Through a child's eyes.

Published on March 6, 2005 By dharmagrl In Philosophy

'How on earth did I get so jaded
Life's mysteries seem to faded'

So says Soul Asylum...and so say I.

A big part of Buddhism is the 'beginner's mind'. We are advised that in order to reach enlightenment, we should try to look at things with the eyes of child, of one who is experiencing whatever we are experiencing for the very first time.

It's hard. It's one of the hardest things for me to do (along with finding compassion for child molestors).

Somehow along the way I got jaded. Really jaded. It's left me with a presumption that gets in the way of being 'real', a presumption that tells me I know how things are, how they're going to be. It hinders me, and I know it...but dropping that jaded veil and seeing things with child-like vision is difficult. When I do manage to accomplish such a feat, I am looked down upon, told I'm a 'big baby' and generally misunderstood.

When I do manage to breakdown the barriers of my presumptions, I like being child-like. I truly enjoy getting excited about things....I like that sometimes small things make me happy.

Like this evening. There was a nightingale singing in the tree in my front yard. To see and hear it, right at sunset as the day died in a firey haze...it was perfectly beautiful. I got so excited I called my family to come see...and no-one was as excited about it as I. My kids said that it was just a nightingale, that it was no big deal, my husband said he'd seen one before....and I was sad that no-one had enjoyed it and a little ashamed that I had gotten so worked up about it.

But it was simply beautiful....and I stood and enjoyed its company for a while until a car came by and it flew off.

Oh, that I could see everything that way.....

Comments

Danny Bassette

on Mar 06, 2005

Is good you found enjoyment in nature, is a shame people can't find joy in the small things more often.

dynamaso

on Mar 06, 2005

Ah, you already know what I think about this. I'm a big fan of indulging the child in me and, as you rightly point out, often it is the simple, small things that invigorate me the most. I find it sad that some people allow themselves to become so cynical and jaded, the simple beauty of a bird singing in a tree is lost on them. T and I marvel at such beauty constantly.

AngelaMarie88

on Mar 06, 2005

Yes Dharma! I was just thinking the same thing yesterday. Indoors there's always the hum of something, be it the computer, clocks ticking, whatever. And then whenever I leave my apartment to go to my car, I usually just head straight for the car, jump in, start it and go.

But over the last couple of days I've been captivated to the point of standing still as I emerged from the building. Stepping outside into the fresh, undisturbed snow...I noticed how...simply quiet and still the world really is. And then I looked up at the bright, clear stars, which added all the more to the soul-quenching bliss of nature. Ahhh. I've done that with my baby in my arms too. On the way to the car we simply stop and enjoy the world for a moment. I can see in his expression that he feels the wonder too. Of course he does. It's the grown-ups who usually miss the wonder.

We like to go sledding and play at the park too. But it's something else to just be still for a moment, when all the world seems still too, and just enjoy it. That's child-like.

JillUser

on Mar 07, 2005

Never ever feel ashamed about being excited about something! If anything, you should feel sorry for those who didn't enjoy it. I rarely went anywhere as a child so I get totally geeked about traveling. On the flip side, my hubby traveled a lot growing up so he is a bit jaded about travel. We are going to Disney soon and I think I am more excited than the kids!

Being able to enjoy the simple things is the biggest gift a person can have in my book. You don't have to be irresponsible and "childish" to enjoy "child-like" things. I'm a responsible adult but I still like to play with play-doh I like the smell when it rains, imagining shapes in clouds, playing in the sand, all things that anyone can do and enjoy if they let themselves.

I have always liked the saying that "growing older is uncontrollable but growing up is optional".

dynamaso

on Mar 07, 2005

growing older is uncontrollable but growing up is optional

What a wonderful quote and an excellent way to view life.

dharmagrl

on Mar 08, 2005

I'm a big fan of indulging the child in me and, as you rightly point out, often it is the simple, small things that invigorate me the most

Yes, it is.....

was just thinking the same thing yesterday. Indoors there's always the hum of something, be it the computer, clocks ticking, whatever. And then whenever I leave my apartment to go to my car, I usually just head straight for the car, jump in, start it and go.

Silence is wonderful, especially when we're surrounded by noise....

You don't have to be irresponsible and "childish" to enjoy "child-like" things. I'm a responsible adult but I still like to play with play-doh

This is the lesson I'm trying to teach myself. I'm trying to tell myself that I can indulge my inner child and still be an adult. Like halloween, for example - I like to dress up and I get stoked about the costumes and make up and stuff. My husband thinks I'm insane, but my kids think I'm the coolest mom in the world for doing it. Last year, when we went to the pool every day together, I took delight in going down the water slide with them and holding hands and cannonballing into the water with them...the other moms looked at me funny, but the kids all loved it.

growing older is uncontrollable but growing up is optional

What a wonderful quote and an excellent way to view life.

It is, it's brilliant.....that one's going in my journal too!

dynamaso

on Mar 08, 2005

I'm trying to tell myself that I can indulge my inner child and still be an adult.

There is a balance that can be achieved with this. The naysayers will always 'look at you funny' but they're the ones missing out because they won't allow themselves the luxury of letting go or caving in to 'childish' enthusiasm. I believe, in both the short and long term, they are the losers.

island_gurl12

on Mar 08, 2005

Everytime we go to the beach we pass a plantation, a bridge, and a luxuriant forest. And while Darren drives i fill my eyes with the scenery. We get to the beach and i cant get enough of the differents shades of blue displayed in front of me.

There is so much beauty around me i cant believe no one else seems to see it. I never get used to it, i take pictures everytime

Zoologist03

on Mar 08, 2005

That is very interesting...and I believe you may have just given me an idea for a poem...hmm, we'll see how that turns out. I can agree that looking at things you've already seen in the way a child discovers it is very difficult, indeed. Actually I think I'll try to do that a bit...

Nice article,
~Zoo

Hazylunarrain

on Mar 18, 2005

Yeah... The simple things... I sometimes find myself looking out the window just too see whats outside. Life is a beautiful thing and it should be enjoyed much more than it is. After all there is nothing peaceful about rushing from the bed to the car to work. It only really takes a few seconds... Look around. Stop and breath. Actually SEE the things around you. It's hard to enjoy what life REALLY is when so much has to be done to stay "alive".

voodoostation

on Mar 18, 2005

You rarely find joy or fulfillment in the big things. It takes the little things that other people often overlook in order to find that little spark that tells you you're fortunate in that moment for being there. I am still awed by the creations and creatures in nature.

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