chapter 4 - Limitation of our perception

Words are very limited, so is our mind perception and limited conditional knowledge and understanding. This physical body with the thinking mind and all kinds of existence in the world are limited by time, space, causation, selflessness and impermanence (selfless existence).

We cannot describe through words in speech or writing, for something that is beyond our mind to perceive. There will be confusions, arguments, debates and misinterpretations from the original meaning of what is written or spoken. It’s because every single mind is functioning under the different level of consciousness and the different perception under the influence of different degrees of ignorance, even though all minds might have the same selfless attributeless consciousness, and are under going the same selfless impermanent changes.

What we can do is to try our best to present something that is close enough to the definite description or to be reflecting the meaning of the teachings and the practice, that our limited mind can perceive and understand, and we can learn something from it, to perform self-inquiry or contemplation reflecting towards the truth of all kinds of teachings.

So are all the books that are talking about the many different ways to achieve peacefulness and to unfold the wisdom within us and describing the ultimate truth towards self awakening and self realization. Not everyone will have the same understanding after reading the same book. 

Some people may induce confuse in their mind when they come in contact with too many different types of teachings, they don’t know which one to follow, or they try to follow everyone of them which is not really working in that way.

We need to find a path that suits ourselves the most, and then concentrate on that path until the end. Of course, at the same time we can keep an open mind towards some other teachings and practice, and respect the teachings and practice of some others.

The perception of our mind is very much being influenced by knowledge and understanding, and knowledge and understanding is related to or being accumulated through education, learning and experiencing. Right education is so important for our younger generations because they are our future leaders of the world. If they have right understanding that leads to right conduct, if they are selfless and wise, then there will be positive changes in the world later, socially, environmentally, or politically, and so on.

But unfortunately, lots of selfish and ignorant people have taken advantage of the schooling education and public social media networks to manipulate and corrupt the minds of these young people, implanting selfishness, racism, separateness, anger, hatred, violence and untruthfulness into these naive young minds.

May we all develop correct understanding and perform beneficial actions to be looking after ourselves and the future generations, and also to be looking after the general welfare of the environment, out of wisdom and compassion, void of ignorance and egoism.