In today’s culture, much of one’s time is spent thinking about the narrative they will give their lives, their situations, and the people in them, while spending very little time experiencing and knowing any of it. Social media, for example, is full of people presenting the appearance of experiences and ideas that they aren’t really having or of which they have little or no knowledge. The value of the anticipated reactions from those who follow their posts are more treasured than the actual experiences or knowledge itself. Even our news media has adopted a reporting format of presenting biased information with the corresponding opinions and descriptive arguments that their station owners want to perpetuate.
So how does one manage to see what is (as opposed to what may be described)?
Devote all your senses, your heart, and your mind, to the present experience. Approach everyone and everything as a universe in and of itself to be discovered, observed, and experienced. Without judgement, examine the many layers and complexities of people, situations, art, nature, music, business, politics, religions, etc. Notice how your own internal programs, ideas and life experiences underscore your connection to everyone and everything else. Be willing to see, feel and acknowledge your own reflection as it stares back at you, providing insight, empathy, and understanding.... even when it comes from undesirable sources. Then, in the words of Jiddu Krishnamurti, “So seeing all this - actually, not verbally, not carried away by description, because the description is never the thing that is described - seeing it with your eyes, with your heart, with your mind, with complete attention, you will know what love is. And also you will know what death is, and what living is. You are the world”.
