# ANCIENT CULTURES and PANORAMIC SENSING

Some ancient cultures recognised the possibility of using the senses in their panoramic capacity. I feel there must be many more examples of this, please contact me if you know any.

I imagine many of these traditional practices originated from observing animals, but none i have found suggest this, or give any information about it.

Animals are the living example and proof of its fundamental value for survival. They are there for everyone to learn from directly, all the time.

It is often taught as focusing on the present moment, or as predatory animals use it, combined with focusing on specific intentions. I don't know how often this is a new-age influence.

## Dadirri

Among the Australian aborigines it is called Dadirri : "Simply sit and look at and listen to the earth and environment that surrounds you."

However in the explanations i have read, there is always an emphasis on focusing. "Focus on something specific, such as a bird, a blade of grass, a clump of soil, cracked earth, a flower, bush or leaf, a cloud in the sky or a body of water, whatever you can see."

I believe this 'focusing on specific things' is a modern development.
Source: Deep Listening (dadirri)

## Buddha's Middle Way

Panoramic sensing is a perfect practical example of Buddha's Middle Way.

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Tao Taoism started in China around 600 BCE. It teaches harmony with nature rather than supreme enlightenment.
and Zen

Taoists must have practised panoramic sensing to learn martial arts, but it seems they had no words to differentiate between panoramic and focused sensing.

Advanced martial arts combine focused and panoramic perception as used by predatory animals – i don't know if martial arts cultivate pure panoramic perception.

Pure panoramic awareness must be the original idea behind the Taoist and Zen practice of "Staring at Walls". Try it out. Looking at a blank boring wall is ideal as a bridge to panoramic seeing.

The Chinese and Zen idea of "seeing without looking – hearing without listening" expresses it wonderfully. (I think this quote comes from Bodhidharma – but from where?).

In Taoist and Zen literature, i believe it is meant by the term 'just sensing'.

However "seeing without looking – hearing without listening" and 'just sensing' are always interpreted as a shift in psychological perspective to higher states of consciousness; they are never associated with how animals use their everyday senses.

Once you've experienced panoramic sensing, i think you'll agree that 'just sensing' and "seeing without looking – hearing without listening" are very good descriptions of panoramic awareness.

## Hakalau

On Hawii it is called Hakalau. Please see Hakalau.

## Wide Angle Vision

The North American Indians called it wide angle vision.

Many YouTube videos appear to be made by people who have only done it a few times. It is easy to do and get inspired by.

See also : Modern Psychology and Peripheral Vision

Jesuit
Praxis des Herzensgebets
Andreas Ebert, Peter Musto, Claudius Verlag, Munchen 2013
This book appears to be only available in German. Based on the meditation methods of Franz Jalicz. It uses panoramic awareness to open the mind and then alternates this with focused meditations on the marks of the crucifix, the name "Maria", and other mystical practices. It is claimed these practices were used by 'the desert fathers', the early Christians. I imagine the desert fathers used panoramic awareness without the mysticism, i may be incorrect.

Back to Chapter One : The Animal Teachings
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