Perceiving directly or seeing without effort happens when we are one with our perception, when we are “all eyes and ears,” and when our sense of self (often referred to as the ego) no longer blocks our view. We refer to it as “the flash of perception.”1 It is a moment of wholeness, the basis for contemplative photography, and the source of creativity. The flash happens when we allow ourselves “just to be” – before the conceptual mind kicks in and we reflect on what we see. Usually, we are unaware of the flash because we are not present to these fleeting moments.
The belief in the primacy of “being” goes against the Cartesian philosophy still prevalent today. Descartes got it all upside down when he said I think; therefore, I am. Perhaps, he should have said I am; therefore, I think. Nisargadatta2 reminds us that you have first “to be” before you can form an idea or think of something .
What makes it difficult to perceive directly?
The prerequisite for perceiving directly or seeing without effort is to be present (in contrast to conceiving), which requires a contemplative meditation practice like zazen 3 . Being present means something other than forcing yourself to concentrate or focus on something. The emphasis is on being attentive, receptive and open-minded, allowing whatever is to emerge. Hard work means seeing no struggle is necessary because we are inherently creative. But to go in this direction requires all of one’s energy. When no longer distracted by ideas, images, ambitions, judgements and expectations, the controlling sense of self is eroded, and the stage for seeing without effort is set.
Undermining the domination of the sense of self can only be taught indirectly. One can do it by practicing discernment4. It opens the door to the richness and detail of perceptual experience, which is absent in the world of concepts. Then, one can apply this approach to photography or any other medium of expression or integrate it with daily life.
Without experiencing this process of discernment firsthand, one can’t get at what I am saying because one sees everything objectively – from the outside. Talking about photographic images, for example, one sees the picture just like any other object. It turns contemplative photography just into another gimmick. Unable to see from within, one can’t experience the qualitative difference between perceiving and conceiving. The discovery is to see what “is” and not what you think it is. You may call it an object-less and subject-less way of seeing.
Seeing without effort.
By being present, we have turned inside and temporarily abandoned ourselves to what is getting through to us – without filters, distractions, or doing anything. Consequently, what we see resonates with our whole being – we see holistically. It is a seeing that is profound and real.
Perceiving directly is not selective. It does not care whether you like it or not, whether you find it exciting, beautiful, or ugly. It is a seeing that is clear, fresh, and vibrant. Most of all, it is alive!
Our whole state of being is involved and momentarily transformed with every flash. Experiencing the “seen” and the “seeing” as one, our energy is no longer used to maintain our separateness. The power that comes out of unity and awareness feels effortless in contrast to the energy associated with deliberate action that needs effort and maintenance.
The deep satisfaction and fulfillment in contemplative photography do not come from the finished picture but from the total involvement in its making. The outcome of the image is secondary. When we no longer identify with the results, our sense of self is no longer a priority. It loses importance.
Perceptions come and go, but perceiving directly remains the same. It is always accessible – like a well that never dries up.
Notes
1 Mohelsky Helmut, aboutseeing.com/articles/the-flash-of-perception-a moment-of-creativity. 2016.
2 Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, I am That, Durham, North Carolina: The Acorn Press 1999. .
3 Low Albert, Zen Meditation Plain and Simple, North Clarendon, VT:Tuttle Publishing, 1989.
4 Mohelsky Helmut, Discernment Part I, II, III in Seeing With Your Own Eyes, Helmut Mohelsky 2019, pp.51-56.