We need to learn to look at or consider people, places or
things as they are: that is, free
from any classification or evaluation or judgment that is habitually a part of
our way of looking at things.
Richard Rohr (The
Naked Now) suggests we practice this by looking at an object—any object at
all. I suggest a knick-knack, or a flower, or a bottle of water, a pencil, a
blade of grass or something small enough that you can comprehend it with a
single glance.
As you look at this object, notice your thoughts about
the object: any evaluations or considerations, questions as to whether or not
it is useful or practical for you. Notice any memories it may bring up, or thoughts
about other things. Notice all of these things and notice that you are the one
who has the thoughts but the thoughts are not you. Don’t over-identify
with the thoughts. Rather allow them to move through you until you are able to
look at the object with a clear unfettered or undistracted vision.
This may take some practice. Don’t forget that our habitual
way of looking at things is tied up with our thought about them. But what you
want to do now is simply take in the visual information without anything else added to it.
In time, the object you select may become a talisman for you. It may be something
that will help you regain your purity of vision so that you can extend that
vision to other things in your immediate world.
This is a first step. More next time.
Please write me or
comment on how your practice goes.Thank you.
No comments:
Post a Comment