Transformation of Soul

Transformation of Soul

By Debra Shiin Coffey

When I wrote this work it was in the style of my first paper “Reflections on Phronesis” using quotes from various authors. Only this time I was using a range of quotes from Platonic, Buddhist, Hinduism and even Euclid's Elements. Feeling the paper was dense I wanted to make it easier to read so I chose to throw it out and rewrote it in almost a dialog style. In the hope, talking one on one, would make it easier to see and less formal.  In order to follow what I am saying you need to look within yourself for the answers.  This is not a book you set and read in order to understand you need to participate in the exercises in order to see what I am saying.  Also feel free to ask any questions you may have and I will do my best to answer them.

Modern men of today have no idea of who or even what they are or where to turn and look. So let us go on an exploration to inquire into Soul and to see what direction one should turn its gaze. To start with what if all there ever was, or ever has been, is this present moment? You might reply “What moment?” I would say “The one you are in, look no further than to just what is present in the moment.” You might reply, “It seems to be ever moving, passing from one moment to the next.” I say, “ That is because you were looking outside yourself.” You reply. “What? Isn’t everything I see outside? I see windows, tables and chairs.” I ask, “ What of dreams and daydreams, are these things seen within? What of reading, music and ideas in general are these things seen within as well?” The problem is you have been looking outside of yourself for answers, bestowing love, honor and sympathy on anything rather than yourself. As if something or someone from outside was going to come in and change our lives. That is because we see everything as outside ourselves and as other.

On the other hand, if you wish to see yourself in a different light, and want to change your way of looking at yourself in relation to the universe, then instead of looking outside yourself, you turn and look within. What can be seen there and how would one come to see it, and if seen by what light? The what is the realm of mind, the how is by the mind’s eye and the illumination is that of pure consciousness.

Too fast? Let’s take a step back and review what I’m saying. Would you not agree that when you open your eyes and look toward what is exterior to you, you perceive the physical universe? Equally so, when you turn to that which is not exterior to you and you turn and look within, how do you come to see it? Just what is this universe within? You come to see the universe within by the mind’s eye, and the universe in which it sees, is that of mind. The mind’s eye is not different from the physical eye in the sense that the eye within functions in the same way. Only the objects of the mind’s eye are not physical in nature but instead are of the realm of the mind and that of thought. Thoughts that form images for internal sight like ideas.

How does one come to look within and call what is present real? In a sense you were already doing it. How? Look at your thoughts! Are they not present? And do you not guide your life by their presence? Are they not many, and diverse? Each shouting out what they are and naming all that is taking place coloring what is present by its light. Forming a body of thought, as solid as a table and as hard as a rock. Yes, thoughts are in a sense physical too. Even so, let’s take a look at them.

Imagine yourself standing under a bridge and cars were passing over, and as the cars passed you simply watched. Do you have this image? Now let’s apply it to the realm of thought. See your mind's eye viewing the thoughts as they pass, now see that each thought is separate and distinct, much like different makes of cars. Just stand there and watch the thoughts pass. Now if you were to separate out one of the thoughts and recognize it much like to make of the car. “Hey my uncle had a 54 Ford just like that and...” Now if you were to focus upon just one thought, would you not have a view of the universe, and a whole emotional state along with it, yelling out how you are to feel in respect to what you were now viewing. 

As you view this thought have you not become it, in that you are no longer viewing it as separate, but instead have become what you were viewing before. In separating it out, and seeing it as distinct, the other thoughts are no longer in view, you have identified with what you were reviewing before and you have become it, and in this sense the thought has now taken up your whole vision. Now this thought has become all you see.

Let us now turn once again to the vision of the bridge. Once again, stand below it with your mind’s eye and watch the thoughts pass. What do you see? You are no longer colored by the former thought, and you are now separate from it. You stand alone, quiet, watching. What are you such that you can stand alone from the thoughts, watch them pass and not identify with any that are present? What is it that it identifies so completely it loses sight of itself and becomes what it sees? And yet again when separating itself out it stands alone quiet and just watches. Only you by seeing for yourself, by watching, seeing what you have within, will you truly see for yourself.

