Zen Parable February 27, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Life Balance.comments closed
An arrogant man, who felt that no one could teach him anything, visited a Zen master for tea.
The Zen master poured the tea until it overflowed the cup, and still he continued to pour.
The arrogant man cried, “Master, stop! Why do you keep pouring? The cup is full.”
The master replied, “You too are full of your opinions and judgments about the world. You must empty yourself of the past, to receive the present.”
Quote: When we hang on to our opinions and judgments, there is no room for anything else. Lama Surya Das
Amadeus February 27, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Books & Movies, Music & Dance, People, Spirit & Ego.comments closed
Last night, we watched Amadeus (1984) ~ a fascinating film about my favorite classical composer (Mozart) and his jealous rival (Salieri).
As I contemplated the beautiful set, elaborate costumes, amazing music, and intriguing storyline, what struck me most:
How differently I viewed the actors’ actions now vs. when I saw Amadeus the first time in 1984.
Obviously, the music hadn’t changed, the characters hadn’t changed, the dialogue hadn’t changed, the setting hadn’t changed ~ only one thing had changed since its release in 1984 . . . my interpretation of the scenes unfolding before me.
My interpretation of the film changed over time because I changed over time ~ the experiences I’ve had over the past 26 years have shaped both me and how I perceive the world around me.
Instead of viewing Salieri as inherently evil, I saw him as wholly human ~ albeit flawed. He reminded me of many people I’ve known over the years who view life competitively, not cooperatively:
*Individuals who rush to the front of the line, not worrying about who they trample in the process.
* Individuals who grab another (or bigger) piece of the pie, without concern for whether everyone else has eaten.
* Individuals who are more focused on feeding their egos than nurturing their spirits.
As Mozart died last night, I wondered . . . how would the story have ended if Salieri had been guided by the spirit of coöperation?
Quote to ponder: We see the world behind our eyes.
No rules. Just write!
Spirit Lights The Way 