This is a picture of some art I did some years ago when I had time to spend hours working on art. Its a picture of someone in touch with inner and out realities at once.

We live in an external world, our focus turned outward. This week I am extremely aware of the value and importance of finding balance between outer and inner worlds or realities. This is one of the primary benefits that I see in a meditative practice, whether that means making time to do artwork each day, playing a sport that allows you to sink inside yourself, formal meditative practice or simply finding your center while watching television. To me it's less important what the formal process is that one uses to find a connection to the inner eye, its that you do make time each day to turn your gaze in an inward direction. Ideally, being as aware of inner as outer.  I'm not talking about tuning out necessarily, although this may be a way to open this doorway for some as it can help quiet the mind down. What I am talking about is turning awareness toward what is happening in your mind and body internally. Turning consciousness in this direction, so that emotional experience, mental experiences, physical experiences and so on are observed, acknowledged and responded to in the same way that they are externally.

A balance in consciousness cannot happen the way it is needed when all is focused outward toward behavior and external experiences. When what we really value is in the external direction. We see only part of the picture that way. Even in formalized meditative practice, Americans are so externalized that we focus on the act of meditating and proper method of posture, instruction and so on, going through the motions when a perennial intent of meditation is to find this inward eye and to bring awareness together to see an increased viewpoint. So next time you are zoning out on the tube and beating yourself up for "Wasting time," remember that this time could just as easily be used as a spiritual practice that has tremendous benefits. I lead an extremely busy and chaotic life full of external stress. When I am centered and I have an awareness of both inner and outer worlds, it doesn't matter if some ass cuts me off on the road. It doesn't matter if my kids dump their food on the floor or somebody at work screams at me for doing my job well. If I have awareness of the inner and outer and am centered, I can handle it without losing my cool. I can stay centered and not allow myself to become an expression of something I do not wish to put out into the world. I can see it, watch it wash over me and let it go. This is the value of taking time to get in touch with the inner eye.