There's a sense of emptiness, yet it also feels like something is present. This intermediate state, which I call "emptiness," might be considered a kind of subconsciousness, a realm between ordinary consciousness (which I am aware of) and the unconscious. I've borrowed this term from psychology, but I'm searching for a better way to express it.

Normally, meditation involves focusing on the space between the eyebrows. However, to connect with the Sahasrara chakra, it's better to align your consciousness with it. Here, "consciousness" refers to ordinary, conscious awareness, the "positive" and "external" aspect of consciousness, which is then directed towards the Sahasrara. Beyond the Sahasrara, one can only vaguely sense something, like a thin, taut connection, or a connection that is somewhat thick. However, this "sense" is, from the perspective of ordinary consciousness, a feeling of knowing that something is there.

From the perspective of "emptiness," there's an aura extending beyond the Sahasrara, which is different from ordinary consciousness, yet there's some degree of connection. However, there's an aspect of this "emptiness" that cannot be considered a "positive" or "external" aspect, and it extends upwards from the Sahasrara. This "emptiness" is also present in the body, and it's most clearly felt from the area above the back of the head. This "emptiness" extends from the back of the head to the Sahasrara.

Sometimes, even during meditation, the aura doesn't extend upwards from the Sahasrara. In such cases, the basic approach is to direct ordinary consciousness towards the Sahasrara. However, this ordinary consciousness itself doesn't extend beyond the Sahasrara. Nevertheless, it has the effect of opening the Sahasrara, physically relaxing the head, and preparing the aura of "emptiness" to rise above the Sahasrara.

After aligning consciousness with the Sahasrara and making the necessary preparations, the focus of consciousness is shifted to the space between the eyebrows, the lower abdomen, or even to areas of the body where the aura is still weak (in my case, the right arm), in order to fill those areas with aura. This has the effect of equalizing the aura throughout the body. However, when the lower body is filled, the conscious awareness is directed away from the head.

This state may resemble what Professor Honzan Hiroshi describes as "shijōjōhei" (lower fullness, upper flatness). The lower part of the body is filled, while the head and other areas have a clear balance of conscious awareness. Professor Honzan uses the term "hei" (flatness) for the upper part, and while he doesn't use the word "emptiness" (which he uses in a different context to mean a lack of balance), his description is accurate. The lower part is full, and the upper part is flat. However, unexpectedly, an aura extends beyond the conscious awareness, from the back of the head to the Sahasrara. This is the state of "emptiness," but not in the sense that Professor Honzan uses the term. It's an aura that exists beyond consciousness, something that is present yet absent, extending from the back of the head to the Sahasrara.

"Shijōjōhei" means that the lower part is full and the upper part is flat, and neither the upper nor the lower part should be empty. However, in my experience, an aura of "emptiness" extends from the back of the head to the Sahasrara, beyond the conscious awareness.

If the aura of "emptiness" is particularly concentrated in the back of the head, and the aura has not yet extended beyond the Sahasrara, then this aura of "emptiness" will naturally extend towards the Sahasrara (without the intervention of conscious awareness). If it's a thin connection, it will be perceived as a taut, antenna-like state (from the perspective of conscious awareness). On the other hand, if the connection is already somewhat open and further filled with the aura of "emptiness," it will be perceived as a thick connection (to conscious awareness).

While conscious awareness perceives it, the actual extension beyond the Sahasrara is the aura of "emptiness."

This aura of "emptiness," although it is called "emptiness," has a tangible presence, a feeling of "sensing," and also a function of "acting" on things, even if it's subtle. It's not just an aura, but has an aspect of "consciousness" itself.

I also think that the aura of "emptiness" is more connected than it is conscious. However, from the perspective of conscious awareness, it's difficult to distinguish between whether it's connected or whether the aura of "emptiness" itself is thinking. It feels like a larger consciousness is emerging from the "emptiness," or that it's connected to something.

There is a "void aura" that extends above the Sahasrara chakra, and it is difficult to distinguish whether it is connected or whether it itself is thinking; it possesses such properties.

If the "void aura" extends above the Sahasrara chakra, then even if one diligently tries to reach above the Sahasrara chakra with their conscious mind, it is not enough. To a certain extent, one can prepare the normal, positive aura up to the Sahasrara chakra, but once a certain level of preparation is complete, the conscious mind should step aside a little, and the "void aura" will naturally extend and connect above the Sahasrara chakra.

Whether this is an appropriate analogy or not, it is similar to the roles of men and women. After the male aspect has made some progress through conventional methods, when it reaches a stage where a direct approach is difficult, the female aspect, which represents the "void," easily overcomes and resolves the next stage. It is difficult for men to achieve this on their own, and conversely, it is possible for women only when there is a man who prepares the ground for them. This can also be seen as a division of roles between the positive and the "void," and it seems that above the Sahasrara chakra, it is not through conventional methods, but by allowing the conscious mind to step aside so that the "void aura" naturally rises.