Gestalt: Seeing beyond the surface

We’ve all seen the famous picture that can be viewed as either an old woman or a young lady. Interestingly, you can’t see both at the same time. Your perception shifts and, with it, the image you see. The same lines create two different pictures, yet you can only focus on one at a time. This teaches us that our way of looking at things changes their meaning.

Take the example of a glass of water – is it half-full or half-empty? The answer depends on your perspective. This simple shift in how we look at things can completely transform our understanding of life and the world.

EVERYTHING IS ENERGY

When you look at the world, you might see problems and challenges, but, through inner eyes, everything becomes one universal energy. Every living and non-living thing is made up of energy. On the surface, the world appears full of distinctions and differences, but, at its core, everything is connected. The whole universe is stitched by the threads of energy. This energy isn’t mere electricity; it’s something much more profound.

Imagine seeing a rope in the dark and mistaking it for a snake. The absence of light creates fear, but a small lamp can dispel that fear. Similarly, we don’t need to eliminate fear or change our beliefs; we only need to wake up from the ignorance that blinds us. Awakening to the true world of energy is like turning on that lamp.

We don’t need to change the world; we need to change how we look at it. The world that appears full of differences; with spiritual insight, differences vanish, leaving only a realm of energy.

SEE THE UNSEEN

We often see what we want to see. When you’re dreaming at night, it’s the reality, but, when you wake up, reality changes. Isn’t our life also a kind of dream? When awakening happens, the dream of life fades and you begin to live in a state of true awareness.

Now is the time to see things as they truly are and awaken from the dream of life. When you open your eyes to the energy that binds the universe, you realise that the true essence of everything is the same. This realisation brings peace and understanding that transcends everyday worries and conflicts. This shift in vision doesn’t interrupt your daily life. Everything around you remains the same, but you change profoundly.

So, next time you face a challenge, remember the picture of the old woman and the young lady; half-full and half-empty glass. Your perspective can change everything. The journey of perception is about seeing beyond the surface, seeing the unseen.

Courtesy: Rajyoga Meditation Center, Kingston (meditation courses and counselling are offered free of charge). Email: kingston@jm.brahmakumaris.org. Or follow them on Instagram: rajyoga_meditation_jamaica.