¶ … sight insight derive form fierce consciousness, begins a single object paying attention implications resonances idea image."Marvin Bell -statement explaining meaning Marvin Bell's observation - Bell pointing term " fierce consciousness" relate "paying attention implications idea image -demonstrate value Bell's concept fierce consciousness specific student experience examples public life "fierce consciousness" proved important knowing world accurately fully. "Both sight and insight derives from fierce consciousness, whether it begins with looking at a single object or in paying attention to all of the implications and resonances of an idea or image." -- Marvin Bell

In this quotation, Bell is describing what is often called 'mindfulness' in the East, or an intense focus upon the present moment, rather than upon other distractions. All too often in our modern lives, our minds are engaged with one thing, while our bodies are doing something else. We talk to someone on the phone at work while typing a text to our friend. We drive while listening to music. We work out while thinking about what we are going to eat afterwards....

But only in a state of present mindfulness can we understand 'the thing itself.' If we live in a state of divided consciousness, we are letting the emotions affecting us from our other conversations and interactions impinge upon a full appreciation of what is going on in the moment.
Only through fierce consciousness rather than staring at the newspaper can a wife understand that she has not had a real conversation with her husband for many years. Only through fierce consciousness rather than aimlessly surfing the web can an unhappy employee at an office understand that he hates his job and would be better off going back to school to train for a better one. The beauty of an early fall morning is impinged upon by the meaningless fight a girl has with her boyfriend on her cell phone as she goes for a run.

But engaging with the world fully is not easy. We have to retrain our minds to observe things in detail, rather than seek ways to numb ourselves. That is why it is so difficult to sit…