Ruminating on sound.
Consider sound; everything from music to noise, and how these sounds make us feel.
Noise makes us angry, music makes us fall in love. There are sounds that make us feel sad, irritable, scared, happy, young and old. How is that? How can sound evoke so many different feelings? Does it tap into all our memories and what we associate them with? Absolutely. Does it tap into something more, an even more basic experience of our existence that we have known from the moment of our conception, if not before?
Vibration is to sound what thought is to matter.
Contemplate where vibration becomes sound, or where thought becomes matter. The very act of contemplating this moment, of trying to imagine it puts us in that moment in that we are experiencing it and feeling it as it is happening. In our effort to contemplate where thought becomes matter, we become the ‘where’ because we are feeling it as we use our minds’ attention to witness how it manifests in our body. When our minds try to define or interpret the experience, we are no longer feeling it. Interesting.
The mind creates concepts; of ‘infinity’ and ‘eternity’ as a way to understand and define that experience of change and becoming. It abhors witnessing without judging and seeks to define, quantify and qualify that experience because it needs to believe it can. The mind needs to experience some power over this event of existence, this state of always becoming. It needs to see itself as ‘apart from’ and not’ a part of,’ because being ‘apart from’ implies some control, and acknowledging being ‘a part of’ implies that the mind is in a state of change over which it has no power.
Everything vibrates. Every molecule, atom, every particle of energy that makes up thought which makes up everything that is, is in motion and at some moment in its transition to sound and matter, it experiences itself and that’s what we feel; the vibration of all existence coming into being and our belonging in its fabric.
As humans, we have the gift of consciousness and the ability to focus our minds on the act of witnessing our existence without judgement or the need to define or know. That’s when we feel God, truth, love…
On Blogging and Shared Thoughts | Paul M. Glaser | 
January 21, 2010 2:01 pm
By Raffy, January 21, 2010 @ 3:03 pm
Some of the most touching words I ever read. They really “flow” and make my heart, mind and body vibrate together. It happens when we can experience that truth we know deeply within… beyond our mind. We then recognize it. We awaken. We re-member. And this moment is speechless…
Thank you…
By HILDA LIPRACE, January 21, 2010 @ 3:27 pm
DEAR PAUL THAT EVERYTHING IS MOVEMENT BETWEEN AND THE LOVE IS ITSELF ACTION EVERYTHING WHAT WE UNDERTAKE WITH LOVE TAKES PLACE THE PROFITS IS NECESSARY TO KNOW HOW TO LISTEN TO THE INNER MESSAGES (OUR HEART) AND THE EXTERIORS ALL SPEECH, PLANTS, CLOUDS, BIRDS THE SOUNDS OF THE NATURE, I TO HIM WILL TELL TO SOMETHING ON MY WORK I WORK IN A JAIL OF WOMEN AND APRENDI TO LISTEN THE BIRDS WHEN THEY DID NOT SING WAS THAT HABIA DANGER WITHIN JAIL AND INDEED THUS SUCEDIA, OUR BEING OUR HEART YOU SPEAK SABRA WHO I CREATE MUCH IN GOD AND IS NECESSARY TO KNOW HOW TO LISTEN TO ALWAYS HAS IT A MESSAGE TO GIVE US IN SILENCE IN THE ORATION IN THE MEDITATION AND I LIKE THAT ME TO BE BETTER PEOPLE ALSO WE LISTENED TO INNER WE DID NOT SPEAK WITH WE OURSELF? EVERYTHING ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING HAS SO THAT –ESCRIBI A POETRY ON CLOUDS AND I SPEAK THERE OF THE MESSAGES THAT TRAIAN MIND AND MY HEART SEGUIRE ANALYZING ITS WRITING SO THAT IN EACH WORD I DISCOVER SOMETHING NEW SO SURELY VOLVERE TO WRITE BLESSES IT TO GOD AND CONTINUES LISTENING TO THEIR HEART –HILDA LIPORACE OF ARGENTINA–
By Nadine, January 21, 2010 @ 3:55 pm
Les paroles les plus douces que nous avons entendus vous les filles , vous Paul nos enfants et moi , ce sont les douces paroles de notre maman à notre naissance , de toutes les mamans ces mots sont dans notre esprit domage de ne pas s’en souvenir ! ce qui me console , est que je suis certaine que ces mots d’Amour que Maman m’a dit a ma naissance sont les memes que celles que j’ai dit a mes enfants ! Les plus belles paroles de notre arrivee dans ce monde !
