How to Train a Wild Elephant_ And Other Adventures in Mindfulness - Jan Chozen Bays [23]
The third “eye” is called the wisdom eye. If we could see the molecules that make up our “self,” we would see ourselves as bits of energy zinging around in empty space, surrounded by other temporary clusters of energy in an empty space that has no beginning or end. When we are able to quiet the mind in meditation and then look inward for direct evidence of a “self,” all we can find are bits of sensation, warmth and coolness, pressure, and movement (which is actually a group of sensations that seem to occur in sequence), plus sensations in the mind that we call “thoughts” and sensations in the body that we call “emotions.” When thoughts cease, even briefly, the “glue” that holds this tangle of sensation together dissolves and we can see the self for what it truly is, a mass of sensations floating in empty space.
The fourth “eye” is called the dharma eye. It sees all phenomena, each one unique and precious, emerging from emptiness, existing for a while, and then dissolving again. One who sees through this eye is called a saint or a bodhisattva—one who feels compassion for those who suffer needlessly, and is moved to help them.
The fifth “eye” is the Buddha eye. It combines the views of all other eyes, developed to the highest degree, far beyond our imagination.
When we practice loving eyes, we catch a glimpse through the fourth eye, the eye of the bodhisattva. Seeing with loving eyes is not a one-way experience, nor is it just a visual experience. When we touch something with loving eyes, we bring a certain warmth from our side, but we also may be surprised to feel warmth radiating back to us. We begin to wonder, is everything in the world made of love? And have I been blocking that out?
Final Words: Loving eyes can create a loving universe.
15
Secret Acts of Virtue
The Exercise: Each day for a week, engage in a secret act of virtue or kindness. Do something nice or needed for others, but do so anonymously. These acts can be very simple, like washing someone else’s dishes that were left in the sink, picking up trash on the sidewalk, cleaning the bathroom sink (when it’s not your job), making an anonymous donation, or leaving a chocolate on a coworker’s desk.
REMINDING YOURSELF
Place a notebook on your bedside table and use it to make a plan each night for what your secret act of virtue will be the next day. You could also post little pictures of elves in strategic places in your home or workplace as reminders.
DISCOVERIES
It’s unexpectedly fun to plan and do nice things in secret for others. Once you take on this task in earnest, you begin looking around for new ideas, and the possibilities begin to multiply. “Oh, tomorrow I could have a cup of hot tea waiting on her desk, or I could clean the mud off his running shoes on the porch.” It’s like being a superhero named Secret Virtue, who, in the dark of night, creeps about doing good deeds. There’s the excitement of trying not to get caught, and, as some people admitted, there can also be a bit of disappointment at not being caught or acknowledged. Even more interesting is remaining silent as someone else is thanked for the gift we gave anonymously.
All religions value generosity. The Bible says it is more blessed to give than to receive. There are two forms of charity in Islam, obligatory giving to take care of the poor and orphaned, and voluntary giving, such as endowments or scholarships. Obligatory giving purifies the rest of one’s earnings and is considered a form of prayer or worship. Voluntary giving in secret is said to have seventy times the value of