The Significance of Senses
“The basis of the astrological sciences is the emanation,
transmission, and reception of energies and
their transmutation into forces by the receiving entity.
… it is all a question of developed reception and sensitivity.”
Throughout Esoteric Astrology the Tibetan refers to developing sensitivity. This can be thought of as an important part of our process of awakening. But what is awakening, and what is this quality of sensitivity that the Tibetan is referring to?
In his groundbeaking book "Waking From Sleep" consciousness researcher Steve Taylor describes 'awakening' experiences and how they differ from our ordinary, everyday, consciousness whereby - even though we think we are 'awake' (in the sense that we are not sleeping) we are in fact in a kind of 'spiritual sleep' as we remain unaware of greater aspects of our consciousness.
It is said that following his enlightenment the Buddha met a Brahmin (Indian holy man) who, recognizing there was something different about Buddha asked him, Are you a man or a God? The Buddha apparently replied, I am neither. I am simply awake.
Perhaps it is no accident that the buddha was born, became enlightened, and died, all under the sign of Taurus. Taurus is the sign of sensuality and using the senses to connect with the world around us. It is through our five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch, that we directly experience our world. However (as we mentioned in last month's newsletter Meditate Like A Lion) if we keep our attention on the objects outside of our senses, in other words the things that we can see, touch etc., and grasp after them, we develop attachment and remain distracted from our true nature.
True wisdom comes when we can turn our attention inwards and become aware of that which is receiving and giving meaning to the information that is coming through our senses: consciousness itself. Because the senses are already highly developed, Taurus is well placed to realize the awareness that the senses are pointing towards. Yet there is so much more wisdom we can gain by developing our senses even further.
Regular readers will know that one of the traditions within Tibetan Buddhism that I find most fascinating is that of the great Kalachakra Masters, of whom I have written in previous newsletters. The Kalachakra Masters are Great Yogis and Astrologers who have developed great capacity in their ability to rest in clear light mind. From their perspective they have a knowledge of astrology that doesn't come from books, ephemerides or tables, bur rather from direct experience of the energies involved. This is only possible through their heightened sensitivity, through which they are able to discern extremely subtle energy.
As the Abbott of a Tibetan Buddhist monastery, the Tibetan Master would have been very familiar with the Kalachakra Masters and their practices, and it is very possible he may even have been a Kalachakra Master himself.
We are like babies in our capacity compared to the kalachakra masters! The purpose of meditation is to develop increasing clarity and stability so we may know our own true nature, and that of the universe, through direct experiencing.
There is a tendency in the west to think we are further along the spiritual path than we actually are. This stems from our great respect and reverence for intellectual knowledge. We place knowledge-holders on a pedestal, the pinnacle of our education system is someone who has studied and retained a lot of factual information. Yet on a spiritual path, this is not the end result but rather is considered only the beginning. In the Tibetan tradition, learning mental concepts is considered a preliminary to deeper experiential practice. Intellectual knowledge is only helpful if it inspires us to go deeper on the path of our own experience.
If we are ever to get anywhere near the insights of the kalachakra masters we have to develop clarity and stability in our minds, and that is done through extensive meditation practice. It is a formidable task, and requires a lifetime (if not many lifetimes) of practice, yet this is exactly what is required if we are to develop the clarity required to be sensitive to the subtle ray energies that the Tibetan Master refers to in Esoteric Astrology.
This sounds like an impossible task, yet, as formidable and profound as it is, it is still within our reach because awareness IS our true nature.
Our senses are a bridge to awareness. We can use our senses, just as the Buddha did, to become more aware of our innate wakefulness. What aspect of us, is aware of the information coming through our senses? Our senses are methods of direct experiencing. In any given moment we are sensing something: through sight, sound, touch, smell or taste.
Right now, if we bring our attention to our senses, then it is only a short step to then bring our attention to that aspect of ourselves that is aware of our senses: awareness itself.
"There is no other nature, than the nature of awareness"
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We might think we know a lot about astrology, but when it comes to direct experiencing, we might find we actually know very little. Most of astrology today is based on mental concepts. Until we can verify them with wisdom gained from our own experience, they remain in the realm of intellect.
To begin the long journey of direct experiencing we have to be very simple. Which is why it is best to start simply with your Rising Sign, Sun and Moon signs. Even then it may take the rest of your life to observe their energies directly, as they play out in your life!
It is the path of direct experiencing through sensing that leads to the highly developed receptivity and sensitivity of which the Tibetan speaks.
