Tao #12 ~ Intuition
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In Tibetan Buddhism, the term Heart-Mind is used. This is to indicate that both are essential elements of true understanding. Each sense that we have is a precious things which allows for an aspect of understanding. We perceive the interplay of light when we gaze upon a painting, watch a movie, or observe that most beautiful of creations: Nature. Yet a staring at the sun is a cause for blindness. The sound of music is pleasing and fills us with joy and gives rise to movement within but when the noise level is too high then we can develop tinitus and lose portions of our hearing. Modern musicians and ardent fans of their music are often robbed of their ability to distinguish certain tones later in their lives because they have steeped themselves in excessively loud music until they have damaged their eardrums. Taste is equally malleable. People come to New Mexico, or go to Thailand and eat sharp, hot foods and develop a taste for them. Yet it has been discovered that an excess of certain spices will dull the sense of taste and soon the ability to distinguish subtle differences is gone. Scientists and artists most often have their greatest breakthroughs upon waking, or after meditation, or after a period of letting go. We sometimes speak of understanding something as "grasping it". To truly grasp something, first our minds or hands must be empty. Great insights can be found through intuition as much or more than through direct thought.