Dharana 76 of 112 · verse 89

A Sense Obstructed

Block one sense from doing its work and enter the void that opens.

00:00Ready

8 minutes. Anywhere.

Beginner8 min

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Before you try this

Never obstruct breathing, and never block a sense in a situation where you need it for safety.

The practice

Take one sense out of action — close the eyes, block the ears, keep the mouth still and unmoving. Do not substitute anything for it. Attend to the absence where that sense’s stream of information used to be, and enter it.

What it works on

A sense prevented from functioning leaves a specific and locatable emptiness, quite unlike general quiet. The dharana asks you to treat that particular absence as the doorway, and the text says what is beyond duality is found there.

Notes

  • One sense at a time. Removing several produces disorientation rather than clarity.
  • Sight is the easiest to start with and hearing the most striking.

Practise gently

Shoonyaka offers educational and contemplative material, not medical, psychological or religious authority. Nothing here diagnoses or treats any condition. Stop any practice that leaves you dizzy, frightened or unwell, and treat a strong reaction as a reason to rest rather than to push on.