Let us move on now from thoughts to states of mind. In doing so, move from the realm of body to that of the mind and pure consciousness. In order to see what I mean by state of mind, let us look back to the thoughts. In viewing each thought do they not have a feeling state and a way of viewing the universe and your relationship to it? Looking at it in this light does not this single thought bring to birth many thoughts in relation to this way of feeling and viewing the universe. Moving rapidly from one to many. All supporting one view birthing forth all kinds of emotions and feelings and notions. Coloring your whole mental vision by its light, it does not matter which direction you turn your view, the conclusions will be one and the same given the one view. This taken as a whole is what I mean by states of mind.

As for an example of this, let's take up the image of a mob. Are there not many? Is each of their thoughts, separate and distinct, each shouting out their opinion on how they see the issue filled with passion? Suddenly as if from nowhere a voice shouted out louder than the rest. The crowd quieted and listened and was persuaded, more in the sense they were moved by the energy and passion of the crowd than by reason, took up the view of this voice, and moved and acted in accordance with it. This is how our minds work in accordance with each individual thought. Each thought brings forth a state of mind, a way of relating to the universe, acting more in accordance to their passion than by reason.

Let us use this way of relating to our advantage. And take up an image, a beautiful one. Imagine a time in your life when you were struck by beauty. Struck in such a way that you were filled with beauty. You not only saw beauty without, but also turned and saw you were permeated by beauty within. Now turn again to the present moment, look now to your present state of mind, what are you seeing right this moment? Do you in turning not see yourself as beautiful? If not, go back once again to the beautiful image and try again. Because if you do not see this, you can no longer follow what I am saying. You see we have brought about a state of mind by our thoughts, a beautiful one. We have brought forth a way of being and relating to the universe, colored by the thought of beauty we have attributed to it. Beauty should now encompass our vision; we should now see it not only within but also without.

Have we not brought about this state of mind and way of being through recollection? Interesting how memories function, birthing fourth states of mind into the present moment. Now look at it in the light of how we described the manner in which each thought functions. And are your thoughts many? Do you not only upon reflection see them to be other?

To see this let’s go back to the discussion upon thoughts. Recall the image of the bridge and you stood under it and watched your thoughts pass. At this point did you not see them as other? Did you not stand alone, quiet, watching? Once again turning to any particular thought becomes it. Is this activity learning? If so, how? Through the reflection upon each individual thought. To separate yourself out to stand alone, quiet, watching - viewing the nature of the moment.

Just what value is there in this turning? Why reflect upon the nature of the moment? You might say, “Why I could just go on forever identifying only with what I see, I could never reflect or question, I could look at what I see and call it real and reality.” Or I might say, “Try this, instead of looking through what is seen: you could turn, and look within and see that you are not identifying with any thought, that you are standing alone viewing it.” Turning your mind’s eye back to view what it had identified completely with before and seen it as other than itself. And in seeing it as other, you have become what is seeing instead of what is seen.

When the mind’s eye is turned toward the nature of the moment what is seen? In this turning or reflecting back upon the moment what comes into view, as you stand alone and quietly watching as your thoughts pass. What is present such that this activity is to be considered as important at all? Again, why reflect upon the nature of the moment? How important is this role of reflecting or recalling?

At this point you are not looking outside yourself for the answers, instead you have turned and are looking within yourself. What does this mean? And did we not say that the activity of reflecting upon the moment is a type of recollection and that the mind’s eye turns and reflects upon the very nature of the moment. And did we not refer to this also as a learning process and that the psyche is turning and viewing the nature of the moment to see what the mind contains?

If we reflect back to how we view our objects of reflection, we see them as other, do we not? To see this let us once again turn our mind’s eye back to the image of the bridge. And once again stand below and watch our thoughts pass. In viewing the thoughts do we not see them as other? And watching them pass are we not viewing them as other and separate to what we are? And are we not standing alone, quiet, watching. Once again in turning to any particular thought, becoming it?

And yet we see the thoughts as the object of our perception. We are continuously turning toward our thoughts and becoming them. Stating that they are real and our reality. Filling our heads continuously with chatter, telling, reminding you of who you are. How you are to view yourself in relationship to the universe; along with emotional states filled with all the joys and sorrows of life. It starts out simple like a seductive voice in a song with a simple melody. Then the other voices chime in, as in a choir, still, quite beautiful. But then comes a disturbance, a mob of thoughts, jetting off in all different directions never allowing you to see or view yourself.

