I think it's more than that... it's a kind of "coloring," where a specific character of something would be noticed, and then usually used as identification. What kind of characteristics we notice depends on the sankharas involved.alan... wrote: perception: the six senses.
For example, when we feel drowsy during meditation, the Buddha said to develop the perception of light. When you focus on the "light" with the objects, or is reflecting off them, then the surroundings around you will brighten up quite noticeably.
It's not that the light actually becomes intensified, or is imagined... it's just that the perception changed. Many people seem to take it for granted that their own perceptions are something that would be definitive, when they're actually changeable... most of the time it's beyond their control, if they're not aware of it, or they're not sure how to change it.
consciousness: knowing, the light behind the projector.
I disagree with this metaphor. Consciousness is just a construction out of the sankharas that were involved... it arises only when there is a contact between a sense and its object.
I myself have trouble seeing how the consciousness could be seen as something that never changes...the only thing is i see a consciousness that never changes except when sleeping or dying. however this consciousness has no characteristics that are personal so it is not self. it is no different than a flame, it's certainly an action, but not a personal or permanent one. i have trouble seeing it as constantly changing as it is so impersonal! like a star, it certainly has a beginning and an end, you can't see them for half the day and they twinkle, but for the most part they are always there and yet they are still totally impermanent.
i suppose it goes from very wakeful to sleepy pretty frequently, i just feel like the raw consciousness is almost totally consistent. again though, i in no way am saying it is permanent, just that i have trouble seeing it as a constantly changing thing.
Just as an experiment, try to be conscious of this thread for the rest of day without it slipping from the mind.