Buddhism teaches a place where the power of our human imagination (G., Einbildungskraft) can’t go: a clear light that reveals itself and what it transcends. This imagination, I hasten to add, includes our intellect with all of its speculations.
Whatever we say about Buddhism it can only point in the direction of this ‘place’ it cannot reveal it or show it to us. We must uncover it our self. At the same time it is always revealing itself to itself which is what the ātman or Buddha nature is about; perhaps more importantly, it also reveals what it transcends. This is the very world in which we have been immersed since birth.
When we awaken to this transcendent place we will know for the first time that the clear light, in fact, reveals itself to itself and illuminates perfectly what it transcends.
I hasten to add why awareness is so important in the practice of Buddhism. Without realizing it we are being aware of the already transcended. Our fullest awareness is the acknowledgment of the transcended. What we have surpassed.
From this awareness the adept moves towards direct convergence (samādhi) with the transcendent itself by which transcendence of the human being becomes attainable.
This is exemplified in the meditation described in the Ānāpānasati Sutta where awareness is entirely before the in & out breath. The adept is transcending the breath by direct awareness (sati) of it.
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