Vinaire's Blog

October 1, 2014

This issue is now obsolete. For latest reference please see: The Human-Centric Fixation.

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Reference: The Nature of Awareness (Part 3)

The idea that an observer must be separate from what is being observed implies that the observer can never observe itself. To observe oneself one would require separation from oneself. This leads to an infinite regression of observers. Whenever we run into infinite regression there is some inconsistency. Such inconsistency comes from holding a human-centric viewpoint.

The idea that an observer must be separate from what is being observed comes from a human-centric viewpoint.

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It is reality that is being observed from a viewpoint. But a viewpoint is also part of reality. It is reality looking at itself from different angles.  So it becomes possible to observe oneself when one assumes the much broader reality-centric viewpoint. One simply recognizes reality for what it is. From this viewpoint the observer is not separate from what is observed.

In truth there is no such separation because it is reality observing itself from different angles.

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In human-centric view it is assumed that observer is associated with a beingness that is separate from the reality. This “beingness” is made up of humanlike awareness. In truth, all reality is made up of awareness, and humanlike awareness has simply evolved from it. It is not separate from reality. There is nothing unique or permanent about beingness that separates it from the rest of reality. Beingness is changing all the time like the rest of reality. It is the human-centric viewpoint that considers it to be permanent and separate from reality.

Observer is a viewpoint that is changing all the time being part of reality. 

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The observer needs not be fixed permanently to a body, or have permanent characteristics of any kind. It is totally transparent in itself. It simply reflects reality for what it is from a particular angle. That angle is changing all the time.

Observer simply reflects reality for what it is from different angles.

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Observer may try to differentiate itself by acquiring filters and act as relatively permanent. It no longer sees reality as it is. It distorts reality through its make up of filters.  An example of this is the human-centric viewpoint, which assumes certain human characteristics through which it filters reality.

The human-centric viewpoint considers human self to be unique. permanent and separate from reality.

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It is the human-centric viewpoint that made us believe:

(1) Earth is at the center of the universe.

(2) The Sun revolves around the earth.

(3) The earth is flat.

And now it is making us believe that self not only stands separate from reality, but it also creates this reality.

The reality-centric viewpoint assumed by science is much broader. That viewpoint is also reflected in mindfulness.

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