If you look closely at how your mind operates you may notice something peculiar -- there is a tiny gap between your perception of a thing and the recognition of the thing. There is a gap between the feeling of perception and the recognition of the feeling.
If you pay close attention, you can sense this gap. You can feel this moment before recognition. As you read these words, you're first seeing the words and then recognizing them. As you walk around, you're first sensing the movement and then recognizing it. When you eat your food, you're first feeling the taste and then recognizing it. When you're thinking, you're first sensing the thought and then recognizing it. First comes the feeling -- the sensation -- then comes the recognition.
Of course, this description is not the truth. It is only my attempt to put into words the experience that I'm having in every moment. It seems to me that there is great value in focusing attention on the moment before recognition. Most people, it seems, focus on the feeling of recognition and pay precious little attention on the feeling of perception.
What is this great value that I see in focusing on the moment before recognition? The power of self-creation lives in this tiny moment. Intention lives in this tiny moment. The capacity for sensitivity lives in this tiny moment. The gap between feeling and recognition is the birth canal to happiness. Put your attention there and you will see. Put your attention there and be born into happiness and love.
The cycle is: feeling then recognizing. You feel something then you recognize it. Even your recognition is a feeling that you first sense and then recognize. The cycle is continuous... you feel and recognize simultaneously. What you are recognizing now is a feeling that you had a moment ago. That recognition creates more feelings that themselves become recognized. Feeling, recognition, feeling, recognition, feeling, recognition. That is the cycle.
As you watch this cycle take place, you may notice the tiny gap between feeling and recognition. But, then again, you may not. At first, the gap is very small. It's quite difficult to see at first. It takes desire and patience to see it. If you, like me, greatly enjoy watching yourself then you have the desire. It's like a bird watcher that is searching a tree canopy for a tiny solitary bird. He waits and watches with immense patience as he knows he will see the bird. Look at yourself with the same patience. Watch yourself as you live. Watch yourself as you think. Watch yourself as you breathe. Watch yourself as you eat. Watch yourself and see the gap between feeling and recognition.
This seeing of the gap isn't recognition -- although once you see it you will begin to recognize it. The seeing that I'm talking about is perception. It is a feeling. It is awareness of. When you "see" the gap you will first feel the gap and then recognize it.
Comparison of The Image to perception is what causes recognition. You sense reality and immediately compare it to what you know about reality. The result of that comparison is recognition. The result of that comparison is also sensed by you and itself becomes compared to what you know. That is the cycle. Where you direct your attention during this cycle will determine the kind of experience you will have.
If you focus on the recognition then you will believe The Image over reality. You will be caught up in the distorted perception that is created by The Image. You will be lost... unable to see clearly why you think what you think or why you feel what you feel. The more attention you pay to the recognition, the smaller the moment before recognition gets. At some point, it gets so small as to be missed by you altogether.
If you focus on the moment before recognition then you will finally see what is real. Your attention will shift from belief and recognition to seeing and awareness. In this moment before recognition there is peace and sensitivity and understanding. Why not try it and see for yourself?
The longer you put your attention on the moment before recognition, the larger that moment becomes. Like water flowing through a tiny hole in a dam, your attention erodes dependence on recognition as the main form of experience. In this state you will still recognize, but recognition becomes secondary to your perception.
Watch yourself and you will see the tiny gap between perception and recognition. You will feel the moment before recognition. Put your attention on that moment and you will find peace. Put your attention on that moment and you will see the beauty and magnificence of reality. Focus not on the deadening patterns of recognition, but on the living reality of perception.
Put your attention on the moment before recognition and be born into happiness and love.