Les paroles de notre compagnon , de votre compagne ce sont des paroles sinceres que nous aimons entendre encore et encore , qu’il est doux de se sentir aime !
Ensuite il y a les premiers mots de nos enfants que ces mots sont doux a entendre ! ces magnifiques petits etre que nous avons eu grace a l’Amour !
Et enfin les paroles de notre derniere heure ! celle de Dieu je crois que ces paroles nous aideront a accepter ce moment ! Le doux message de Dieu a aide les Etres chers qui nous ont quitte !
Merci a vous aussi Paul de vos doux mots , de nous faire partager ” VOS PAROLES
Nadine
By Rach1970, January 21, 2010 @ 6:04 pm
Wow! You’ve written such lovely words that are enlightening.
I very much appreciate when you wrote “As humans, we have the gift of consciousness and the ability to focus our minds on the act of witnessing our existence without judgement or the need to define or know. That’s when we feel God, truth, love…”
That is truth and thank you for sharing!
Rach – TGIF!!
By HILDA LIPRACE, January 21, 2010 @ 10:48 pm
the sound .el penamiento the silence in what of them we listened to our being or the set makes our being – .la musicthat music class we listened? what we want to hear? all this within our being everything is movement we vibrated with emotions but what is music that we have within our being? – I and all we am individual beings each has their body soul and spirit that class of spirit and soul we have – not sera that each we love our being inside music-they say that fierce music appeases to .no sera that we want to appease our own beast to be better person – our being this composed of a whole joint of sensations and emotions (love affection resentment hatred fear sadnesses joys…) that music you want to listen to in your being Paul – I I want to listen to the best one not to have hatred resentment fear sadness-I want to listen to the music of inner the La Paz love have music in my heart (we say God) LOVE PEACE GOD — I believe that with that my heart is sufficient to feel, to escuchar.oir to the love in my heart (GOD) OF THIS IS MUCH TO SAY AND TO THINK .MEDITAR-THAT IT IS WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR LIFE? —– I AM PHILOSOPHISING OR SERA THAT ARE THE 3:45 A.M. — I LOVE PAUL TO YOU YOU MAKE THINK ME REALLY ENOUGH AND GOD BLESSES TO YOU IT FOLLOWS THE MUSIC OF YOUR HEART — HILDA LIPORACE OF ARGENTINA–
By sknash, January 22, 2010 @ 2:29 am
The senses-
To see – beauty in everything, an autumn mountainside, turquoise blue ocean, laughing children, a Christma tree glowing, a roaring fire, love all around you
To hear – pain in someone’s voice, anger, softly falling rain out my window right now, hear that fire crackle, falling snow
To feel – to feel someone’s pain, the icy cold of a hanging icicle, the heat of the summer sand against you, the touch of a baby’s hand, the words “I love you”
To taste-cotton candy, pumpkin pie, good wine,
To smell-the aromas of fall, fear, fresh mowed grass, new born baby, being in love
And if I remember correctly, from the Bell’s of St Mary’s, Father O’Malley mentioned the sense to be. All of these senses allow us to be, to exist, to live. Love and peace can be found in all of them. Have a good Friday everyone and a great weekend. Thanks again for sharing Paul; though my words seem trivial, you make me think outside the box. I appreciate your kindness and generosity in sharing your thoughts and blogging. Susan
By Raffy, January 22, 2010 @ 3:07 am
I also would like to say that when we experience the sound I think we experience the silence at the same moment…. they wouldn’t exist each alone. If it all were sounds we couldn’t experience a melody, only the pauses of “silence” make us appreciate it. I figure sound and silence in my little mind as different states of vibration. However it seems that only sound exists to our human perception, that only “visible” things exist in the space.
I find some more peace when I try to focus also on the “void” between “things”, not only on things themselves, even of course they couldn’t exist without each other. It brings a better sense of the whole, and of us in the whole. All is interconnected on this earth, all things vibrate together, each atom, each cell. It seems we are unable to perceive it in our common experience, I guess our controlling mind tries to stop at every level our capacity to catch this reality. I think we could find so much of our “truth” in it.
