The Subjective Mirror: Turning the Gaze Inward

You see, there is a great deal of talk these days about being “in touch.” We want to be in touch with the news, in touch with our friends, in touch with the latest trends. But we have a very strange blind spot: we are almost never in touch with the person who is doing the touching. We are like a flashlight that is so busy illuminating every object in the room that it never stops to realize it is the source of the light.

We spend our time and energy on the “How.” How do I get more money? How do I fix my reputation? How do I navigate this social distancing? These are what we call the manifestations of life. But there is a kernel, a heart of this life, that is far more important. If we only learn how the world works and never ask why we are in it, we are like people who know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

A great teacher once said that if he only had to learn how an electric current works, he would rather not be here at all. He wanted to understand the essence. And that essence is found through a very specific kind of questioning. We must ask “Why?” And specifically, we must ask it subjectively.

You see, the objective world – the world of “out there” – is ruled by the subjective world of “in here.” If you change the subject, the object is bound to change. If you purify yourself, the world is bound to be purified. This is a very difficult thing for the modern mind to grasp because we are so convinced that if we just “fix” enough things on the outside, we will finally be happy. But that’s like trying to fix a distorted image in a mirror by painting the mirror’s surface. You have to fix the person standing in front of it.

This is where the “Why” comes in. It’s a beeper. It’s a tool for getting in touch with yourself when you’ve been forced to stay at home and away from the busy-ness of the world. In the silence, you can finally hear the “Why.” Why do I think the way I think? Why did I say that? Why do I want what I want?

When you start to self-question, you are lighting the lamp of awareness in your heart. This awareness is the only thing that can stop us from being robots. You see, a robot is a creature of “How.” It follows the program. But a human being who asks “Why” is a creature of “Freedom.” Awareness gives you understanding of your motives, your desires, and your fears. And understanding is the key that lets you dump the self-destructive elements of your personality and nourish the seeds of perfection.

Let’s look at how this works in our daily frictions. If someone treats you poorly, the robotic response is anger. But the “Why” response is an introspective one. You ask, “Why do I see that person as an enemy? Why can I not conquer this with love?” You might find that the other person is suffering. Perhaps they have a headache, or a secret grief, or a fear that they are projecting onto you. When you see the “Why” behind their behavior, your anger evaporates and is replaced by compassion. You haven’t “solved” their problem, perhaps, but you have solved your problem. You are no longer a victim of the situation; you are the master of it.

This applies to our social lives as well. It is so easy to condemn. We see corruption, we see bad leadership, we see social evils, and we make a lot of noise. But noise isn’t light. If we ask “Why?” about these phenomena from an introspective viewpoint, we become sober. We realize that the same seeds of greed or fear that drive those social evils are present in our own hearts, just perhaps in a smaller dose. This realization doesn’t mean we tolerate evil; it means we approach the solution with humility and compassion rather than self-righteous anger. We stop complaining and start being a positive force.

There was a young boy once who was harshly condemning alcoholics. His father said to him, “My son, if you truly understood why they drink – the suffering and the sorrow that drive them to it – you wouldn’t feel disgust. You would feel compassion.” That is the power of “Why.” It turns a hasty, mindless response into a poised, loving action. It acts as a shield that protects you from your own lower impulses. We must know the “Why” of everything we think, say, and do. Even the simple things. Why am I writing this? Why are you reading this? If a writer writes just because they have to, they are just producing noise. If a reader reads just to stay busy, they are just killing time. But if there is a worthwhile “Why” behind it, then the act becomes a manifestation of life itself.

So, in this age of distractions and “manifestations,” I invite you to take the path of the “Why.” It is a journey into the heart of things. It is the only way to get back in touch with yourself. As long as your “Why” is leading you toward peace, toward harmony, and toward freedom, you are on the right path. You are no longer a leaf in the stream; you are the stream itself, moving with purpose and clarity toward the infinite ocean.

Structure and Pacing Note for Reading Aloud:

Emphasis: Both Alan Watts and Swami Sarvapriyananda use “You see” or “Now” to reset the listener’s attention. Pause briefly after these phrases.

Cadence: The sentences vary in length to create a rhythmic flow. Read the short sentences with punch and the long, descriptive sentences with a flowing, melodic tone.

Questions: When a “Why” question appears, give it a moment of silence afterward to let the listener “feel” the question.