And why? Because you lose sight of yourself, and that you hold your objects of perception as other and as outside yourself. We look to objects of thought and call them real and reality instead of turning and looking within. This means to the degree we look outside ourselves for answers is to the degree we are blinded by the mob of thoughts we look to and see as being real. Confused yet? You should be. I just called your reality an illusion. Or rather you did, by the degree you follow the line of reasoning.  You see the problem is not in the endless chatter. But in the value you place upon it by your own free will. You are the one looking at it and paying homage to it and are placing value upon it. It is you who have breathed life into it, are giving it form, and are honoring it. Looking only at the thoughts and calling them real and reality.

This is because you are only looking at what is seen, instead of what is seeing. When you look from the perspective of what is seeing, you are giving yourself up of your own free will. Looking to and becoming all that you see. You are pursuing a beautiful image of yourself. In all actuality this is a natural function of the psyche when it produces an image of itself, extends out and moves in an opposite direction from its source.

This is giving rise to the illusion, the illusion that the thoughts are real and our reality. Do you have the question yet? Do you not wonder if the thoughts are not the reality, just, what is? To see this let us turn the direction of our gaze to the seer rather than to that which is seen. To that which stands alone, and quietly watches, viewing the nature of the moment. Turning back upon itself in order to see what it has within. In the very activity of halting and no longer extending out from itself, but turns back to see its source and the source of its own image.

In order to see this let us once again turn our mind’s eye back to the image of the bridge. And once again stand below and watch our thoughts pass. Let us now turn to the seer as it stands alone and quietly watches. What is present in this moment of reflection upon itself? Clearly, there are no emotions, for they are present with the thoughts. And it is quiet also in the sense the chatter is also with the thoughts. Reflect! Just what is present? Look back, look to the seer as it stands alone and quietly watches. Certainly, it is impartial, just look to all the chatter it identifies with and becomes, breathes life into and manifests as a vision of itself, becoming solid, weighty and it loses sight of itself in that it becomes other. The psyche’s point of focus turns to the seen and it gives itself up to and becomes all it sees. I guess you can say it does not care what it is, identifies with or becomes. From this we can definitely say it is impartial. Let us see it is emotionless, quiet and impartial. It does not sound like much to me.

Reflect again! Turn back, just what is present? Just what comes into view? In this turning the focus of its concentration turns to the seer instead of what is seen. And yet the seer cannot be seen. Just what is present? Focus, pure one pointed concentration, turning back upon itself, separating itself out, in doing so seeing the chatter as other, as the object of its perception.

What is left is still of the nature of thought, just not chatter or discursive thought. The chatter remains silent. That which has breathed life into the chatter is still present, silent now, it just watches, becoming a one pointed focus. Waiting silent now for something to become something to give itself up to and breathe life into and manifest as a vision of itself. At this point the psyche truly has a choice. In that it gets to choose what it becomes. And why? Because it has separated itself out and it sees the chatter about itself as other than what it is. It sees the chattering is not real or reality. The chattering is not the reality, it is placed there for our viewing. We are choosing the chatter and we are placing it as our reality, by paying homage to it, looking at it and breathing life into it.

When we were speaking of states of mind did we not say that thoughts were moved by passion rather than by reason? The reason is that passion encompasses two extremes, anger and compassion. Both anger and compassion move the psyche to action. Let us assume that there are three parts of the psyche, mind, passion and desires. Over each stands a virtue; wisdom, temperance and courage and running through them all is justice allowing each part of the psyche to do it on business.

How does this apply here? It is the job of mind to move the desires through passion not the other way around i.e. desires to move the mind through passion. When we place our discursive thoughts or chatter as real, we are placing value upon the emotional states or desires that follow as a consequence of taking up this view. By placing value upon the emotional states or desires, they then rule the mind through passion. Because of this the society thinks it is its emotions and thus, the psyche thinks it is its emotions.

Being diluted by the emotions the psyche places its value and honor on the emotions.  In doing so it loses sight of itself and does not honor or even know what it is. The psyche that sees reality in this manner lives its life unjustly, in a diluted world, ruled by its emotions. Did we not say earlier that justice allows each part of the psyche to do its own business? And is it not the job of mind to rule over the emotions through passion? Given the condition of the deluded psyche are not the emotions ruling over reason through passion. And so the mind becoming enslaved by the passion of the emotions is an unjust condition of the psyche.