Raffy
By Christine, January 22, 2010 @ 4:11 am
Hi Paul, Once again your blog has my mind working overtime! I hope this ties into your blog. To cut a long story short; 12 years ago I fell into a diabetic coma. At home I always have either the radio or cd’s on; I love music, the memories it stirs, how when you don’t just ‘hear’ a song but actually ‘feel’ it. The fantastic sound of a saxophone!. Anyway, back to my point; for 2 weeks I was in intensive care in this coma, I can actually remember coming round hearing faintly at first, music. As I became more ‘aware’ and quite literally ‘conscious’ the music became louder and my mind said ‘hey I love that song’. Unlike films when you come round after a coma you don’t quickly (or at least in my case) become totally fully aware its a slow process, but you do become sensitive to the various noises, familiar voices, etc. Even the rattling of the tea trolley when you are dying for a cup of tea…lol. I find it quite amazing; how the mind still struggles to comprehend everything at all times. It constantly questions. When I came round it wasn’t long before my mind started asking where am I? and what is going on?. It was an experience, not one that I would like to repeat (lol) but it has made me realise how complex and interesting the ‘mind’ can be. Is what we think and feel always connected. To me, to love is also to feel, they in my opinion go hand in hand. We all need love, we all need to feel loved, and hearing a song can remind us of that special person, which in turn will make us ‘feel’. Isn’t it nice to be human? Thank you Paul for getting me thinking again! Love as always Christine. xx
By Softly, January 22, 2010 @ 6:17 am
Dear Mr. Glaser,
Maybe there is no such thing a coincidence, but here’s what happened.
When I came in to my office today there was this strange humming noise, which turned out to be the air-conditioning system on the blink. At first it annoyed me but soon it reminded me of an event that changed me.
Some twenty odd years ago a group of friends tried all kinds of meditations and I trailed along. One day they signed up for a za-zen course and I trailed along.
After the first session of 40 min staring at a wall, my bum and back hurt and I was bored. I was happy the bell rang and I struggled to get up, we walked for ten minutes or so in silent’s, this was Kinhin the monk explained, then another bell and much to my disappointment everyone sat down on their pillow again and stared at the wall for another 40 minutes.
When I finally was saved by the bell and there was tea. People shared their experience and so did my friends, I was amazed how enthusiastic they all sounded, lots of how inspiring and enlightening it had been. I didn’t dare tell about my sore bum and aging back, not to mention how I had been bored stiff. I must have missed something I thought to myself. So next week I went back. The group had reduced in size and some of my friends had canceled claiming busy lives. But I sat there, trying to focus on breathing in and out, but I ended up making grocery list and paint imaginary zebra’s on the white wall. As the weeks went by my friends gave up one by one, while I sat staring at the wall full of zebra’s and artichokes.
Then one week after 40 min sitting we walked kinhin, when I became aware of the overwhelming sound my feet made while walking, then the sound of my clothes rustling came flooding in. I tried to make sense of this strange experience and as soon as I did the sounds were just sounds, I shook it off and focused on my breathing again, as soon as I did the sounds were back as sensations, I became aware of more sounds and sensations of my feet touching the floor, weight of my body shifting and the way my ears felt when these sounds hit. As soon as I tried to think about it, it was gone. I got so absorbed in the ability of turning it on and off that I ignored the bell and walked another round. Eventually I went back to my pillow and counted my breathing, and played with this new found ability.
When we had tea and shared our experience I said nothing I just smiled, and bowed to my teacher he smiled and bowed back.
I stayed which him for a few years and discovered the vastness of awareness and the limitations of mind.
We had a strange relationship we laughed a lot but we argued a lot too. In hind side I think I have more a Tibetan Buddhist attitude of critical skepticism, for him as Japanese Buddhist monk that must have been very strange. However I had and still have a great reverence for him as my teacher.
Before he went back to Japan he told me “be kind to mind” I smiled and bowed, but didn’t get what he meant till only recently.
His lessons and all the lessons anyone ever offered me, still vibrate within me and echo thru all I do.
With gratitude I remain forever learning,
Softly
By Rach1970, January 22, 2010 @ 7:53 am
Christine – thank you for sharing! When you mentioned that rattling of the tea trolly. I had to smile!
I love music as well and I find it helps me appreciate the people and places in my life. As for sounds which are part of our daily existence I think it’s pretty amazing when we just slow down to hear them and appreciate them. I love to go for walks and I appreciate nature’s beauty. I enjoy hearing and seeing nature’s beauty when I hear the singing of birds, or see a new flower, or hear a bee buzz. In my are of B.C. we have the most lovely view of the mountians which are just awesome to see in on a sunny day! My senses are appreciative of God’s beauty. I find this so calming in this “hurry up” world of ours.
Have a great Friday everyone!!
