The empty nature of consciousness means it is not some entity
that can be pinned down anywhere – instead consciousness is
non-local arising inseparable from conditions.
If consciousness is not non-local, it cannot explain psychic
powers (mind reading, clairvoyance, clairaudience, etc) or explain
how Buddha and other practitioners is able to visit realms that may
be billions of miles away or simply of another dimension, in the
snap of an instant.
Come to think of it: if a person is reborn from china to
america, does it mean a soul needs to travel thousands of miles by
foot or fly in the sky like an invisible bird for many days and
nights before reaching his destination, then find the parents and
enter the womb? This is silly, naïve thinking. When the karmic
condition manifest, a new instant of consciousness manifests
non-locally. This is why a person can be “born” in pure lands, deva
realms, etc. Consciousness is propelled by causes and conditions,
not an entity, and whenever consciousness is said to “leave the
body” like a soul, simply understand that to be a conventional or
simplistic way of explaining. It should not be understood as such
from an ultimate POV.
Even when there is a mental or astral body that too is an
appearance of causes and conditions, such as those who experience
OBE. It is not some real entity.
This video explains non-locality and teleportation and is close
to the Buddhist view of emptiness, interesting video:
http://awakeningtoreality.blogspot.com/2009/11/...
P.s. The Buddha admonished the monk Sati with the strongest
words, as he held the view that it is the “consciousness which
knows” that transmigrates. He then taught him dependent
origination. http://www.leighb.com/mn38.htm
........
Thusness (2006):
From a conventional point of view, it is. If we feel, see, hear
and think in terms of entity, then it seems that there is a self
leaving the body. This is because all along, we experience all
phenomenon appearances as solid things existing independently. Such
conventional mode of comprehending our meditative experiences
masked the true character of these experiences.
If we treat consciousness to be an atomic-like-particle residing
in our body somewhere, then we are making it as a self too. Do not
do that. The true character of Consciousness is not a thing, it
does not enter, leave, reside within or outside the body. Clear
Luminosity is bonded by karmic propensities, causes and conditions.
There is no need for a place within. Yes, there is a mental
phenomenon arising but the sensation of entering and leaving is the
result of associating it with a self. Just like it is illusionary
to see a self succeeding from moment to moment, an entrance and
exit is equally illusionary.
Mystical experiences are extremely crucial during the journey of
enlightenment. Do not discard them unwisely but assign them correct
places. These experiences loosen karmic bonds that latent deep down
in our consciousness where it is almost impossible to break through
ordinary means. It is an essential condition for the awakening of
penetrating insight. The main different between non Buddhist and
Buddhist practitioners is that transcendental and mystical
experiences are not molded into a self but correctly understood and
purified with the wisdom of emptiness. This applies true to the
Luminous Clarity Knowingness that is non-dual, it is not wrongly
personified into Brahman. In perfect clarity, there are no praises
for radiance bright, only the Dharma is in sight. The wisdom of
emptiness is so deep and profound that even if one has entered the
realm of non-dual, he/she will still not be able to grasp its
essence in full. This is the wisdom of the Blessed One. The second
level of Presence.
.......
...Next is her experience of astral traveling, if she is in a
stage of absorption and then out of a sudden awareness, the eyes of
awareness may allow her to witness something that is altogether
different from the physical place but this does not necessary mean
that consciousness has left and re-enter the body. Consciousness is
propelled by causes and conditions. According to her conditions of
absorption and clarity, just IS…
