Space without Structure, Center, or Periphery

Abstract

First, many meditators report a phenomenal character of spatiality as such, a vast openness lacking any more concrete frame of reference.Often, we find this coemerging with some of the specific experiential qualities we have already investigated, like existential ease, simplicity, brightness, unity, a velvety character, high precision, clarity, wakefulness, and connectedness.Here are ten examples: 1727 I felt an incredible vastness, as if I were connected to another sphere.[. ..] 1739 It is an experience of spaciousness.The mindfulness is directed inward, toward the breath or the body, thus a space opens up in which there are no longer any reference points such as outside and inside, center or periphery.It feels very free and relaxed, but at the same time simple and unspectacular.Nevertheless, one is pre sent and capable of acting, so not at all kind of distanced.1894 [. ..]I would describe it as "being aware of having a mind empty of thoughts and images."Some of your questions ask whether there was a sense of "brightness" and "unity," and those are two adjectives I would indeed use to define my experience.Another illustration I could add was the feeling of my mind occupying a vast amount of space [. ..]. 1947 Relating one's experience of (what is here called) "pure awareness" tends to turn heavi ly on single words, or short phrases.Call these qualia-catchers.Then, an underused qualia-catcher for me is "roundedness"-the experience of.Indeed, I think this experience is explained by the type and degree of awareness of the third dimension, which is aty pi cal in ordinary life.2241 [. ..] then it felt like I was entering an emptiness, an empty space [. ..]. Suddenly all distracting thoughts are gone for quite a long time and I am in a state where only I and this space exist.In fact there is simply nothing else there.[. ..]I still know that I exist, that I am meditating, but I would say that my outward bodily awareness has decreased in that moment.As I said, I remained only in this space.It was even something like as if I felt myself moving forward in this space like a spaceship in outer space.[. ..] 2528 The most pronounced thing for me is the perception of space, infinite, unseparated, without inside or outside, velvety warm and at the same time sharp.2759 [. ..]In the experience of pure awareness it felt as if I was si mul ta neously centered and spread out very wide.[. ..] 2771 It was an experience of not moving forward, not moving back, and also not standing still.