You Are Not Book.indb - Stephen H. Wolinsky Ph. D.

Beyond the Blankness / 141
Wolinsky: Now as “you” look at this consciousness and the
blankness in the middle of it, it appears that,
whatever craziness comes up, it appears in the
blank space. If the screen (concept of blankness)
and the one that’s aware of this whole thing were
all made of the same consciousness, then . . . ?
Note:
This is mentioned quite frequently in The Tibetan
Book of the Dead. At death, most people will not “see”
blank-nothingness; rather images of pain or pleasure
will appear on the blank screen. If, “one” can apperceive
that whatever appears on the screen, and the “awarer”
of it, is made of the same consciousness, then Nirvana
(extinction) is assured. (See the section on Realizing
Death).
Student: Nothingness_______.
Wolinsky: So it has gotten even bigger, now this consciousness,
which is appearing as blankness, or can
appear (become) as craziness, or just remains as
a void, or become whatever it appears as. How
has this consciousness deceived itself?
Note:
It is important to “understand” that the VOID, or
whatever appears, or whatever the VOID becomes, is
still only consciousness. This is critical and is clearly
emphasized when the H. H. Dalai Lama said, “The
mind is devoid of mind.” Why? Because the mind is
made of VOID, and ultimately the same consciousness,
hence NO-MIND.
Student: By making it believe that all the craziness I have
is here.