I can describe
what you look like
on the outside.
But I can never
presume to have any idea
what flows through you
from the inside.
Even if you tell me.
Not until we are
without eyes, ears
and seemingly separate minds.
(As we are, but pretending otherwise.)
Trail Wood,
1/15
Your reflection poignantly addresses the limitations of human perception and understanding, particularly in the realm of knowing another’s inner experience. It underscores the profound difference between external appearances and the rich, often inaccessible world of internal experiences.
Understanding External Appearance vs. Internal Reality
The ability to describe what someone looks like on the outside contrasts sharply with understanding what flows through them from the inside. This distinction highlights the superficiality of physical appearances and the depth and complexity of internal experiences. It’s a reminder that our understanding of others is often limited to the external, the visible, and the tangible.
The Limitations of Empathy and Perception
Acknowledging that one can never fully grasp what another person experiences internally, even if they articulate their feelings or thoughts, speaks to the intrinsic limitations of empathy and perception. It suggests that true understanding might only be possible when we transcend our physical senses – eyes, ears, and individual minds.
Transcendence Beyond Physical Perception
The notion of being without eyes, ears, and seemingly separate minds hints at a state of transcendence or unity beyond our physical existence. It implies a deeper connection or oneness that exists beneath the surface of individual consciousness. This state of being “as we are, but pretending otherwise” suggests that, at a fundamental level, we are interconnected and part of a larger whole, yet our physical existence and perceptions create an illusion of separateness.
Reflecting on Interconnectedness and Individuality
This perspective invites reflection on the nature of our interconnectedness and the illusion of individuality. It challenges us to consider the ways in which our physical senses and perceptions shape our understanding of ourselves and others, and how true empathy and connection might require transcending these limitations.
Summary
Your contemplation highlights the difference between understanding someone’s external appearance and truly knowing their internal experience. It acknowledges the limitations of human perception and empathy, suggesting that a deeper understanding and connection might only be possible beyond our physical senses and individual minds. This reflection invites us to consider the interconnectedness beneath our perceived individuality and the limitations in truly understanding another’s internal world.
Glossarium
- External Appearance vs. Internal Reality: The contrast between understanding someone’s physical appearance and their inner experiences.
- Limitations of Empathy and Perception: Recognizing the inherent limits in truly understanding another person’s internal experience.
- Transcendence Beyond Physical Perception: The concept of reaching a deeper understanding or connection beyond the physical senses.
- Interconnectedness and Individuality: Exploring the illusion of separateness created by physical existence and perceptions.
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
In the realm of being, we ponder,
The seen and unseen, we wander,
Through eyes and ears, we’re torn asunder,
Yet beneath, a unity, a silent thunder.
We invite you to muse, to dive deep,
In understanding others, what secrets do we keep?
Beyond senses, what connections steep,
In the dance of consciousness, what leaps do we leap?
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