Seeing an apple

An object, say an apple, lies on the table.  Eyes see it.  Mind focuses on it and joins the eyes to see it.  buddhi (intelligence) too comes forward and segregates the apple from other objects such as flowers, plates etc. on the table and helps the mind and eyes to see the apple. Consciousness totally envelopes the apple for that particular length of time and in association with buddhi, mind and eyes and thus helps in seeing the apple.  Consciousness (Personal), in fact, illumines and shines all – apple, eyes, buddhi, mind, self etc.   

The Supreme Consciousness stands behind all of them—Personal Consciousness, mind, buddhi, eyes, apple and non-apples—all around—and stands as witnessing and making all to exist and be available.  It stands without any interreference – all through that act of perception of the apple, function of all – eyes, buddhi etc. and also non-function of all other senses such as nose, eyes etc. and non-availability of all objects around for those moments of perception through the eyes.

The light that illumines the apple, reflects on the eyes.  Eyes receive the light.  Buddhi makes a decision to perceive the apple or not in relation to eliminating other objects on the table for perception. Mind concentrates on the very function of perception by eyes alone. The fickleness of eyes is steadied and directed only on the apple. 

‘Seeing’ (so also touching, smelling etc.) is a v&tti (action or function) of senses in coordination of mind, buddhi, self etc.  Are the eyes (and mind) moving out of the body (self) and glued to an apple to ‘see’ the apple?  Not so.  Is the mind moving out of self and helping eyes to ‘see’ the apple? Nope.  

However, this (process of perception) is known as ‘v&tti-vy§pti’ (extension or expansion of a sense function or pram§).  It is despite the fact that mind or eyes did not move out to stick to the apple.  But on the other hand, the reflection (image, light) of the apple has ‘fallen’ on the self or consciousness through lens of eyes.  This (so called act of) Consciousness is known as ‘reflected consciousness’— image of an apple falls (reflected) on consciousness through eyes etc. and consciousness takes on to the color, shape, size etc. of the apple for that particular length of time.    

The net result is-- ‘I know (the apple)’.  Therefore, this is known as ‘phala-vy§pti’ – since this perception is the result (phala) of that sense-function.          

The beam of light of the self (cit) shines and illumines an object, just as a sharp beam of light enters a dark room and lights up the room.  This is called ‘cid-§bh§sa’--- (cit, cid) consciousness (individual) shines.