Perception as a means of developing understanding is present consistently in various Eastern and Western philosophies, as well as in art and science. The development of perception, for example, is a fundamental component of developing Buddhism, often called vipassana.
Basically perception is the best way to learn more about a topic, about life and, if we are experts, to put an end to stress and to understand the dynamics of the body and mind as a whole, instead of limiting ourselves to fragments of emotions. thoughts and reactions.
This article provides guidance on developing your perception and applying the understanding gained to life's problems.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Developing the Fundamentals
Step 1. Try to understand what perception is
In essence, perception is both knowledge and understanding deriving from an "inner vision", or more simply, it consists in looking inside one's mind and body and observing them. It can be a natural or intentional process, as sometimes you have to look at things differently to see them clearly, but the most important thing is to know which lens or style to use for clarity.
- When you observe and study something, you may understand how and why it happens simply by watching it happen without making a judgment. The more you look and the deeper your observations, the more information you can grasp. Knowledge is the understanding that you have gained and it is the part that you can use.
- Taking the simplest example, you could learn that the fire is hot, but only by sensing its temperature. Similarly, if you don't remember that it's dangerous and you don't use this knowledge the next time you reach out for something hot, you'll get burned. The ability is all about developing a perception, that it is no longer simply a basic survival skill, but it becomes a way to improve our skills and quality of life, learning notions at a deeper level of knowledge.
Step 2. Start considering ways to study your chosen topic
Mindfulness and meditation, in general, make up a classic framework for the study of the mind and body, but also for any subject you desire, such as when you look hard at a beautiful garden, a poem or a complex art form, or when you study a recipe book, an instruction manual or a textbook. It is best to be aware that meditation (or any means used to gain an inner perspective) normally consists of two elements:
- 1. The start of a study area or something similar to a laboratory, literally the moment in which you pay attention to something. Generally we have all practiced observation and perception at various levels throughout our life, but usually it is limited to a superficial level, until the person decides to get to the origin of the matter or when that person has studied the matter so much that it is all more evident.
- 2. When practiced at the level of deep concentration or dedication, meditation allows the mind to become much clearer, calm and focused, and can look at things without distortion or personal interest.
Step 3. Consider this metaphor
Observing a sample under a microscope allows you to focus it better and analyze it in more detail than simply looking at the sample in one hand. Developing the mind through meditation and other methodologies, in addition to sharpening your concentration, offers you a more distinct boundary of the element you are focusing on.
- However, it would be inaccurate to conclude that a very deep meditation is the only way to achieve the goal itself, although it certainly helps. Sure you could see the smallest details through a microscope, but you should consider the example of how experienced geologists can determine the quality and type of land in their hands simply with the naked eye or by performing specific gravity tests and other chemical analyzes.. These skills are the result of experience and having tested their understanding. They may have used a microscope during their training and career, or they may never have used it.
- This example is like a bird with two wings: observation, such as meditation, represents one wing, while examination and understanding constitute the other wing. If the bird has only one wing it cannot fly well, it will only move around in circles.
Step 4. Learn about some of the pitfalls and misconceptions that can prevent you from achieving perception
Usually, they manifest themselves more in an intentional, guided, or intensive style of study practice, rather than in those rare, life-changing perceptions that just happen. If you are aware of these kinds of things, you can at least recognize them when they happen; when they arise, you can probably learn even more if you turn your attention to precisely these obstacles.
- From time to time the idea arises that "the means to reach the goal" is actually "the goal" itself. The complication, in this case, is that the process or relationship with the process has become more important than focusing on the topic. This can be a fairly common experience that many go through; some find themselves going to university or other university-type structures all their life or studying the mind in meditation according to a repetitive pattern, without ever really making any progress.
- Try not to speed things up. This is another widespread challenge as people hope to find the magic wand to gain a total understanding of the subject matter, whether it is science, psychology, art and literature and so on, or a solution to their problems. When you finally understand how things are and it all makes sense, it often takes some time for it to happen naturally. However, continually observing and checking not only helps to understand things faster, but also makes the perception more extensive and many aspects of the same experience can become clear. In this way a person can learn to think and act with greater creativity and skill.
- When one considers perception or acquired knowledge as the goal to be achieved, some also find themselves stuck without knowing where to go. Perception is only half of the story, the other half consists in using it in some way. Consider that a surgeon, through his experience, designs a new scalpel or forceps, but these tools will only become useful when used in surgery. Likewise, care must be taken to continually apply and examine acquired perceptions and to understand how to use them as practical tools, which in itself can expand the depth of understanding.
- The application of understanding in relationships is the most important thing and does not work when people prefer to focus on the intellect rather than on practice. For example, a chemist might discover a new medicine by testing some samples, but if the cure is never made available or is never followed by the patient, it produces no effect. Medical discovery by itself does not defeat the disease. Similarly, you must apply what you understand to achieve the goal, since discoveries are only a means to an end.
