{"id":9232,"date":"2019-05-14T13:24:32","date_gmt":"2019-05-14T20:24:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cciforum.dreamhosters.com\/?p=9232"},"modified":"2019-05-26T12:11:00","modified_gmt":"2019-05-26T19:11:00","slug":"thinking-through-perception","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cciforum.dreamhosters.com\/?p=9232","title":{"rendered":"THINKING THROUGH PERCEPTION\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo: \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcKanizsa’s Triangle Illusion\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 – Wikipedia
https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/y6pwr5oq
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THINKING THROUGH PERCEPTION\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/p>\n

Thinking involves many different mental processes. For instance, perceiving visually I most often take for granted that when I see something, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a fact. BUT\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 if I take the time to investigate what I THINK I saw, I am astounded at how \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcinaccurate\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 I actually am. Take the Kanizsa Triangle Illusion pictured here, as an example of how, in the instant of perception an impression is reflected, and I look for what is familiar about it in an effort to make sense of what I see. <\/p>\n

I almost immediately conclude that there are circles and triangles pictured in black and white. But actually\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 there are no circles or triangle there\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 rather, they are suggested by \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcspatially separate fragments that give the impression of a bright white triangle, and possibly others, defined by sharp illusory contours, three occluding black circles, and a black-outlined triangle\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 NO CIRCLES OR TRIANGLE ON THE PAGE, they are simply suggested, as my mind fills in what is NOT there. In fact, in order to describe what is happening I use the words \u00e2\u20ac\u02dctriangle\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 and \u00e2\u20ac\u02dccircles\u00e2\u20ac\u2122, as if positing that they ARE there, despite what I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m saying to the contrary.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcPerception\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 points to a lightning-fast process, visually or through the other senses. Rinpoche in his books often invites us to explore how we perceive, to inquire if we really \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcsee\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 what is there\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 or are we perhaps \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcskimming over\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 referring INTERACTIONS between the subject who is perceiving, and what the subject takes to be an object\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 a process in time we seem compelled to engage in, just to make the object meaningful.<\/p>\n

It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s quite interesting to observe the process of perception in EACH of our senses, to understand how an initial stimulation is interpreted and identified\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 In \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Knowledge of Time and Space\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, p. 392, Rinpoche says, regarding our sensing fields that establish our reality, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153within their activity of establishing, original intimacy remains open for discovery and appreciation.<\/strong>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

So as I continuously try to get my stories straight\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 what I narrate to myself what I perceive as the way things are\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 I seem to often confuse or conflate the things that I encounter with the symbolic meanings and descriptions I assign to them. This just seems like my normal human perceptual process\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 as if the map were actually the territory it symbolizes. Perhaps it has to do with encountering a background \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcsome-thing\u00e2\u20ac\u2122, and then automatically and simultaneously, the intrinsic activity of perception is happening. It reminds me of water cascading over a precipice\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 at some point something coheres or pools together\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 and I declare, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s it!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d That frilly, stringy, waving, flickering thing in the breeze that I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve encountered is a certain type of \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcTREE\u00e2\u20ac\u2122.<\/p>\n

It seems important to observe this happening. And what I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve noticed is, gradually I seem less obligated to identify with my idea of the thing\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 I effectively counter the tendency to confuse the thing with my thoughts ABOUT the thing…the names, and images I remember. The gravity or weightiness I might ascribe to my story\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 that which infuses my thought-rushing, my \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcminding\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 more space is introduced, more background and foreground is allowed, a more open atmosphere seems available as my focus opens, and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m at ease and less likely to be emotionally carried away or misdirected\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/p>\n

AT THE LINC\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 A TSK student describes in his practice notes, exploring the INTIMACY in the act of perception\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 noticing not only WHAT arises, but inquiring in to HOW it arises\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 getting a glimpse of how we \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcinterpret\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 our way through time\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/p>\n

Focus – the knowledge aspect of the establishing activity of the senses<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n