An Introspective Look Outward

Reach out. Look at your hand. Look at the world beyond. Now look down at your body, your legs, your feet. Now, without using a mirror, try to look at your face. Without having it reflected in some way, you cannot see it. Even when you do see it, in a mirror or photograph, it is just a representation. You have never seen your face, and you never will.

Like a sword that cuts, but cannot cut itself;
Like an eye that sees, but cannot see itself. *

Your true “face” is the outward which is reflected back to you in the form of sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. Looking outward, we see the Self. Looking inward — in terms of thoughts, beliefs, tenets, ideas, concepts, etc. — we see the ego-self.

When we are self-conscious (i.e., ego-conscious), we are aware of this identity we have created playing its part in the drama of life. We can actually picture the ego-face as we interact with others and with whatever situation is unfolding. That image disappears however when we are enraptured by a present moment activity that “absorbs” us completely.

But we also have another way of looking inward; of sensing our being: becoming aware of the Source from which our being and the being of all others arises. This introspection is not concerned with the outward problems of the world. This is a search of Self-discovery.

The irony here is that we cannot find the Self by seeking. What we seek is here and now. It is this moment; whole and complete. Once an attempt — via a thought process — is made, the moment is lost. Therefore, that which is sought is best left unsought and allowed to arise on its own.

You cannot get it by taking thought;
You cannot seek it by not taking thought.*

This is not to dismiss activities such as self-enquiry, meditation, and silent introspection. Many would advocate these as ways to dissolve the illusory dualistic line between the inner self and the outer world. Perhaps. But only in the sense that an illusion can be dispelled by knowledge; by a deep understanding that manifests itself. The illusions of ego and a world separate from “you” cannot be tossed aside or made to disappear by some “technique” or action of the ego-self. Any such attempts are sure to lead to frustration and failure.

Whether we are looking “out” or looking “in”, the activity of that moment is contained in one effortless action — being.

To see the True Face, we need only see. To hear the voice of God, we need just listen.



* from the Zenrin Kushu