Welcome to the reopening of my blog on Tzu Chi, a blog which I had opened in 2009 and closed shortly thereafter. This time, I've entitled the blog Listening with My Eyes. The blog will feature a few of my observations, experiences, and reflections as a Tzu Chi volunteer. I started volunteering with Tzu Chi in 1996 when I was 13 years old. This year as I turn 30, I hope this blog will reflect some of my learning through Tzu Chi and a variety of experiences, all of which I am deeply grateful for.
For starters, one may wonder where the title of this new blog comes from. In fact it is a saying by Master Cheng Yen. For many years I had a vague sense that this saying was intended to instruct one to pay better attention.
But I came to a new understanding of this saying upon reading this article on synethesia in the New York Times in 2007. Medical science has shown that there is a condition -- and not an illness -- in which one's sensory perceptions are "crossmodal." This is a fancy term meaning that extra or other sensory capacities become available to one's normal sensory capacities, such as the ability to observe color linked with numbers, or the ability to perceive spatial distance with certain concepts, or the ability to 'listen' or 'see' in one's skin. Or, as Master Cheng Yen instructs us, to see with one's ears and hear with one's eyes.
In light of medical science's discovery of synethesia, I take this particular saying by Master Cheng Yen to mean that we ought to try to see things in a totally new way, a very fresh and refreshing way, to let our powers of attention expand and grow in yet unimagined dimensions. She is encouraging her supporters and students to use one's entire being and all powers of concentration, those known and still unknown.
By bestowing this title to this re-opened old but new blog, I hope that I am able to constantly be mindful -- and ever-more mindful -- in observing the world around me as I share some of my thoughts as a Tzu Chi volunteer.
I welcome your thoughts and look forward to a fruitful exchange. Thank you for your interest!
For starters, one may wonder where the title of this new blog comes from. In fact it is a saying by Master Cheng Yen. For many years I had a vague sense that this saying was intended to instruct one to pay better attention.
But I came to a new understanding of this saying upon reading this article on synethesia in the New York Times in 2007. Medical science has shown that there is a condition -- and not an illness -- in which one's sensory perceptions are "crossmodal." This is a fancy term meaning that extra or other sensory capacities become available to one's normal sensory capacities, such as the ability to observe color linked with numbers, or the ability to perceive spatial distance with certain concepts, or the ability to 'listen' or 'see' in one's skin. Or, as Master Cheng Yen instructs us, to see with one's ears and hear with one's eyes.
In light of medical science's discovery of synethesia, I take this particular saying by Master Cheng Yen to mean that we ought to try to see things in a totally new way, a very fresh and refreshing way, to let our powers of attention expand and grow in yet unimagined dimensions. She is encouraging her supporters and students to use one's entire being and all powers of concentration, those known and still unknown.
By bestowing this title to this re-opened old but new blog, I hope that I am able to constantly be mindful -- and ever-more mindful -- in observing the world around me as I share some of my thoughts as a Tzu Chi volunteer.
I welcome your thoughts and look forward to a fruitful exchange. Thank you for your interest!
Hi Victoria,
ReplyDeleteGreat title for a blog! Did you get it from the Chinese term 觀音? Just curious.
Yes I also learned from various sources about the ability of sensory organs to cross-over. Will share with you when I get a chance. It also reminded me of a scene from the film Mask in which the main character explained different colors to a blind girl by putting something hot/cold in her hands.
Hope to read more of your postings soon. Take care!
Chi-Kai
Hi Chi-Kai, that's a great connection that I hadn't made! For the non-Chinese speakers out there, the word 觀 means to observe usually with one's eyes, whereas 音 means sound; together it refers to Avalokitesvara. And who knows -- perhaps that is a connection that Master Cheng Yen had said so long ago when 用耳朵看, 用眼睛聽, even without knowing anything about "synethesia" per se! Thanks so much for reading my blog, and hope we can continue our dialogue! Best wishes, Victoria (范懿熙)
ReplyDeleteHaha! I was thinking that for sure you would have mentioned that connection had that been your intention. It would be a nice addition to your blog header design if you could add an image consisting of the Chinese characters 觀音. You can then introduce to everyone the concept of a Bodhisattva, who indeed is someone who can utilize all sense organs in unimaginable ways (including what's commonly known as ESP). CK
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