The Wonders of Creation: A Closer Look at the Human Eye

We sat on the grass as nine-year-olds, one friend suggested, "Let's play 'Who Blinks First!'" The game began, two kids sat face to face, staring intensely into each other's eyes. A long minute passed with everyone else quietly watching, waiting to see who would win. Suddenly, cheers erupted—the match concluded, declaring a winner.

A peculiar game, isn't it? Many remember this childhood game but don't often consider its essence. What did the kids mean by 'Who Blinks First'? And who won, and why?

Children are known to be closer to their spiritual roots than adults. This connection guides them to play and react in ways that reflect profundities that adults have gradually buried. For example, kids are afraid of the dark while adults typically reassure them there is nothing to fear. It's not truly accurate, as adults also harbor that fear, but the children openly express what lies beneath. Moreover, our sages teach us the secret of darkness in the world, representing concealment—an essential element leading to potential physical and spiritual danger. A child, being closer to their Creator (since they were born relatively recently), responds accurately without accounting for the audience around them. They simply fear the dark. Another example, children call out 'Mom' or 'Dad' in distress, and we parents hope they'll outgrow it. Yet, through this instinctive call, they're fulfilling an inner truth to eventually learn there's no one to rely on except our Heavenly Father.

The children's eye games also hold a deep significance rooted in the human psyche.

The Eyes: Windows to the Soul

When someone stops to ponder which body part reveals the self, they'll deduce it's the eyes. Through the eyes, the soul, the personality contained within the body emerges. This fact becomes apparent when someone wakes up. Despite a sleeping person moving and lying fully before us, they're truly detached from us. Only when their eyes open, even before fully waking up, do we feel there’s finally someone present for communication.

The saying goes, 'the eyes are the windows to the soul.' But why 'windows'? This suggests that whatever brews inside the personality escapes through the eyes.

The Hebrew word 'ayin,' eye, teaches us more than anything: '...the eye is the spring revealing a person’s inner self. 'Ayin—' like 'ma'ayan,' spring. Eliezer, Abraham's servant, met Rebecca at a 'spring,' a meeting place. As everyone knows, eyes are more than a navigational aid—they're expressive organs of the highest order, ever-flowing springs capable of expressing unvoiced emotions like joy, sorrow, excitement, fear, yearning, love, and beyond.

Hands express a person’s will and emotions in action, while eyes reveal internal movements, unrefined depths, the...inner truth. This stands in contrast to hands or words, where expression is typically chosen at one’s discretion. This topic, concerning the eye's significance, is vast and profound and is also related to the concept of the 'evil eye,' where it is believed that the human gaze can impact reality.

Feasting with the Eyes

In relation to our topic, the way the soul nourishes through the eyes is akin to the digestive system, let us explain:

The inner self, visible through someone’s eyes—be it joyful, wise, wondering, or sadly mournful—develops over years of education and life experiences.

Throughout life, the eyes capture innumerable experiences, accumulating into a person's 'spring,' informing their view. As such, it shapes how one perceives, reflects, and delves (exploration being a fusion of 'ayin'—eye, and 'ma'ayan'—spring, indicating depth) into various matters in adulthood.

Despite conventional perceptions suggesting eyes merely transmit images from outside to inside, this is not their primary purpose. First and foremost, eyes provide the essential materials for personal development.

Everything eyes absorb nourishes the soul, impacting body and behavior. When a person views positively, ‘healthy,’ correctly, they’re feeding themselves with positive 'soul food.’ Conversely, should it be negative, the resulting impact reflects outward through the eyes.

Thus, it clarifies the sages’ teachings that one must avoid gazing upon wicked individuals or negative sights altogether, as with an angry person or a dead body, amongst others. Such views blemish the deep inner self of a person" (Azamotai Tomernah p. 201).

Looking Straight into Someone’s Eyes

'Look straight into my eyes,' this expression invites others to unveil the unadulterated truth concealed beneath societal masks we all wear. Why the eyes? Ever try demanding truth this way: Look directly at my nose?! Certainly not. Why?

