The Out-of-Body Phenomena of Consciousness (Part II)

When consciousness detaches from the body, the sensation is like floating above or beside the body, observing it. When consciousness does not detach, the sensation is one of inseparability from the body. These sensations, after all, are merely sensations; whether detached or not, they are unreal. It is essential to thoroughly investigate the teaching in the Śūraṅgama Sūtra regarding the Tathāgatagarbha nature of all phenomena: nothing exists outside the Tathāgatagarbha; everything is within the Tathāgatagarbha. But does the Tathāgatagarbha have an inside or outside? Fundamentally, it does not. So what are these phenomena, or what is their true state? Do they possess inherent substance? These matters are profoundly important, utterly crucial. By fully realizing the truth of these phenomena, the mind becomes utterly empty, penetrating to the very root. Only then can one attain Buddhahood directly; no other path leads directly to Buddhahood.