Sensory Perception
Almost every organism shares an acute ability to perceive its surroundings through the application of sensory organs. We as the human species, are endowed with an ability which goes beyond the instinctive and sub-conscious perception. And it is this ability which gives us the edge in much of our dealings with the world around us. To reason with the intellect in conjunction with our senses allows us to formulate a very quick response to a given situation. Most higher animals are only beginning to touch on this ability, like the primates.
However, all too often I see our abilities are not given adequate training and development, leaving us operating at half our potential. I mentioned in one of my previous articles how the Shaolin monks (warrior buddhists) trained their body and minds to a very high level of sensory perception which gave them an edge over any threat to their monastery from invading tribes and war parties. Such abilities would have included learning the power of silence – allowing the mind to perceive every sound that moves about in ones immediate environment – whilst walking. The ability to observe – when the mind has been silenced the eyes can be used to their full potential. By gazing out over the landscape or immediate environment, signs of other humans moving through the area can quickly be seen, or the recent movement of animals in the area can be understood, indicating how safe it is to proceed in a given direction.
I see animals as possessing a subconscious/instinctual ability to perceive any movement of intrusion into their space, as though they hold a most basic perception of the intuition (try this exercise: look directly into the eyes of a bird, antelope or deer which has not yet become aware of you, and see how long it takes before it looks in your direction – your gaze has an ability to pierce the space and thoughts of another creature, much like it has an ability to do the same to you). This trick shows at a most basic level our potentials for establishing our sensory perception. And being higher animals, we can really utilise this when walking on safari.
Imagine walking in a group of eight people though lion country in such a way that your whole group can pass by a pride of lion using all the elements to your advantage, plus your newly developed sensory abilities to completely avoid their attentions – to become invisible. I once read a book called ‘Mutant Message Down Under’ about the Aboriginals of Australia and how they have developed their sensory abilities to become so intune with nature that it has allowed them to achieve great success when out hunting or finding water. The Bushmen of Southern Africa very likely achieved a similar level of interaction. With such an ability moving through a given environment the mind can operate and perceive everything as an open book, and act intelligently towards every encounter. You become an intelligent steward of the earth.
In our busy modern lives our senses have been dulled by the bright neons of billboards and advertsing campaigns constantly bombarding our eyes. We walk about not needing to rely on our senses because we have built cities which safe-guard us from all the “creepy crawlies” of the wilderness places. We have lost touch with our higher faculties because today our modern lives have created things which provide all our most basic needs: shelter, food and society. So the senses are ever-steadily receding into a quiet place behind our daily activities.
But come to the wild places or go on safari and see what happens – suddenly the mind changes gear and all the senses come to the fore. A renewal occurs and suddenly you are hearing sounds and smelling smells. The sound of a fire crackling under a starry sky, with the faint warm pulses touching your face – the body feels alive, you feel renewed. You have touched the senses as they should be and remembered the real.
