DiamondApproach
Here’s one perspective on the void – http://www.ahalmaas.com/Books/void.htm