How?
To begin with, curiosity requires a willingness to see whatever is under the rocks you turn over. Usually it's neutral or positive. But occasionally you find something that looks creepy or smells bad.
Then you need courage, to face an uncomfortable aspect of yourself, other people, or the world. In this case, it helps to observe it from a distance, and try not to identify with it. Surround it with spaciousness, knowing that whatever you've found is just one part of a larger whole and (usually) a passing phenomenon.
With that willingness, curiosity expresses itself in action, through looking deeper and wider - and then looking again.
Much of what we're curious about is really neat, such as the development of children, the doings of friends, or the workings of a new computer. And sometimes it pays to be curious about some sort of issue. As an illustration, let's say you've been feeling irritable about a situation. (You also can apply the practices below to different aspects of your mind, or to other people or to situations in the world.)
With that willingness, curiosity expresses itself in action, through looking deeper and wider - and then looking again.
Much of what we're curious about is really neat, such as the development of children, the doings of friends, or the workings of a new computer. And sometimes it pays to be curious about some sort of issue. As an illustration, let's say you've been feeling irritable about a situation. (You also can apply the practices below to different aspects of your mind, or to other people or to situations in the world.)
Looking deeper means being interested in what's under the surface. For example, what previous situations does it remind you of - particularly ones when you were young and most affected by things?
Looking wider means broadening your view:
- What are other aspects of the situation, such as the good intentions of others, or your own responsibility for events?
- What factors could be at work in your mind? For example, have you worked too much lately, or felt underappreciated, or not eaten or slept well? Did you appraise the situation as a lot worse, or a lot more threatening, than it actually was? Did you take it personally?
Again.
And again.
Gracias a la nueva mirada que trae consigo la curiosidad el mundo vuelve a ser algo nuevo una y otra vez. La mirada del niño, del gato, del científico, del santo, del poeta…