One more time to the well
One more time to say 'what the hell'
One more chance to understand
Another chance to lend a hand
Let's see now, where were we? Away from judgment and loathing, toward gratitude and joy.... Interestingly, it's hard for me to actually remember those words. I had to refer back to the blog to see the words that made so much sense a couple of days ago, that seemed so central and true. I still believe in their worth, but I find it fascinating that I, who can remember words for decades and decades, has trouble placing this particular sentence into a retrievable folder.
I'm reminded of a period of time in which I got some over-the-phone coaching from my friend Terry who was training as a life coach and needed some people to practice on. It was kind of like free counseling and I ate it up. We would talk for maybe 45 minutes once a week, and I found it exciting and helpful to focus in like that. But I noticed that the insights would fade over the course of the week until being rekindled during the next week's conversation. It occurred to me that I wished I had some way to keep the knowledge close at hand, kind of like the Catholics would use a set of rosary beads to hold and meditate on. That thought inspired a tune which came out more or less instantaneously.
I'm gonna make a rosary of the things I should remember
Things I should remember to guide me on my way
Guide me on my way on the path that leads to the holy one
Path that leads to the holy one
Circle round the sun and the day is done yeah
Circle round the sun and the day is done
Back when I was younger I swore I would remember
Swore I would remember the miracle of life
Miracle of life, a precious gift from the holy one
Precious gift from the holy one
Circle round the sun and the day is done yeah
Circle round the sun and the day is done
When I'm with my friends and my family my heart could fill to bursting
Heart could fill to bursting when I'm dancing in their light
Dancing in their light, a reflection of the holy one
Reflection of the holy one
Circle round the sun and the day is done yeah
Circle round the sun and the day is done
I love the little children, their hearts are truly innocent
Hearts are truly innocent, their spirit's full of joy
Spirit's full of joy because they're so close to the holy one
So close to the holy one
Circle round the sun and the day is done yeah
Circle round the sun and the day is done
We're standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before us
The ones who came before us, they planted the seeds
Planted the seeds, asking blessings from the holy one
Blessings from the holy one
Circle round the sun and the day is done yeah
Circle round the sun and the day is done
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Feeling pretty good about things, and for no good reason, which seems like a good thing. I do believe that the judgment piece has been quite the hindrance over the years, in many ways. (if I were to judge, that is). OK wise-ass take a break from the 'clever' for just a minute. I've been a hyper critical person over the years, directing the beam of analysis both inward and outward, and I'm feeling that it would be a good thing to give it a rest, be more accepting of myself and others, lighten up the critique and see what, if anything, happens as a result.
I met this young American guy in Thailand, sensational guitar player, travels around the world and records videos of himself performing songs at the Pyramids, the Eiffel Tower, the beaches of Southern Thailand etc. Great player, very self involved, ego very prominent and it all feels kind of 'young' to me. I'm not really judging now, just sensing something that I can relate to. He's been in this rage about some people criticizing him for playing covers, and he's been spewing lots of vitriol about how they're so stupid and he's gonna show them how wrong they are, meanwhile, please watch my videos.... It's a turn-off, and I imagine that over the years, people have had that same reaction to me and my own little superiority number. Fuck, I'd have that same reaction to me and some of my 'artiste' moments. So this guy is providing a good mirror.
Contrast that with people like the Dalai Lama and other wise ones. In my mind, they have the ability to non-judgmentally view the world and its inhabitants as part of a great process. I obviously can't speak for the Dalai Lama, but I have a sense that he would see people in terms of their path toward wisdom. If there are disagreements, it's possible to leave out the judgment and the passion. Just see and sense and keep the center. (and breathe)
I had an experience at the age of twenty, when I was bombing around Mexico for the first time, and I ended up in Agua Azul, a tiny pueblo in Chiapas. It was something of a gringo destination, as there was an incredible tropical river that cascaded through the forest there. It was a tiny settlement, one little store, 10 or 20 indigenous families and maybe twenty gringos camping along the river. I remember this one day when an American guy chopped down a bunch of bananas which he assumed were ripe, but were actually inedible and green. He had no business stealing food from a population that was struggling to survive on beans and tortillas and a little bit of fruit, and the fact that the bananas were now just going to go to waste only added to the wrongness of his act.
One of the elders of the village 'Don Juan' saw this unfold and rather than berate the young man, he just seemed to have a stoic understanding of the situation. He told the guy that the bananas were unripe, didn't raise his voice, said few words, and there was a look in his eye that took it all in without a lot of judgment, even though this was food for his village and some interloper had wasted it. Me, I was furious with the guy, thinking he was a moron, yet the man who was truly affected by the situation showed none of that anger. I would like to aspire to Don Juan's level of understanding and grace. Less judgment and loathing, more gratitude and joy... (and no, I still can't remember it without referring back.... This is fascinating to me, the concept is having a hard time taking root.
