Pratyaksha means BEING

Sri Ramana Maharshi

• You speak of a vision of Lord Siva. Vision is always of an object. That implies the existence of a subject. The value of the vision is the same that of the seer. That is to say, the nature of the vision is on the same plane as that of the seer. Appearance implies disappearance also. Whatever appears must also disappear. A vision can never be eternal. But Lord Siva is eternal.
• The vision implies the seer. The seer cannot deny the existence of the Self. There is no moment when the Self as Consciousness does not exist; nor can the seer remain apart from Consciousness. This Consciousness is the eternal Being and the only Being. The seer cannot see himself. Does he deny his existence because he cannot see himself with the eyes as pratyaksha (in vision)? NO. So, pratyaksha does not mean seeing but BE-ing.
• What is meditation? It consists in expulsion of thoughts. All the present troubles are due to thoughts and are themselves thoughts. Give up thoughts. That is happiness and also meditation. The thoughts are for the thinker. Remain as the Self of the thinker and there is an end of thoughts.

From Thus Spake Ramana