Movie Of Me, Now Playing 24 Hours A Day

Image of the Week
Hand-drawn art by Rupali Bhuva
Image of the Week
Le film de moi, maintenant interprété 24 heures par jour
-- de Krishna Das

Qu’est-ce qui me tient loin de la douce pluie de la grâce ? C’est notre interminable obsession, toute la journée, du moi, je, mien. Nous nous réveillons le matin et commençons à écrire « le film de Moi » : Qu’est-ce que je vais faire ? Où vais-je aller ? Comment est-ce que je vais y arriver ? Est-ce que c’est assez ? Est-ce que c’est trop ? Qu’est-ce qui va arriver ? Qu’est-ce que je vais mettre ? A quoi est-ce que je ressemble ? Est-ce qu’il m’aime ? Pourquoi pas ? Toute la journée. Le film de Moi. Nous l’écrivons, le tournons, le produisons, et nous en sommes la star. Nous écrivons des critiques que nous lisons et déprimons ! Ensuite, nous allons dormir et nous le refaisons le lendemain. Je l’ai vu tellement de fois. Et pourtant, à chaque fois que j’allume la télévision, ça revient : moi, moi-même et mes choses.

Progressivement (mot-clé) et inévitablement (autre mot-clé), les pratiques spirituelles comme le chant éliminent cette version subjective de la vie en dissolvant lentement les attachements qui font que nous nous sentons séparés des gens nous entourent, et séparés de la beauté qui vit dans nos propres cœurs. Tout ce que nous faisons dans la vie est connecté à tout le monde et toutes les choses. Mais puisque nous sommes verrouillés dans notre petit monde à nous, lorsque nous allons à l’encontre d’une autre personne, tout ce que nous touchons est notre version de l’autre personne, et tout ce qu’elle touche est sa version de nous. Il est rare que nous nous touchions *vraiment*.

En 1997, lorsque j’ai commencé à voyager pour chanter avec les autres, un de mes amis s’arrangea pour que je mène une récitation Kirtan à Tuscon, dans l’Arizona, dans un restaurant moyen-oriental appelé The Caravan. J’allais chanter dans une petite salle d’attente, qui était à l’entrée du restaurant. De l’autre côté de la salle, il y avait la cuisine. J’étais assis sur le sol avec mon ami Bub, qui était batteur. Les huit ou neuf personnes qui se présentèrent pour chanter étaient assises sur des chaises dans l’allée que les clients traversaient pour accéder à la salle à manger.

Les clients nous fixaient d’un air interrogatif. La nourriture allait et venait entre la cuisine et le réfectoire, les casseroles et poêles étaient lavées, l’espresso était préparé, et puis j’étais là, chantant et pensant « ça va aussi mal que ça en a l’air ! » Mais j’avais tort. Alors que j’allais commencer à chanter la dernière chanson de la nuit, Namah Shivaya, deux grands gars natifs d’Amérique – ils mesuraient plus d’1m80 et pesaient 150kg chacun – déambulèrent dans le restaurant répandant une aura d’alcool. Ils firent caca dans les deux chaises vides, en face de moi et regardèrent fixement devant eux, le regard vide. Je pensais – je vais chanter à faible voix, car je serai probablement mort avant la fin du chant.

Je commençai à chanter. Et je chantai vraiment. Quand Bub et moi finirent, nous terminions avec un long Om. Ensuite, ce fut assez calme à part le bruit de la cuisine. J’étais assis avec mes yeux fermés, lorsque je réalisai que l’un des gars s’était levé et se tenait debout au-dessus de moi, en regardant vers le bas. Je regardai à cet homme, une montagne. « Et maintenant, Maharai-ji ? Que vas-tu me faire maintenant ? » L’homme dit, « Je suis natif américain. [Pause.] J’étais au Vietnam. [Pause.] Je comprends la chose véritable lorsque je l’entends. [Pause loooongue.] Et tu l’as. » Lorsqu’il s’en alla, je recommençai à respirer à nouveau.

J’ai été tellement rattrapé par le film de Moi – mon propre programme de qui et de quoi j’avais peur – qu’il n’y avait plus de place pour voir qui était vraiment cette personne. C’était une véritable leçon d’humilité de reconnaître comment j’étais profondément pris dans mes propres projections, même après une nuit entière de chant.

