A Matter of Perspective

Resting in quiet presence could be likened to viewing the full experience of one's current environment from the broadest perspective possible. Immersion in thought would be like picking out a particular object within that environment and taking an enquiring look at it. Extreme or sustained focus, like using a magnifying glass to really get a sense of its minute details.

The broad view lets us understand the inter-related nature of our world. We learn much more about the intricacies of our world when we hone in on specific aspects, characteristics and potentials. However, a problem arises when we get fixated on viewing through the glass. Without the larger perspective that arises when we reside in silent presence, the woods gets lost for the trees, or the leaves. In this case, choices made become as sporadic as an aimless hound dog's, chasing after whatever scent happens to waft up it's nose.

It's not to say that one is necessarily superior to the other. Both require the other for the fullest understanding. Both are perpetually in need of fine tuning and balancing. It's rare for one to get mired in the stillness. The typical tendency is to get stuck with the spy glass glued to the nose. Therefore, balancing between the extremes, generally requires more practice at stilling the mind and seeing the world from a wider and longer perspective.

One might say that, ultimately, the most important practice is knowing what perspective is being taken and which is most appropriate, in each passing moment - which requires seeing from outside of the seer.