The enslaved psyche can be released in turning back and looking to the discursive thoughts, separating itself out and seeing they are other and at this point has a choice. And why? Because discursive thoughts are placed there for our viewing, consideration and for the psyche to see what it has within. It is we who are choosing to become them, placing value and honoring them. You see it as if you are in a dream and do not like the direction it is going and you stand back as an impartial viewer and change the direction it is going through reason. This cannot be done as long as you are identifying with the discursive thoughts. You have to stand alone and quietly watch them in turning back and separating yourself out, you come to see them as other. And seeing them as other psyche now is freed from the chatter and the emotions that accompany them and can view them impartially now and that psyche is not becoming them. But choosing instead for the moment simply to view them and remain separate. At such times the psyche is truly free.

Now that we have come to see what the psyche is not, we can turn once again to see just what it is. Focus, the pure one pointed concentration turning back upon itself waiting silent now for something to become, something to give itself up to, breathe life into and manifest as a vision of itself. An impartial viewer resting and giving itself up to the nature of the moment. Not being pulled in one direction or another. Resting quietly in repose, turning back upon itself, seeing what it has within.

This reflects the state of mind the psyche is in while it is in repose. While it reflects, turning and reflecting quietly upon itself not being pulled in one direction or another but quietly resting in that which is the same. An impartial viewer, quietly standing alone giving itself up now to the seer instead of what is seen, becoming-what it is, resting in that which is of a similar nature to itself, pure consciousness.

When we are turning and reflecting back upon ourselves, do we not mirror this pure consciousness; needing nothing, wanting nothing, completely sated, no need to pursue anything because everything is all perfect and eternally present? While in repose we are equally inclined, when placed in the middle of a similar nature, we cannot tend more or less to one part than another; but subsisting on all sides similarly affected it will remain free from all inclination. Resting quietly in a state of repose - resting in a nature that is of the same nature – it is resting quietly in a state of repose turning back and giving itself up to see the nature of the moment. This is how it manifests itself within.

Let us now turn and see how it manifests itself without. At such times when the psyche is truly seeing, seeing through the eyes of pure consciousness. How do these states of mind manifest in our physical world? At such times the psyche is freed from all that is bodily, the physical body as well as the discursive bodies of thought. Psyche feels buoyant, senses are heightened, colors are luminous and hearing is keen. Being totally aware of all that surrounds you, resting quietly in the state of bliss, no need to strive after anything outside itself. Anything you could ever want or be is all present now. A pure one pointed focus resting quietly turning back upon itself, to see what it has within and manifesting what it sees without. What it sees is beautiful and all that it manifests is of this nature. So it is not only beautiful with in but without as well.

This shift in consciousness is brought about by any extreme. The state comes about by letting go and becoming all, and you can return to your former state by focusing upon any particular. When - All (pure consciousness) - needing nothing, wanting nothing, completely sated no need to pursue anything because everything is all present, perfect and eternally present.

Let’s start out on a quest for vision. Just so our terms are clear in the beginning, I will be speaking from the level of psyche. In a very real sense, the only level of which can be spoken. Because that which is beyond lies in non-discursive thought. So any extreme (pain, joy, sorrow, fatigue, anger, beauty, etc.) will bring about a change of consciousness. What does this mean? Exactly what it says. Have you ever seen a fighter receive his second wind - it’s as though he just started. Or a runner, if you like or a mountain climber or a swimmer. Just as if they have reached their limit and can go no further, no hope - suddenly as if from nowhere a state of clarity arises as if from nowhere. What is this shift? How does it come about? What is this State of consciousness? These states of mind are in fact heightened states of awareness.

For myself I use beauty for my extreme. Light refracting light, beauty permeates my being. I am beauty, beauty is me. This is the first stage. Then I can see I have entered into a heightened state of awareness, psyche feels buoyant senses are heightened colors are luminous and hearing is keen no fear. At this point I have reached stage two. Then I let everything go, giving up all sense of self. I let the energy drop down my spine through the floor. Reaching stage three. Immediately and spontaneously pure consciousness rises up on its own and has become vision the fourth stage. Why vision? Because the vision sees that is all. It does not attach itself to any one thing and becomes and stays all.