Chacun de nous vit dans son propre univers, dans une certaine mesure. Nous devons devenir conscient des modes de fonctionnement de nos programmes, et comment ils colorent nos vies et nous coupent d’autres personnes, nous laissant les entrevoir uniquement de loin depuis nos barricades privées. Tout le monde apporte son propre passé et porte son propre futur avec lui, à tout moment. Nous avons l’impression d’être la chose la plus importante de l’univers et que tous les autres existent uniquement en relation à nous. Je te regarde et vois la manière avec laquelle tu t’habilles et tu te coiffes, et cela évoque un bon nombre de conjectures inconscientes sur qui tu es. Ce n’est pas qui tu es, c’est seulement ma version de toi. C’est ce que font les êtres humains. Bouddha disait que comparer est en fait la dernière sorte de pensée à avoir. Nous sommes toujours en train de comparer : Elle est plus grande que moi. Il est tant. Elle est cela. Tout au long de la journée, nous nous voyons à travers le prisme d’autres personnes.

=====

Graines de questions pour faire germer la réflexion : Que pensez-vous de la notion « Lorsque nous allons à l’encontre d’une autre personne, tout ce que nous touchons est notre version de l’autre personne, et tout ce qu’elle touche est sa version de nous » ? Pouvez-vous partager une histoire personnelle pendant laquelle vous êtes devenu conscient de vos propres projections ? Qu’est-ce qui vous aide à vous détacher de la comparaison ?
Seed Questions for Reflection

What do you make of the notion that 'when we reach out to touch another person, all we touch is our version of the other person, and all they touch is their version of us'? Can you share a personal story of a time you became aware of your own projections? What helps you let go of comparing?

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Add Your Reflection

14 Past Reflections
AB
Sep 17, 2020
I was wearing a skirt, a colorful one, too, I think. In my obviously male body, this can be a bit unusual, but I wear skirts so often that I usually forget about the fact. I was in the line to catch the car ferry going to Seattle, standing next to my car when a middle aged white guy with a big belly, baseball cap, dressed in boots, Levis, big belt buckle and a t-shirt under a dirty jacket approached me with a clear intention of talking to me. I flashed on how I was dressed and internally steeled myself for some kind of attack. "Great game yesterday, wasn't it!" "It was awesome! Best game I've watched in years! And the Seahawks even won it!!" I had forgotten I was wearing a Seahawks cap. I was really moved that what this person noticed about me was our commonality, while what I perceived was difference. His reach was from enthusiasm and kindness. My withdrawal was from projection and fear. I think of myself as an extememely kind person, yet here I exhibited b... View full comment
JE
Jackie Ehlers
Sep 15, 2020
It is difficult to share this story, because I still cringe at my stupidity in letting a simple difference in culture cause such a great mis-judgement in my view of another human being! In Zambia, we made friends with a food scientist who made wonderful, nourishing foods from local plants and trees. His wife seemed to be a simple, quiet homebody who prayed five times a day, cared for their two children, and cooked wonderful vegetarian dishes. Our children played together, and she taught me how to make banana flower cutlets. Our conversations always seemed to center aroundhome and children. A number of years after we returned to the US, we got a letter from hersaying that she was coming to America and would love to visit us in Detroit. It turned out that the reason for her visit was that she was going to speak to the United Nations assembly. This "simple homebody" had a Masters degree in Urdu literature,was now a Member of Parliament in Bangladesh, and had recently become the ... View full comment
LI
LilaH Sep 16, 2020
Thank you for sharing this. Its a potent reminder to us all to look at our assumptions in the midst of our 'enlightened' state (as we believe it to be).
AB
Alan Brisley Sep 17, 2020
Jackie,

Thank you for the story. I, too, just wrote a personal story and reflection.

Yours was the first in a list of ten other responses. I got so excited to read the rest!

