Paper Short Abstract:

This presentation explores spiritual practices that emphasize the importance of the spaces between thoughts, emotions, and sensations for transcending identity. With a focus on self-inquiry and bodily techniques, it employs phenomenology to reflect on the experience of the self beyond conventions.

Paper Abstract:

This presentation explores the practices advocated by various contemporary spiritual teachers who highlight the importance of attending to the "spaces" in between thoughts, emotions, and sensations as a pathway to transcend conceptual identity. I will specifically focus on the diverse self-inquiry and bodily techniques put forth by these spiritual leaders and examine how these techniques manifest in the practices of their followers. Applying a phenomenological approach, I aim to reflect on how, by navigating the spaces "in-between," these techniques provide insights into experiencing the self beyond conventional definitions and into the nature of reality itself. Additionally, I intend to delve into the transformative aspects of these explorations.