This is the 4560th most frequent Russian word.
глядя
"Глядя" means "looking" or "glancing" in English.
Here, 'глядя' is used as a gerund, introducing the action of looking that is associated with the subject.
Глядя на звезды, она думала о будущем.
Looking at the stars, she thought about the future.
In this example, 'глядя' connects the action of looking with the old man's memories.
Старик, глядя на дом, вспоминал свою молодость.
The old man, looking at the house, reminisced about his youth.
Here, 'глядя' is used to signify the simultaneous action of looking and the realization happening.