Visual Cues or Enlightenment?

In the practice of Yoga, we are taught to not listen to our personal mind. I second that idea. I would love to be more present to life. Live in the moment to moment. To fully experience what is in front of me all the time. But, I do know the mind has many great qualities. The intellectual mind can be very useful when used wisely. So here's my dilemma.

I first realized that I use my mind to see during my Hoop Convergence experience.Hoop Convergence is a fabulous hooping retreat in the middle of the woods in N.C. Even though I already live in the woods, I am familiar with my surroundings. On the other hand, the woods in N.C. were brand new for me. It had been a while since I had been in unfamiliar territory. With my eye disease, retinitis pigmentosa, my day vision is much better than my night vision. So, during the day I try to scope out and memorize the 'lay of the land'. Each cabin at the retreat had a ramp or a staircase to choose from to get onto the porch. When leaving my cabin, the ramp was on the right and the stairs on the left. I always took the ramp since it felt safer. Well, one of the evenings while visiting friends in another cabin, I approached the right side assuming there was a ramp. I approached what I thought was the ramp with confidence; like I could see the ramp. I took the footing as such, only to jolt my back as my foot fell to the first step. Each cabin was designed differently. I used my mind to 'see' the ramp. A ramp that was not there in reality. It was in those moments that it became clear that I relied on my mind for sight.

I guess I did not realize it since I know my surroundings at home. I know it like the back of my hand so to speak. I soon realized at home that I really do not see objects, but I just know where they should be and act accordingly. Wow! How adaptable the human can be.

Another incident that recently shed some light on my situation happened at home. I had asked my boyfriend to hand me the Vicks Vapor Rub jar. I was busy doing things and when he handed it to me I had forgotten I had asked for it. As he handed it to me, I had no idea what it was, so I asked. He reminded me I had asked for the Vicks. I quickly realized I could not even see what he was handing to me. Again, it is becoming more clear how I use my mind to 'see' things.

So here's my questions, should I not listen to my mind? Is this my intellect mind or personal mind? Is this part of my mind making life easier for me or not? Well, I guess it does not matter what I think. I do know that as I let go of my personal thoughts everything gets more clear to me. The most important thing for me to see is clarity. Then I will stop 'looking' and just 'seeing'. How Buddhist of me ;)

Jodi Jainchill PT,CFMT