The practice
Look at whatever is going on around you and hold it as a magic show — convincing, skilful, and not what it presents itself as. Not unreal, not dismissed; a display. Keep watching it with that held, and notice what happens to the weight of it.
What it works on
The text says joy arises from this one, and the reason is in the framing. A performance can be fully enjoyed and fully attended to precisely because nothing hangs on it, and that is the change this dharana makes.
Notes
- It works best on situations you are entangled in, and hardly at all on scenery.
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.