There are multiple perspectives for which we can view 'reality', all of which are right in that that is how we see reality at that moment.

All of us are capable of experiencing the first three states of consciousness without much effort, in fact a baby can experience all three from the moment of birth. They are Gross Waking, relating to the body, waking states and nature mysticism; Subtle Dreaming, relating to dreaming states and deity mysticism; Causal Dreamless, relating to deep sleep and void or nothingness mysticism. The majority of guided meditation experiences involve moving from gross waking into Subtle Dreaming states of consciousness which is why we tend to have great visualisations of various natures at this point. Often we are encouraged to aim towards Causal Dreamless states where we focus on creating a void or emptiness in our minds. This is also where the Witness mind resides, where it simply watches the world arise and dissolve with no attachment. This is often considered the highest state of meditation to have pure formlessness and many meditators don't continue to move through the boundary that they don't perceive to be there. We can access these states naturally, through meditation, and accidentally and deliberately, through peak experiences which can be both natural and drug induced. The key being that they are temporary and only through extended practice to we tend to acquire them (in order) in more stable or permanent stages of development. The more we do so the more peaceful the mind will be, the better we deal with life (or so the theory goes).

All of these states have something very important in common, they still express duality. In that you the subject are watching or engaging with an object. So there are still two aspects, subject (you) and object (it). Many meditators get stuck here and don't go beyond this point. And why should they? There is a wealth of benefit for body and mind in having any meditation practice that is done regularly.

But there is more, there is a state beyond all of these where subject and object become one, where the formless and form co-exist in one space; non-duality. This is a concept that sounds like it might be better explained in terms of physics, but really the only way to experience it is subjectively through practice. This is a process that used to take between 5-10 years of regular sitting practice in meditation. That is until Zen Master Genpo Roshi discovered how he could use techniques from western psychology to talk us into that space in just a few hours. No subject and object, just all experienced as one.

Sounds incredible doesn't it, that the results of up to ten years practice could be achieved in just a few short hours and until you've done it you may say 'yer right!'

Well having used Big Mind since 2011 when I was introduced to it by a very excited brother who after having studied meditation and consciousness for over 20yrs, just as I have, was amazed at the results that came from the Big Mind process. It doesn't excuse you from having a regular sitting practice, but once the process has been carried out for the first time, you can re-enter that non-dual state of Big Mind within a minute, you just need someone to show you were the door in your mind is, take you past all the obstacles that sit in the way and show you how that door has always and will always be there.

Going through a process of recognising the voices within, reintegrating the disowned voices and awakening the voices that can take us further. It is amazing when we start to examine what goes on inside our heads how much dysfunction there is taking place. Big Mind helps us to allow these dysfunctional parts of us to have a voice and to recognise that the role they play within us has value. It also helps us to understand how those voices essentially are all aiming for the same thing, but very rarely do they realise it and even more rarely are they working together.

The disowned voices within us can become covert in their behaviours and can end up becoming part of our shadow self (see The shadow self we are repulsed byfor more info) and are taking a lot of our energy and not really helping to achieve our goals. By shifting of our awareness and perspective we can reintegrate these voices, give them a place in connection with all other parts of ourselves and start to move closer to being fully functioning human beings, rather than these fractured, dualistic beings of me/not me.

The process gives us the ability to experience the whole of ourSelves, implying the Big Self or Great Self that is One with all, rather than the little separate self who often feels divided, lost, alone, unworthy or any of the other labels you would like to apply to yourself. By just having a shift in perspective, we can view the world in an entirely different way, making our experience of life totally different.

What is the point of this? In Genpo's own words:

By exploring Big Mind we learn to be fully functioning human beings capable of acting from places of true insight and love. And this is what it’s all about. All the Buddhist practices—sitting, Big Mind, and so on—are skillful means, all for the purpose of building character, consciousness, and awareness so that our functioning is coming from wisdom and compassion. This is really the point. It’s the point of Zen, it’s the point of Buddhism, it’s the point of all the great religious and wisdom traditions I know.If more and more of us are not functioning with wisdom and compassion toward all beings, if we’re not seeing that everything is really oneself or an extension or manifestation of Big Mind, then we fall into fear, jealousy, greed, and hatred, all based on this illusion of separateness. Seeing ourselves as separate and apart from the great earth, from the mountains, rivers and oceans, we tend to abuse one another and the planet itself. So I think it’s critical at this point in time that we wake up and we function with wisdom, compassion, and awareness. Genpo Roshi www.bigmind.org

Centre for Integral Health will be screening Genpo Roshi's Big Mind Experience on Sunday 18th October 2015 and there will be regular repeats of this introduction to the Big Mind process through out the year as we consider it a crucial tool in the development of the self and consciousness. Since Autumn 2014 we have run a monthly exploration class which will take a deeper look at Big Mind/Big Heart and the benefits of developing these practices over time.

For more information check out the Centre's Events Pageto see when future events will be happening or contact us to enquire about booking in to this or future events.