Observing Without Evaluating

Is it possible to observe without evaluating? Jesus Christ modeled this concept successfully and specifically when He chose the twelve men who would come to be His closest friends. From a tax-collector to a fisherman - Christ observed each man and saw who they were, as they were, and not as He would have them be.

Philosopher, J.  Krishnamurti believed that "to observe without evaluating is the highest form of human intelligence" and if this is true - then what exactly did he mean?  If I'm walking down a dark street at midnight and I see a man coming my way, do I instantly begin to judge? Yes!  I might change my course and cross the street to avoid him or I might begin running the other way. If my child did not do her chores, is that my cue to criticize her for being lazy or do I consider the larger view? Dr. Marshall Rosenberg brings this all closer to home in a poem he wrote and featured in his book, Nonviolent Communication A Language of Life...

I can handle your telling me
what I did or didn’t do.
And I can handle your interpretations,
But please don’t mix the two.

If you want to confuse any issue
I can tell you how to do it:
Mix together what I do,
with how you react to it.

Tell me that you’re disappointed,
With the unfinished chores you see,
But calling me “irresponsible”
is no way to motivate me.

And tell me that you’re feeling hurt,
When I say “no” to your advances,
But calling me a frigid man
won’t increase your future chances.

Yes, I can handle your telling me
What I did or didn’t do,
And I can handle your interpretations,
But please don’t mix the two.

- Marshall Rosenberg [Photo credit/J.N. Barsumian]