SEEING WITH A CLEARED MIND
How well do you see what’s before you?
Psychologists, scientists, artists and other trained persons will attest to the facts that perception is selective and that we’re rarely objective. Yet, despite their professional experience and greater insight into the process of seeing, even they’re often ruled by personal biases, just like the rest of us.
Perceiving objectively usually takes a special effort of will to put all biases aside. Until we can do that, we’ll continue to see reality in a limited and tainted way. I say usually because occasionally, when we’re off guard and relaxed, we spontaneously see objectively.
This may happen on vacation, as when lying on a beach lazily staring at clouds, stars or sea. Or, when walking in a wooded area or countryside we’ve never been to before. Suddenly, we may see with fresh eyes and experience a sense of awe. Yet this same clear vision is available to us at any time, even in our most familiar surroundings. But it takes an act of will to drop all automatic biased reactions to simply see what’s there. To develop this ability, practice ‘NO MIND’ CONTEMPLATION.
Try this: take a familiar object (like an old shoe) and with a blank mind, just stare at it for a few minutes. See if you can drop your idea of it and just see the specific shapes, forms, colors, textures and details that actually make up its unique physical existence.
After doing this you may find that the familiar object has much more to it than you’ve previously realized. It may even seem strangely new and fascinating to you. But all that’s happened is that you’ve expanded your perception by seeing with a CLEARED MIND.
Now practice this way of seeing all that’s around you.
Goodness and joy to all, Joseph.
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