Practicing Observation during Everyday Life

This practice of observation is perfect for a busy lifestyle because there is no end to what can be observed.  When you are outside, observe nature.  See how the wind turns the leaves as it rustles through the trees.  Notice the delicate balance and interdependencies of all animals, plants, people, the earth and sky, seeing how the altering of one part affects the rest.  If you're doing dishes, observe the food leaving the plates, feel the soapy water on your hands, be aware of the feeling of the dishrag and the action of scrubbing on the plates.  If you are getting a cup of tea or cooking a meal, observe every detail of each action, every smell and taste sensation from beginning to end.

Observe every detail of each object involved.  The old familiar teapot, for example, looks different every time you view it.  The light reflects differently off its surface every time that you hold it.  The beads of moisture dripping down its sides form different patterns as they flow downward.  The tea leaves at the bottom of the pot form different patterns every time.

The rest of your life holds so much more when you start to observe.  With observation, even the most mundane things in life become meaningful and interesting.  Your entire viewpoint shifts.  Life becomes your ally rather than your enemy, because each happening in it, however threatening or insignificant, becomes an opportunity to gain wisdom.  Life becomes a journey of discovery rather than something that must be endured or conquered.  The practice of observing helps us to let go of fear and insecurity, to relax, and to embrace every part of our lives.

Observe and see how much of your world is determined by your own thoughts and feelings.  Have you noticed how ugly the world seems, for example, when you're in a bad mood?  Similarly, have you noticed how wonderful the world seems when you're "in love"?  With observation you will ultimately see that your thoughts and feelings create "realities" in the world, and even of yourself, which are really just illusions.  What's more, with this revelation we see that we can have a choice about how we experience our lives.