Aankhe Khol Ke Dekho!
Open your eyes, or allow others to open them for you
The wisdom:
“I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respect unto him.”
-A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The reflection:
Back in July, I was experiencing a standard morning panic — it was time to take my daughter to school, and I couldn’t find my keys.
I began the usual frenetic search, turning over cushions, rummaging through drawers, looking under the bed, and running out to see if I had left them in the car itself.
My mother-in-law was observing the whole farcical scene from the breakfast table:
…and it turned out she had noticed where the keys were the whole time.
As she calmly pointed out to me that they were right in front of me on the table, she hit me with her signature Hindi phrase:
“Aankhe Khol Ke Dekho!!”
It means: “Open your eyes and look, you fool!” (the “you fool” is implied).
We’ve heard all the platitudes telling us that the things we seek are often “right in front of us”, “underneath our nose”, or “staring us in the face”.
But, in that moment, there was no way I would have found my keys. I was too flustered and panicked by the situation to open my own eyes.
Someone else needed to open my eyes for me.
Years ago, the phrase “Aankhe Khol Ke Dekho” used to evoke embarrassment, and no doubt, the shame of my willing blindness does persists.
But now, I am also grateful to those who lovingly (and sometimes, sternly) open my eyes for me. I need their help.
The application:
As 2024 comes to a close, take time to reflect by asking a few questions:
What do you seek from this life?
Are your eyes open in that search? Or are you blindly running around?
Who can help you open your eyes to see what’s right in front of you? (Yes, a shameless plug for coaching, whether with Pratibimba or with someone else.)
When you receive this help (particularly when it is unsolicited) how can you be authentically grateful for the kindness of that person, instead of being embarrassed or frustrated at your own blindness?