Part 2 of 3: Developing a Practice
Step 1. Develop your observation levels and the subsequent knowledge that comes with them
Examine, observe and study the chosen topic.
- Be objective and look at everything as if you have never seen it before. Observe it as if it were a completely exceptional thing, but what is more important is to observe your relationship or interaction with the experience and the object. The way we can learn more about a topic and know how to get the best result is by evaluating our relationships (how do we perceive the experience? Is our mind open or closed to the experience?). This helps you look at life more fully, instead of being selective or allowing certain parts of your mind to blur the matter.
- Ask yourself questions often to identify what you see, as you may not always know it; even if you identify it, but a secondary idea or sensation manifests itself, it also identifies that. Once recognized, you can explore them, just like when you make a puzzle: as soon as you distinguish the pieces, you can start putting them together, and you can gain understanding and practical skills.
- Fortunately, in essence, there are very few cases in which the solution to many of life's challenges does not already lie within the problem we have to face, or essentially in the relationship we have with the problem. By exploring the roots of the question, we can find a solution, but if the solution is simply impossible to find, a person could come to terms by accepting the reality of life and finding a positive side or a creative opportunity if he is a real person.
- In the aspects of life, many of our sorrows, frustrations, unhappiness and depression are due to the fact that we do not look at things comprehensively, apply our understanding, or do not look at the problem to understand it. Generally, it makes sense to go back to the beginning and examine the central facts to test those that relate to what you see. You could study to acquire a perception on a math project, but if you are too tired or not interested, it is useful to identify this feeling since it determines your relationship with the topic.
Step 2. Be honest
Sincerity actually plays a profound role in the practice and benefits of understanding. If you see something that is real and can be experienced again with the same results, you will have to convince yourself that it is. As a result, it could mean that you have to let go of other ideas or desires, but basically this is up to you, because you cannot proceed beyond these obstacles. You have to get over them until you can get over them.
Step 3. Continue to observe the topic to improve the depth of understanding and observation
For example, it took you some time to be able to repeat the alphabet without errors. Some people are able to learn it quickly, but they are very rare, so it is worthwhile to keep observing and learning.
Very often it happens that things suddenly make sense (like when you have an enlightenment), even things you have already seen dozens of times in the past. Through life experiences, the mind develops the tools necessary to put the pieces of the puzzle together, as well as to identify different perspectives and ways in which to improve the experience. The mind is often able to relate what has been seen to previous experiences to make connections. Through the use of inner observation, in the end even this union of tools and skills becomes evident
Part 3 of 3: Getting Benefits
Step 1. Find ways to use perception in practice
The ultimate goal is to get to know your mind and body in depth, the way it reacts to some things and how they relate to each other. The main advantage of knowing the mind very well is being able to take a look at something and immediately know if it is beneficial or harmful. You could then give up or avoid harmful things. It takes time, but the more you practice the more effective it becomes; you learn more each time you examine something.
- In the context of a relationship, perception and awareness, like the two wings of a bird, are useful in any situation: at work, at school, at home and at all other times. They are clearly used in empathy, they allow us to understand the challenges and problems we face together with other people, and then establish bonds and act accordingly.
- In a business or business context, perception is also incredibly useful in any industry that requires creative thinking as well as resolving conflicts. Many of the problematic relationships between co-workers or between employers and employees arise because we do not understand each other and do not understand the pressure both sides are under. It is this pressure and the way we interact with it that limit compromise and flexibility; consequently, by applying our perceptions we can find a meeting point and new ideas.
- In a context of mental well-being, there comes a stage in most people's lives when the desires of the ever-changing mind become a common thread in the picture of life. Furthermore, we realize that this makes us unhappy and dissatisfied with what we have in mind. Perception, in this case, is important to understand how to let go of futile desires, correctly identifying real needs.
- Finally, as a tool that relieves stress, perception helps us to understand what emotional tension actually is, how to get rid of it, as well as to forgive it, thus becoming experts in recognizing it and letting it go by simply getting rid of it without even trying. At that point you will free yourself from many of the problems that plague you on a daily basis.
- As a tool that affects the quality of life, the practice of perception ultimately reveals that each moment is absolutely unique and new, that each experience is new, even when we are tired, depressed and frustrated. This perception alone renews the observation, since it is not like watching a TV show all the time, even if it might seem so. It is always different, constantly interesting and an opportunity to learn to understand something surprising.
Advice
- Linear and sensible does not mean that something is easy or simple to understand; it's a complex thing to see and only becomes clear when you look back. An experience often has to be observed several times before its meaning is clear. Common sense is present in many different religions, but the use of common sense has not become very clear.
- Finally, perception is used in investigations and as a consequence of investigations. Investigating can be natural (there are people greedy for knowledge by nature) or induced due to exposure to pain, loss, unhappiness and stress, so that a person is stimulated or even pushed to overcome or understand it.
- For Buddhists, the practice of observation is important to acquire a perception of the dynamics of the four noble truths of Buddhism.
