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Practicing
Observation during Everyday Life
Uma Silbey |
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This
practice of observation is perfect for a busy lifestyle because
there is no end to what can be observed. When you are
outside, observe nature. See how the wind turns the leaves
as it rustles through the trees. Notice the delicate balance
and interdependencies of all animals, plants, people, the earth
and sky, seeing how the altering of one part affects the
rest. If you're doing dishes, observe the food leaving the
plates, feel the soapy water on your hands, be aware of the
feeling of the dishrag and the action of scrubbing on the
plates. If you are getting a cup of tea or cooking a meal,
observe every detail of each action, every smell and taste
sensation from beginning to end.
Observe every
detail of each object involved. The old familiar teapot, for
example, looks different every time you view it. The light
reflects differently off its surface every time that you hold
it. The beads of moisture dripping down its sides form
different patterns as they flow downward. The tea leaves at
the bottom of the pot form different patterns every time.
The rest of your
life holds so much more when you start to observe. With
observation, even the most mundane things in life become
meaningful and interesting. Your entire viewpoint
shifts. Life becomes your ally rather than your enemy,
because each happening in it, however threatening or
insignificant, becomes an opportunity to gain wisdom. Life
becomes a journey of discovery rather than something that must be
endured or conquered. The practice of observing helps us to
let go of fear and insecurity, to relax, and to embrace every part
of our lives.
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Observe and see
how much of your world is determined by your own thoughts and
feelings. Have you noticed how ugly the world seems, for
example, when you're in a bad mood? Similarly, have you
noticed how wonderful the world seems when you're "in
love"? With observation you will ultimately see that
your thoughts and feelings create "realities" in the
world, and even of yourself, which are really just
illusions. What's more, with this revelation we see that we
can have a choice about how we experience our lives.
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Uma
shares six practices that can transform a modern
life--filled with work, family, responsibility, impossible
schedules and little personal space or time--into a path of
inner peace and personal growth. |
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