How to See

by Nhat

Every success contains some difficulties, and every failure contributes to increased wisdom or future success. Every event is both fortunate and unfortunate. Fortunate and unfortunate, good and bad, these concepts exist only in our perceptions.

The whole cosmos has come together to produce the wonder we call a rose. A rose cannot be by herself alone. A rose has to inter-be with the whole cosmos. This is the insight we call interbeing.

All phenomena are objects of mind, they’re not objective realities. When we perceive something, that thing is the object of our consciousness. There needs to be both a perceiver and an object of mind for a perception to be obtained. The world is just an object of mind.

Usually we think that there’s a subjective consciousness inside us that’s reaching out to the world of reality outside. But this is a wrong view. We have to see that both subject and object of perception rely on each other and manifest at the same time.

When we believe something to be the absolute truth, we cannot be open to new ideas. Even if the truth comes knocking at our door, we will not let it in. We need to remain open so that truth has a chance to enter.

A name is merely a conventional designation, it’s not the reality in itself. We must train ourselves to look at each other beyond labels to see each other’s true nature.

We paint the new information with the old colors we already have inside us. This is why most of the time we don’t have direct access to reality, to things as they are.

We know that having a crush on someone is not the same as really loving that person. First we create an image, and then we fall in love with that image. The object of our love is not the thing in itself. It’s merely a mental construct, a representation of reality, but not reality itself.

We distinguish between blossoms, leaves, and the tree that is the basis of their existence; but in reality, they are one.

you look with the eyes of compassion, you will see all your ancestors within you, with all their strengths and weaknesses, and you will treat your body and consciousness with respect. But as long as you’re caught in the idea that this body is you, this mind is you, you underestimate and undervalue yourself.

With the practice of good communication, loving speech, and deep listening, we can help each other remove wrong perceptions so that people are no longer afraid and angry. This is what we can do to stop wars, prevent terrorism, end violence, and make peace.