There is really nothing like being seen. When it happens, small things that bothered you yesterday are of little concern today, our hearts more freely open to others, our generosity increases, our need to be “right” eases. We see ourself in proper relation to the universe. The gift. Its great while it lasts.
When one feels seen, recognized, it is not simply a matter of being seen through the eyes of another. It also means being heard with eyes, hearing the sounds of mountains and waters, and understanding thet nature of reality and our place in that reality. In my small self world there is my small self reality and in my big mind world there is another way of engaging reality. Suchness refers to engaging reality with big mind. And though you might be so excited about this that you say, “I’m engaging big mind reality,” a word of caution. When you’ve had the thought and uttered the words, you messed the whole thing up. A blob of ketchup on your white shirt.
Its complicated. In words, on paper, its hard to describe. Dongshan used the word suchness. Donghan, three centuries prior to Dogen, mapped out suchness (in the Jewel Mirror Samadhi) as a blueprint for engaging with reality.
Suchness is fueled by meditation. Going for perfect recognition 24/7 you say? I am not sure this is possible. In fact, my own experience and training would suggest this is not possible…. We often rely on others to give us that big mind, the practice is retrieve, at least sometimes, that big mind for ourselves. Works for as long as it lasts. Meditation—breath to and from the center—the hara, is key. This is not exactly the same high as the “being seen” that I opened with. In fact it is often not much of a high at all.
Isn’t that a mighty fine bird? I thought so.