Pure consciousness is of the nature of thought, just not discursive thought, it is prior to it. The thoughts in pure consciousness are pure; it is as though a different language is spoken. Each thought is like that of an image, a way of being or relating. So, the psyche sees it as a whole concentrated unity, but when it tries to express, it unfolds discursively into sentences and then into paragraphs. The thoughts and pure consciousness do not extend out discursively like ours do. They stay within pure consciousness as a concentrated unity. No need to extend out everything is all present, perfect needing nothing, wanting nothing. Its vision is held all within. So everything there is totally at rest, complete, sated. Since everything is in a state of rest there is no need to hinder movement, it is fluid, flowing and effortless. The movement is clear, unhindered, you see yourself in everything. Moving rapidly from one thing to the next and not just seeing into what you are viewing but viewing into the very nature of it. So there is nothing dark or opaque, everything is clear to the innermost part of everything. Everything is beautiful and glowing, colors are luminous and transparent. Sparkling and glowing like sunbursts or suns, light reflecting light. Everything is beautiful and glowing, psyche cannot stay there because it is physical in nature, so too, the discursive thoughts. Eventually the discursive thoughts will drag it down by focusing upon some particular idea or thought, then back to the physical body. 

This sounds interesting does it not? Anyone can achieve this, and there are stages to achieve, this stage of pure consciousness the process admits of many degrees. In other words you may think you have completed one stage because you have an experience of it, but it may not be pure. You might be holding onto something and not completely letting go.

First of all one must see who and what they are. How? Look back to the thoughts. Are they not present, and are they not many and diverse? Do you not identify with them and call them real and reality? Looking only to them and projecting them out into the physical universe coloring everything you see by its light. You see the problem is you think you are your views and opinions i.e. thoughts. But I have shown you or not. So how do you bring this into your own psyche and see it as your own?

To see this, let’s go back to the image of a bridge, and once again you stand below and watch your thoughts pass. Now change your point of focus to the seer rather than to that which is seen i.e. the thoughts. What is the most predominant quality about it? “The focus, the concentration, effortless one-pointed thought.” Now let us examine how this activity functions in our everyday life. If you reflect upon this you will see it  admits of many degrees. From simple concentration to the point you lose consciousness of everything around you, when you are focusing upon a single idea. The focus can become so intense you lose track of all time and space. I remember once as a child sitting on a thin board on the edge of a trailer, feeling the morning sun upon my face, feeling the energy of the tree that sat before me and losing all consciousness. When I became aware of the fact I was sitting on the edge of the trailer it was afternoon and the sun was setting. I had no awareness of what had happened. All I knew is that my butt did not hurt from sitting on the edge of the board, I did not fall off and it was now sundown. Offhand I would say I was totally focused upon the moment.

I know of a Chef who ran a four-star restaurant. He said when he was working that he was aware of everything around him. There were many chefs doing their jobs and he was aware of what each one of them was doing, while he was working he would hold this focus. I would push this one step further and say to the degree he was able to hold his focus is the degree he did his job well or poorly.

Let us look for a moment at artists. Do they not have an idea they are bringing into being and to the degree they are able to manifest this idea into the physical universe, is the degree the object produced is beautiful. The piece of art is beautiful not only to the artist but also to everyone who comes in contact with the piece of art, whether it is music, art or poetry. Would you not agree that it is the activity of focus which brings the idea into physical form? You use the concentration that focuses upon the idea within to produce the notes, lines and words upon the music art and poetry. Now bring this idea back to the present point of inquiry. Would you not agree, looking into yourself when you were at your best; was not your point of focus fluid, flowing and effortless? Looking back to your Chef now. Did he mention at any point that it was an effort or struggle. No, he simply was there; totally aware of everything that was around him. Just imagine having senses of 360 degrees, all around you. It is impressive to say the least. Pure effortless one-pointed focus, sounds familiar does it not? Pure consciousness is effortless, fluid and flowing; and in this sense pure focus mirrors pure consciousness.

Heightened states of consciousness we use daily in our everyday lives. Yet we are unaware of what they are. Heightened states admit of many degrees also making them illusive and subtle. But in reality when the chatter subsides and the mind is clear and focused to whatever degree you are there, enjoy it. In all actuality the only thing you are aware of is the present moment, being and rejoicing in the present. This should be the resting place for every soul, letting the past and future drop away, and resting in the present. This is the true resting place for every soul.