"Direct eye contact is a natural eye movement, a form of human interaction. However, a gaze may penetrate personal space; therefore, one shouldn't assume that maintaining eye contact is always ideal. There are restrictions and conditions based on moral and legal considerations—as advised by the Ramban (blessed memory) in his letter to his son.

The Elevated Gaze: In both children and adults, such gaze suggests sincerity, an individual at peace with oneself, whose words and deeds align, with an inner truth, avoiding conflict.

The Simple Gaze: Without malicious intent or awareness of intrusion into ‘personal space,’ when gaze rests on whatever sight encounters.

The Negative Gaze: Brazen, invading others’ inner spaces, devoid of shame, violating boundaries." (Azamotai Tomernah, same)

Wandering Eyes

In contrast to a direct gaze stands an evasive one.

It feels unsettling when someone we're talking to lets their gaze jump everywhere but our eyes, shuffling visual focus constantly. Why do they do that? For the evader, a captured gaze exposes internal incompleteness, lack of sincerity, or dishonesty, coupled with discomfort, guilt, attempts to avoid scrutiny.

Sometimes, a wandering gaze meets difficult or embarrassing topics, misguiding expressions, or results from conflicting moral vs. unethical worlds.

Open Eyes

Narrowing features like closing off from contact—when a person turns serious or angry, eyebrows knit and eyes narrow. Contrast this to widely opened eyes, displaying a submission and acceptance of external reality. Interestingly, clowns exaggerate eyebrow position high on the forehead, enlarging eyes for that lovable, engaging questioning look ready for any connection. Have you tried angry looks with wide, open eyes? It doesn’t work—it dissipates anger considerably. Ideally, avoiding anger altogether is best, yet opening eyes at such moments may drastically diminish hostility.

Closing Eyes

Connecting internally via the eyes, closing them indicates a desire to be with oneself—this signifies to 'close' the eyes. Eyelids assist.

"Mechanically, eyelids protect eyes from external harm and hydrate against dryness or irritation. In symbolic meaning—they shield the 'windows of the soul,' guarding from harmful sights while engaging with thinking, concentration, hinting.

Closing eyes fosters thought concentration, attempts to realize intentions, seclusion, faith, steering away from distraction, focus.

* Forcibly closing eyes suggests: intense focus, overcoming anger or pain. If accompanied by a smile, it implies: expression of retaining achievement joy.

* Blinking: Blinking akin to stuttering, but through eyes. Initially, it signifies weakness and impatience. A frequent blinker (absent medical eye issues) might be tense or near despair, masking vulnerability with eye movements.

An extensive blinker feels pursued by thoughts, insecure, sensing unreachable goals in study, social or work environments, releasing surplus energy through blinks. This reflects a battle with gnawing doubt and future anxiety.

Remember, not all quick eyelid motions indicate blinking as described.

Fast eyelid motions in conversation imply intelligence. This light blink, a fanning, seems to ‘clear’ difficulty faced. Thus, dispelling uncertainty's fog 'shaking' to explore resolution possibilities." (Azamotai Tomernah Chapter 29, p. 202).

Modesty and Immodesty in Eyes

How much control does a person demonstrate with eyes and eyelids? This too we learn from our holy sources! King Solomon warns us against beautiful women symbolizing external wisdoms leading to lost paths, saying, "Do not be ensnared by her eyelashes!" Rashi explains: "Don't let her take—Don’t let (the beautiful woman) consume your wisdom with her winking eyes."

It’s well known, and often stressed, 'actions lead to consequence,' as written in 'Sefer HaChinuch.' This principle impacts our self-influence through outward actions. Thus, those accustomed to winking to attract and drill with stares may unknowingly imprint traits of indirectness...

Thus Ramban (blessed memory) teaches his son: "...And now my son, know and see, the proud-hearted among people rebels against Heaven's kingdom, for he glories in Heaven’s attire...Hence guidance on adopting humility constantly; Speak calmly...Eyes downcast, heart elevated (ponder the ways and wonders of Hashem's name), and don’t meet others' eyes while speaking...".

Indeed, now when desire for peace beats within all, Ramban’s advice is exquisite—using the body to honor humanity, this awareness connects best among creations, honoring the Creator.