Seeing is Being

      The instant our eyes met, it was as if I became a solid human being.  Then when he smiled and returned my quiet “hello,” it was as if I came to life.  The person seeing me, as I was seeing him, is a world famous and widely revered spiritual teacher.  In our 5 second or so interaction, it felt like I had become a substantial being in a most elemental way (ironic given that I’m an earth sign Taurus, and bulls just don’t strike me as being too insubstantial).

     Joking aside though, in the moments leading up to our encounter, I had no idea that I felt non-substantive or even invisible really.   So what did this meeting of eyes and a simple greeting do, to make me feel like I had become; like I was being.  What happened in that flash of a moment? 

     Perhaps I could illustrate the feeling of the experience this way.  Imagine a blow-up clear plastic balloon shaped as a person.  The act of his just ‘seeing’ me felt like earth or sand was being filled into this balloon being.  And suddenly I was becoming visible; I was actually being seen.  His greeting was the acknowledgement of my aliveness --both of the life coursing through me and of my right to be on this earth.  

     On my daily walks around the neighbourhood, I see many people who are also enjoying the day by walking.  Very few people however, will choose to look up from their musings, cell phone or Ipod.  For those who do, I will usually smile and say hello to them.  The other day, I saw a heavily pregnant woman walking on the other side of the street.  It was a blisteringly hot day.  And she appeared hot and exhausted from bearing the weight of her hugely distended belly.  She was frowning and seemed determined to exercise.  As we passed each other, from across the street I waved to her. 

     Realising that I was greeting her, she transformed before my eyes.  She immediately became animated.  Virtually half of her face became a huge grin, her eyes lit up, her body movements became freer and less burdened, and the energy she exuded suddenly became lighter and more joyful.  There is something in our ability to connect with each other in this fundamental way that is deeply meaningful to us as human beings. 

     Our ability to be fully present in the moment, and to be deeply connected to the person with whom we are sharing that moment, is how we remind ourselves of the fact that we are living beings.   When we are acknowledged, when we are seen and not just looked at, then our sense of worthiness and dignity is awakened.  Our essential nature is being recognized.  And our basic nature is goodness.

     Learning to acknowledge our own basic goodness and worthiness to be alive, aside from our failures and accomplishments is admittedly challenging, but it is the foundation for creating a society and world where people can live in harmony with each other in spite of differences. 

     We do this first by learning to be with ourselves and to be in the moment without judgment.  We then practise growing our acceptance of self as we are and not as we’d like to be.  From this place of calm inner acceptance, we become better able to be fully present to ourselves and those around us.