On states of consciousness in the light of Andean and pre-Columbian wisdom
THE EXPANDED STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS (HANANPACHA)
Understanding through Experience
From the standpoint of experience, I know that I am my perception, I am that to which I apply my attention here and now. That of which I am conscious, in a certain way, I am; whether of my body, of my thoughts, of the beauty of nature or of the people I love; this becomes more evident in moments of absorption and meditation. When one is maximally attentive, the subjective limits between oneself and what is being focused upon dissolve; in these ecstatic moments there is no longer any difference between what is being done and what is being lived and perceived. The arrow reaches the target because the archer, the arrow and the target merge — only the interconnection is real. At each moment, I choose my boundaries. By feeling this interdependence, this connection, in this moment I cease to be separate, I am one.
Finally at the top of the mountain, I stopped struggling, I surrendered. Then I heard music — I do not know if real, actually playing, or coming from the spheres or from the center of the earth — I felt the rhythm as never before; each note seemed to reveal an aspect of my mind whirling in the center of a vortex of lights, blue, red, yellow and green, rising through the mountain. The multicolored spiral of lights, the cosmic mandala, passed through me, inhaling or scattering my consciousness in the four directions. I passed through a rainbow rose, a lily, a golden boy to finally glimpse the wings of the bird reflecting the light of dawn. The flow of time ceased; space dilated to contain all the beings that arose, evolved and dissolved into the infinite present. Everything dissolved into an empty silence; I understood that my essence was identical with the eternal essence of all beings, that the entire universe was reflected in each mind, that separation was merely an illusion, a veil, at that moment lifted. With the in-breath, the images returned again; I saw a cosmic dragon, or a winged serpent, or perhaps carried by the condor, sailing through the clouds and drawing stars and worlds full of beings, jewels and flowers; consciousness seemed infinitely plastic. With the out-breath, again the clouds and limits dissolved along with anxiety; I knew I had nothing to fear. I realized the ability to choose my experience. I felt a deep affection for the rays of the sun, for the clouds, for the beings of the air, of water, for the plants, for the earth and all people, I felt myself complete and worthy of acceptance, just as I was. I flew over the mountain ranges, understood the secrets and mysteries of galaxies and atoms, and finally plunged into the void to, like a simple lizard, sunbathe on the plain of Nazca. Today my appreciation for everyday life is profound; I feel I have become more tolerant of ambiguity; the interdependence of opposites is clearly demonstrated, paradoxes tend to resolve into balance. I am more confident and more open to face new and creative situations and I wish to contribute something more to the well-being of humanity.