The Point That Doesn't Exist
An experiment in headlessness by S. Nevins
Recently, a friend was sharing some of Douglas Harding’s experiments in headlessness. In one classic experiment, he had us point to a wall, then the floor, our feet, knees, stomach, chest, then point to the space out of which we were looking. If you are honest about what you see when you point at the place where you assume there is a head, you may be surprised by the change in perspective.
After the experiment, I somewhat absentmindedly pointed to the wall again, then -- skipping the intervening steps -- rotated my finger 180 degrees. I was immediately struck by the evidence presented by this simple movement: where was the point at which the first-person view (awareness) ended and “the other” or “the wall” began?
This experiment works best for those who have already experienced some of Harding’s experiments. Here it is in detail:
1. Point at a wall or any other object. Notice that the object seems to be “out there,” a thing apart from you.
2. Next, slowly rotate your finger 180 degrees till you are pointing at that space from which you look out. That feature-less, all-encompassing space. Who you are at center, as Douglas would say.
3. Finally, slowly rotate your finger back toward the wall. Watch very carefully and try to locate the point at which the “other” begins. Try to find the point at which you are no longer pointing at awareness, but are instead pointing at something else. Is it when you are not pointing at the “center” of your center? Is it when you point ten degrees off of dead center? twenty degrees? twenty-seven degrees?
Is there “the other” or does the first-person awareness extend outward and encompass all things? Try as you might, can you ever find where “you” ends and “other” begins? Isn’t pointing outward the same experience as pointing in?
Here is an extension to this experiment provided by a reader:
I followed your link to your discussion of Douglas Harding about pointing at the wall and then at-- well, at what? I liked your suggestion to gradually move the finger that is pointing at your own face and see where it changes from pointing at "me" to pointing at "other." When I was pointing the finger at my face, it was as if, in order for this to make sense, my consciousness had to re-locate to my finger so that my face could become "other."
Then I did something weird... and I'd like to add this mind-blowing suggestion to this sequence: while pointing at your own face, get a real sense of being the finger pointing at that which seems to be "you." Then with your other hand, point at the wall. You now have one hand pointing at your face and one hand pointing at the wall. Where in this are you? Is your awareness now located in your two hands?
Regards,
Sasha