The rational part of the mind processes the perception of an object or event through logic and mathematics: that's how experience is formed. Let's do a simple experiment. You observe for a few moments a plant in your room or one that is outside the window, and then close your eyes. Inside yourself you observe many thoughts, like how big the plant is, what colour it is, and so on. The mind's elaboration creates a gap between perception and experience.

The question arises: is it possible to experience the plant directly as perceived by the senses without the mind elaborating on it? Direct experience requires us to become aware of all thoughts, emotions and images that are associated with the object or situation that we experience. Humans have the capacity to watch how the mind elaborates perception. One can close one's eyes and watch the stream of thoughts in one's inner space whenever one likes. Thoughts are coming and going, inner space remains there, unchanged. By watching thoughts you become aware that you are not thoughts, you are space itself. You discover consciousness, you become self-conscious.

Watching the mind is the function of consciousness ^{[ Note 1 ]}.Watching is an individual research method practiced by Buddhists for the last twenty-six centuries. It gives the possibility of the conscious experience of reality and ourselves. With the expansion of Buddhism all over the world it is also becoming known in western culture.

By practising watching, consciousness is activated and awoken; one can experience a plant consciously without the elaboration of the mind. Rational experience is indirect and happens through the mind, conscious experience is direct and happens through the consciousness.

One can imagine consciousness as his/her inner space. According to the Buddhist tradition the inner space in which streams of thoughts run and outer space in which material changes run are undivided.

Allan Wallace says: The distinction between external and internal is an illusion; internal and external space are ultimately non-dual. This is the absolute space of phenomena. In Buddhist literature, this is the Great perfection out of which the entire universe originates ^{[ Note 2 ]}.

We are living in the space and the space is inside of us. In cosmology the space is mostly described using Euclidian and Riemann geometry. Our image of universal space depends on which geometry we use to describe it; for the human mind however its real nature remains unknown.

Euclidian geometry is based on the theory of numbers. Regarding the theory of numbers natural and real numbers are both infinite and at the same time real numbers are more than natural ones. Real numbers are composed of algebraic and transcendental numbers, with natural numbers we can numerate only algebraic numbers. Logicians confirm that there is no contradiction if we say that the infinity of natural numbers is smaller of real numbers and also if we say that they are equal ^{[ Note 3 ]}.

By numerating each mille of a straight line with natural numbers we will get an infinite distance and by numbering a parallel line with real numbers we will also get an infinite distance. If we say that the infinite distance made out of natural numbers is shorter than one made out of real numbers there is no contradiction, if we say that they are equal there is also no contradiction. So an infinite distance does not mean a real existing and measurable distance; infinite distance + 100 miles = infinite distance. That's why the application of an infinite distance in cosmology creates difficulties. In the universe we can observe and measure only finite distances between objects. When we imagine that universal space might be infinite as is Euclid space we do not know exactly what this means.

With the application of Riemann's geometry in cosmology the image of infinite three-dimensional cosmic space changes into the image of finite spherical four-dimensional space. The finite round space one can imagine only in the infinite Euclid space. By choosing spherical finite geometry as a model for cosmic space the question arises: what is beyond the borders of the universe, there must be some bigger space within which the finite universe lies?!

The scientific experience of universal space is limited by geometrical models through which one experiences it. Having conscious experience one becomes aware that cosmic space is not three or four-dimensional, not infinite or finite. It is empty and formless, its real nature is beyond rational description. This empty formless space in Buddhism is called true vacuum or Primordial Awareness.

The Buddhist contemplative science, in parallel to Western physical science, describes two types of vacuums: (1) The false vacuum, or bhavanga, is the relative ground of becoming, out of which each individual mind stream emanates; and (2) the true vacuum, or Primordial Awareness, the absolute state of phenomena out of which space and time, mind and matter, everything in the universe, emerge ^{[ Note 4 ]}.

Watching the mind is the science of the true vacuum, of consciousness. Practicing it regularly one becomes aware of the inner space and it being undivided with the outer space. One reaches the direct experience of the universe and him/her self. This experience reaches beyond the mind and time into the eternal quality of existence.

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