Evelyn lived in the same apartment complex as my daughter’s mother-in-law. And she heard voices. No, really it was a song, not
the sort that often comes to us in our
mind’s ear, but a real earthy loud song.
No songs were playing
outside her apartment; it was definitely coming from inside. The stereo wasn’t on;
either was the television or the radio. Still, she could hear that song.
Evelyn began to think she was having mental problems
and went so far to speak with a psychologist that lived in the same apartment building.
They couldn’t find an answer, and she seemed of sound mind, except for that
damn song.
One day Evelyn found the answer.
Have you ever seen one of those coffee mugs that has a song player in its bottom? Pick up the mug,
and it is silent. Set it down, and it plays—well, Evelyn had such a mug, and it was playing in her cupboard. She had forgotten she even had it. (Maybe it was playing its Swan’s Song.)
Problem solved.
We have voices too, not
literal ones, but ones that yammer in our
heads on a regular basis. Some call it a monkey mind. Others call it “Being conscious
of being conscious.” You are thinking
thoughts while thinking that you are thinking
them, while also thinking about the task at hand. G. I. Gurdjieff
called it “Self-remembering.”
One way to combat this is to stop whatever
you are about to do and use the “Gathering mindfulness” technique, that is to take a few seconds to notice
what you are about to do. Take in the sight, the sound, the feeling.
The background noise fades, and the world
becomes richer.
To quote Jean Huston, “Change perspective through meditation,
reflection or focus, and discover
yourself to be the latest flower on the tree of the cosmos, ready to Bloom.”
“Have you been half asleep and
have you heard voices? I’ve heard them calling my name.” Kermit the Frog (The
Rainbow Connection)
I could post this entry on Brunch for the Soul, which I
suppose ought to be changed to Snack for the Soul, for I am posting in small
tidbits. Easy to swallow. Easy to digest.
Easy to remember. Posted on http://www.plottwist747.com
Here is September Volume #3.
