We are now witnesses. The body is prostrating. At the third stage, others may see you prostrating, but as far as you are concerned, there are no longer thoughts that you are prostrating or that prostrations are occurring. Like learning to ride a horse, at first there is a rider and a horse, separate wills wanting to go their own way. As a result, the ride is bumpy.
Experienced riders feel no separation between themselves and their horses.
The horse responds instantly, so that the ride becomes fluid and uninterrupted. The third level is the stage of formlessness, but it is not no- self yet. When we perfect the third stage, there are no influences whatsoever. We are neither affected by internal nor external conditions. Of course, we must always begin with the first stage.