Volume
Vol. 13, Gathas
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Insight
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1.3, The Glance of the Seer
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Vol. 13, Gathas
Insight
1.3, The Glance of the Seer
The glance of the seer is penetrating, and in this it differs from the glance of the ordinary man. It has three characteristics (qualities).
- The first characteristic of the glance of the seer, penetration, depends upon clearness of vision.
- The second characteristic, the uncovering of objects, depends upon the illumination of the soul.
- But the third, the greatest, comes from confidence in the self, called Iman.
This is not actually creating, but it is awakening that particular quality, which was perhaps asleep. This is quite natural, as we see in the ordinary course of life that by fear we create in others dreadful qualities, and when we love we create kindness. It is possible to turn a friend into an enemy by thinking that he is an enemy, and also it is possible to change an enemy into a friend by expecting him to be a friend. Therefore the tendency of the mystic is to turn everything into that which he wishes it to be. To turn what is ugly into beauty, and beauty into ugliness, this is what the vision can accomplish.
This proves to a deep thinker that things are not what they appear to be, but we make them as they are. The whole life may be made into a thing of complete ugliness or it may be made into a sublime vision of perfect beauty. The Lord of the yogis, Shiva, is pictured with a cobra on his neck which means that death, which frightens everyone, is accepted by him as life. That shows that even death can be made into life, and it is only the difference of the point of view that makes life death.
The first characteristic of the glance of the seer, penetration, depends upon clearness of vision. The second characteristic, the uncovering of objects, depends upon the illumination of the soul. But the third, the greatest, comes from confidence in the self, called Iman.
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