I have also now read them (well, skimmed actually.) I began skimming them because they had no stories!!!!! They were all about the philosophy or the lesson. Shocking, considering the reflective instructions . . . . . . . . Thank you for your story and your reflection. I will remember your story. I have already forgotten your reflection . . . . .
DD
David Doane Sep 19, 2020
I thank you too, Jackie, for your personal story about how we miss important things due to our assumptions. I appreciate the reminder.
MA
matangi Oct 6, 2020
I have a story about how I judge book by cover famous verse however from conversation above it seems it's a common scenario. I teach yoga and Art of living classes .one 80 yr old enrolled in class and was happy with instructions etc I happen to speak same native language so made her more communicative with me . Initially my reaction was how is she going to manage all instructions but to my surprise she not only managed virtual class and later revealed to me she has a master in education was principal of school and was vigilant with mahatma Gandhi non violence movement of her time . I recognize how narrow my judgement was inspite of teaching how interconnected we are !
My take away is change your lance become conscious of unconscious
Namaste
JF
Jennifer Faith
Sep 15, 2020
Just moments ago, on this sharing site, I read the incredibly beautiful story of en enlightened man who suffered and survived Auschwitz as a child. Right away, his story related to the one I am currently writing, in an effort to understand this Godliness on earth. I often ask myself why am I writing this? Who am I to write these stories and in this case, why did I decide to share the self referential connection? The question posed has helped me with some answers. These are the stories to be told and shared, of our collective human experience, now mute than ever. We are all one and everything relates, if we would only remember this and forgive our human flaws to become more God-like. thank you for this site, these posting, these questions and these comments.
VC
Sep 15, 2020
Thank you for sharing this. It's a beautiful piece. I can so relate.... "Even after he had chanted for hours he still found himself getting caught in his own projections, the 'movie of me'- his own program of who and what he was afraid of."
PA
Sep 15, 2020
It’s all part of “belonging” — simply sit with it, hold it, then let it hold you. }:- a.m. “en Christo” #TUC
JS
Jaya Sarkar
Sep 15, 2020
This is such an eye opening revelation. Read it a few times to hold it within. Feels to be a step closer to the universal self....
PS
Priya Shukla
Sep 14, 2020
I can tesonate with the story. The story of "Me' id always playing and we form judgements about others based on looks, style of dressing, personality etc. I am working on myself to not to judge others. My Buddhist practice, self work, being with people who practice it is helping me in that direction. I have realizes through experience that higher education doesn't necessarily means being more flexible or open minded and being more wealthy doesn't always translate it generosity.
SG
Sep 13, 2020
Even before we actually meet another person ,we form a mental perception of that person , which may be based on theirexternal appearanceand it is most of the time coloredwith our prejudicesand is also based on what movie is playing, in our head, at that time . Our perception about others also gets affected whether we see them from a space of fear or whether we see from a space of love.
This happens throughout the day as we are caught up in our movie "about me " all the time. We are constanly thinking about our past and what we are going to do next.
Meditation or chanting helps us in breaking that pattern and makes us calm . This calmnessbrings us back to the present moment and and with this awareness t we can meet another person without our prejudices and we would be able to see the other person, as to who he actually is, rather than our projection about him. In the calm and aware state we can see the real " him".
JP
Sep 11, 2020
Clear version is created by clear vision. As I was growing up, I learned many valuable lessons of life from my father, by his words and by his actions. I remember one wise saying he used to say, " Yahtadristi, tatha sristi". As is my vision so is my world. If my vision is colored by my prejudices, judgments, assumptions, and expectations, I am going to create my mental, emotional and behavioral world by my vision. The same way the other person relates to me by his vision. Our versions of each other is created by our vision.Clear versionis created by theclarity of my vision. My mother used to say that when your eyes are affected by jaundice, you see everything yellowish. Buddha uses the word sati for clarity with no clouds of prejudice or selfishness floating in the mind.It is difficult to be free from prejudiceand judgments whichhave slipped into our unconscious mind. As a result as Krishna Das says. we"create the movie of me...we write it, direct it, produce it, and sta... View full comment
DD
Sep 11, 2020
My perspective is that all is one, and I am part of the one. From my side,when I see and touch the other, all I see and touch is me and my version of the other. All I a little bit know is me. What the other feels in my touching him or her, I don't know. I assume all this is the same for 'the other' who touches me. I started to become aware of my projections in my early 20s, during the same time that I began psychotherapy. I'm not sure which came first -- I am sure they affected and enhanced one another. This was also the beginning of the seeds of what became my spirituality. My awareness grew that I look out and see me, or at least see my thinking including my assumptions, expectations, prejudices, judgments. When I let go of comparing, what helps me let go of it is that it's not good for me. If I compare me to be better or worse than the other, above or below the other, I'm separating myself from the other, which is false, negative and harmful for me and for th... View full comment