Daily Meditation: Saturday, April 21, 2001

People who have learnt to develop their five senses - sight,…

04/21/2001

People who have learnt to develop their five senses - sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch - and use them properly have a good knowledge of the material reality surrounding them. But this knowledge can also be of service in their relationships with others, for this is, without any doubt, the domain where most mistakes are generally made.
The eyes can reveal the character of people we meet, by observing their gestures and behavior. The ear can analyze, even beyond spoken words, the intonations of a voice, even on the telephone. Smell warns us of the kind of persons present in a room. Taste permits us to foretell some dangerous encounters. And when we shake hands, we are immediately informed of a person's character, for in a handshake our whole being is expressed.
So many people regret not seeing more clearly when meeting others! They have overestimated some, underestimated others... why? Because they are too quick to pass judgment. They pronounce a verdict at first sight, and often according to a personal bias. From now on, you must be in less of a hurry, more careful and attentive, for you know that, although it is difficult to know human beings, the five senses do give you some good clues.