Look at a Bowl Without Seeing the Sides
कालाग्निना कालपदाद्उत्थितेन स्वकं पुरम् । प्लुष्टं विचिन्तयेदन्ते शान्ताभासस्तदा भवेत् ॥
kalagnina kalapadad utthitena svakam puram | plushtam vicintayedante shantabhasastada bhavet ||
VBT Verse 54
The Sutra
"Look upon a bowl without seeing the sides or the material. In a few moments become aware."
Paul Reps translation, Zen Flesh, Zen Bones (1957)
Understanding
Look at a bowl but do not see the bowl. See only the empty space inside it. Ignore the walls, the material, the color. See only the space the bowl contains. In a few moments, a shift happens - you begin to see space itself, not objects. This is a radical shift in perception that reveals the emptiness underlying all form.
Original Sanskrit
कालाग्निना कालपदाद्उत्थितेन स्वकं पुरम् । प्लुष्टं विचिन्तयेदन्ते शान्ताभासस्तदा भवेत् ॥
kalagnina kalapadad utthitena svakam puram | plushtam vicintayedante shantabhasastada bhavet ||
Vijnanabhairava Verse 54 (Technique 31 of 112)
How to Practice
Place a simple bowl in front of you. It can be any bowl.
Look at it, but consciously ignore the sides, the rim, the material.
See ONLY the empty space the bowl contains. Let the solid form become invisible.
As you focus on the space, notice how your perception shifts.
The space inside the bowl is connected to the space outside. There is only one space.
In a few moments, the sense of solid objects dissolves. Only awareness of space remains.
Duration
10-15 minutes
Best Time
Any time
Related Techniques
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