Being In the Present Is Where We need to Live Our Life. For Too Many This Is A Rare Experience:
It was a first gathering with this group of 10 including the leader. When preparing for a new organization and a first gathering of the leader and their Inner Circle I tell them to come to the workshop prepared to be as comfortable as possible. I suggest jeans or sweats because we might spend some time lying about on the floor. Anything I can do to increase interest in what is to come has to help people that have never met me. I always searched for tools and methods to bring this about.
This particular time I brought to the meeting a small boom box and a CD of Baroque Music. I had every one find a comfortable place on the floor and told them that we were going to listen to about 3 minutes of baroque music and that I would replay this same section of music 4 times. The first time I want them to listen to the music as one whole picture. I played the CD and people listened at different levels. A few may have been familiar with the music, but the majority had no connection to this very old/new sound, but at least heard the variety of instruments playing with and against each other in a harmonious way. In the 2ndlistening I told them to listen, once again, to the full baroque orchestra.
Following the identical 3 minute piece a 2ndtime proved that familiarity was quick to take place. For the 3rdlistening I asked them to select an instrument and for the 3 minutes follow only 1 instrument and try not to hear any other instruments. I did this for the 4thlistening and to select the same instrument and filter out any other sound. At the conclusion of the 4thtime listening to the same piece of music I waited a few minutes and went from person to person inviting their feelings and thoughts.
The experiences they shared were powerful certainly to them. At least four cried while sharing what they felt and for some what they saw. One told us of being visited by G—and was assured that her mother would recover after a serious operation. Another shared that she was flying by herself over the countryside and saw colors and landscape as never before. Each shared what for them was a remarkable moment during this experiment of being fully present. Needless to say, the experience of being present with the baroque enveloping them was a successful time for everyone. In future gatherings we never needed to spend time or discuss “being present.” We all simply were. And, yes, more music?
Without being in the here and now we do not hear each other. We certainly do not understand each other and we cannot converse and feel confirmed relative to what we say and feel. So much is lost when not present. In comparison, so much is gained by our being present. Dialogue with family, friends, co-workers and even strangers is potentially so full of riches that to miss what being present means to each of us is too great a loss. Just consider what the people in this story gained and learned about themselves by our simple music experiment? (Hearing and listening—next) Sy
Haikus:
I am here and now————-A blessing to be present————–Why be somewhere else?
The Key “Be Present”———-Opens doors to know answers———–Are you here and now?
