Piercing the Veil: Perspective and Examination

Often, there are those who profess to be “more spiritual” and in tune with the unseen as opposed to those who are more commonly referred to as shallow and materialistic.  I mention this as many who declare themselves to be on the “spiritual path”, or any other specialized interest for that matter, use terms specific to their area of study.  One of these terms heard very early on is “piercing the veil”; it’s also known as “rending the veil” in some areas.

I enjoy the imagery as it conjures up the idea that decisive action is necessary, and it involves some sort of struggle.  I’ve never deeply discussed with anyone, or had them adequately explain, what exactly “the veil” is when further questioned.  Sure, I’ve received the standard, “The veil of reality or material existence!  What else would it be?” or some variation.  And that’s fine, but it’s a circular response as no definitions are provided.  Which is why I imagine, when pressed further, that the attempt at deep discussion is quickly avoided.   

Again, what is reality and why is it a veil that must be pierced or destroyed in order for us to be directly conscious and intimately aware of the spiritual?

I’ll answer with a passage from Alexandra David-Neel’s book, The Magic and Mystery in Tibet.

“A flag moves. What is it that moves?-- The flag or the wind?”
The answer is that neither the flag nor wind moves.  It is the mind that moves.

Your perception of All This Is determines what you will experience.  You must change how your mind works in order to change your perception.  You’ve been conditioned by others, your relationships and associations since pre-birth to perceive the Universe in a particular way by those around you, a universe of accepted and pre-defined symbols.  

The veil is conditioning which has restricted your ability to perceive reality and only allowed you to be aware of it in a very narrow way.  The struggle required for piercing or rending is the taking possession of your mind from others-- increasing your awareness and reorganizing your relationships and associations with the symbols you currently perceive that have been embedded into you during your entire life.  

Change your perspective and you discover more of the Universe.

The following is attributed directly to Siddhartha Guatama, the Buddha:

“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”

Observation and analysis, or examination, is the first step toward changing perspective and increasing awareness of what is perceived and how.