Comments on: Seeing the Symbolic http://kentonwhitman.com/2006/10/29/seeing-the-symbolic/ Zen-Inspired Self Development Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:45:23 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: freemonk http://kentonwhitman.com/2006/10/29/seeing-the-symbolic/comment-page-1/#comment-45647 freemonk Wed, 27 May 2009 23:55:14 +0000 http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2006/10/29/seeing-the-symbolic/#comment-45647 Thank you Kenton!, and thank you Magnus! Yes, please, Magnus, let us know the name of that book? Thank you Kenton!, and thank you Magnus!

Yes, please, Magnus, let us know the name of that book?

]]> By: Kenton Whitman http://kentonwhitman.com/2006/10/29/seeing-the-symbolic/comment-page-1/#comment-28018 Kenton Whitman Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:24:08 +0000 http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2006/10/29/seeing-the-symbolic/#comment-28018 Dear Magnus, What a wonderful observation -- that learning to draw might serve as a way for us to see the world in a new way. Do you happen to remember the name of the book? Thank you for sharing this unique way of changing our perception -- I think this is a great example of how we don't need to follow a certain path, but can find increased awareness through a whole array of 'techniques'. Fascinating insight, Magnus. Sweetwater, Kenton Dear Magnus,

What a wonderful observation — that learning to draw might serve as a way for us to see the world in a new way. Do you happen to remember the name of the book? Thank you for sharing this unique way of changing our perception — I think this is a great example of how we don’t need to follow a certain path, but can find increased awareness through a whole array of ‘techniques’.

Fascinating insight, Magnus.

Sweetwater,
Kenton

]]> By: Magnus http://kentonwhitman.com/2006/10/29/seeing-the-symbolic/comment-page-1/#comment-28014 Magnus Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:19:24 +0000 http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2006/10/29/seeing-the-symbolic/#comment-28014 Thanks for a lovely post Kenton! Admittedly, seeing letters as-is is quite challenging! A few years back, I went through a beautiful transformation in the way I relate to my symbol-mind. This transformation was born from an unexpected source (well, at the time it was unexpected whereas it make much sense to me now); learning to draw. I read this book which argued that learning to draw (in the sense that we learn to draw somewhat naturalistic and accurate) is really a quest to learn to see. By using a few simple tricks, such as viewing your object upside-down and practice deep looking, drawing well was suddenly like second nature to me. Mind that before I took on this project, my drawing skills was at a level one could attribute an average 13-year old... Learning to draw, naturally, was a great blessing for me. Moreover though, it fundamentally changed my perception of the world. Two curious effects follow the dissolution of the symbol-bound mind-space -increased appreciation of beauty. The world become so much more rich and vivid. It is as if one is 'touched' so much more. The joy arising from this is quite subtle, but with some attention, it can grow into unfathomable hights. -increased ability to discern symbols. This is somewhat of a surprise, but I do find this to be the case. It is as if the non-dual mind 'reach in' and commune with whatever is the object (although not object) of its attension. As one return to a symbolic mind-space, our recognition of the boundless and unintelligible nature of whatever we meet with our attention 'condense' into the realm of symbols, time, meaning and language. This allow infinite but limited possibilities and a symbolic richness the symbol-bound mind could not possibly dream of. Again, thanks for the beautiful pointers! -Magnus Thanks for a lovely post Kenton!
Admittedly, seeing letters as-is is quite challenging!
A few years back, I went through a beautiful transformation in the way I relate to my symbol-mind. This transformation was born from an unexpected source (well, at the time it was unexpected whereas it make much sense to me now); learning to draw. I read this book which argued that learning to draw (in the sense that we learn to draw somewhat naturalistic and accurate) is really a quest to learn to see. By using a few simple tricks, such as viewing your object upside-down and practice deep looking, drawing well was suddenly like second nature to me. Mind that before I took on this project, my drawing skills was at a level one could attribute an average 13-year old…

Learning to draw, naturally, was a great blessing for me. Moreover though, it fundamentally changed my perception of the world.

Two curious effects follow the dissolution of the symbol-bound mind-space
-increased appreciation of beauty. The world become so much more rich and vivid. It is as if one is ‘touched’ so much more. The joy arising from this is quite subtle, but with some attention, it can grow into unfathomable hights.
-increased ability to discern symbols. This is somewhat of a surprise, but I do find this to be the case. It is as if the non-dual mind ‘reach in’ and commune with whatever is the object (although not object) of its attension. As one return to a symbolic mind-space, our recognition of the boundless and unintelligible nature of whatever we meet with our attention ‘condense’ into the realm of symbols, time, meaning and language. This allow infinite but limited possibilities and a symbolic richness the symbol-bound mind could not possibly dream of.

Again, thanks for the beautiful pointers!
-Magnus

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