Rach
PS Pam thanks for your sharing as well. Of course it matters.*g*
By Christine, January 22, 2010 @ 8:08 am
Hi Rach, Thank you for the thank you! Your country sounds beautiful! Isn’t it lovely to be able to share our thoughts and life experiences, with one another! Its interesting to me to see that even though we all come from different parts of the world; basically we all share the same feelings and emotions at one time or another. Oh and by the way Rach, I love tea, I need my caffeine lol. Have a good weekend. Take care, Christine xx
By Nadine, January 22, 2010 @ 8:48 am
Hilly peux tu traduire moncommentaire pour les filles , je sais que Paul le lira en Francais , il doit faire des progres je compte sur lui pour me dire si il a reussi à le lire ! Merci ma copine ! Bisous!!!!
By Josie, January 22, 2010 @ 9:52 am
Beautiful Softly.
Me too.
Josie xx.
By Josie, January 22, 2010 @ 10:00 am
Everything is so wonderful, I’m without word.
Hey Pam Of course is important.
Josie xx
By hilly, January 22, 2010 @ 12:25 pm
at Nadine’s request I’m summing up her post here
she says that the gentles words we have all heard are the words our mothers spoke when we were born – even if we don’t remember them now. And she is sure that she said the same thing to her children when they were born.
What our partners say to us; a child’s first words and finally the last words we hear, when God speaks to us at the end of life, are all pleasant to hear.
She thanks Paul for sharing his words with us too.
By hilly, January 22, 2010 @ 12:31 pm
One difference few people really make is that between listening and hearing.
Hearing is a passive action. Sound passes past our ears and we register its meaning in our brains (consciously or unconsciously or even subconsciously) and it is on this level that we may perceive ourselves to be ‘aggressed’ or ‘attacked’ by sound. That invasive sound that disturbs our reflections or drowns out that which we want to hear. How many times have you stood in a store and thought ‘why do they have that music so loud?’ Or, what about the ‘boomboom car’ driven by a young (usually male) driver who wouldn’t hear a siren if it was in the car with him? My cynical mind says if ever I have the spare money I’ll buy shares in hearing aid companies!
Sometimes we hear and want to hear what is around us. Out walking by the river I love to let the sounds of the world around me wash over my ears and into my mind. I don’t actively listen but I hear. But then a sound reaches out to me and I listen to it too. It beats the MP3 most of the time.
And sometimes, as you put it so well, Paul, a sound evokes something and taps into our memories.
When I was a student I always had music going when I was studying. I wasn’t actively listening to it – I was studying! But the music entered my subconscious and when I sat and stared at an exam paper the first thing that came into my mind wasn’t the information I needed for the answer but the music I was listening to when I was studying that particular subject. Over 30years on there are still a few songs that trigger of a quick run-down of the cranial nerves!
There is one passage of music I have to switch off. It reminds me too much of a violent movie I didn’t even want to go to see…and there are songs that make me smile or cry over loves lost. They are so deep in my subconscious I doubt I could even tell you what they are – until I hear them again.
But if we listen…that is something totally different. We make a conscious effort to hear and interpret the sounds, the speech, the ‘natural music’ around us. We listen ‘into’ the sound; we search for a detail – a passage by one instrument in the midst of an orchestra; a voice in a crowd.
The voice in our hearts – our spirit calling to us.
Listening is one of the most important ways in which we learn about ourselves and about those around us.
And if we lose the capacity to hear…we can still listen. It isn’t a contradiction – we can listen with our minds and hearts. Let the world reach out it us even if we can’t really hear it. Feel its vibrations in our minds. Because what we hear is also a vibration. This is why singers often cover one ear to be sure that they are in tune.
We can take comfort in sound – the gentle lapping of waves on the seashore; a child laughing or whatever you find pleasing to the ear. There’s an expression to think about? “What pleases my ear?” what do I want to listen to when I try to find my own awareness in this big noisy world.
Close your eyes; take a deep breath and listen…it is the beat of your heart; it is the his of your breath. It is your life.
We need to stop and listen to ourselves; listen to our bodies in every sense. If we can learn to do that, we can learn to listen to the world.
Sound can wash over us…and take us away with it, like the waves of the ocean. In becoming a part of that sound we become a part of our universe. Maybe Shakespeare was right when he wrote of the music of the planets. In hearing (or listening to) that universe we become aware of our own finity within the infinite; we are but tiny atoms in the universe that surrounds us.
In an earlier age people spoke of the “harmony of the planets”. We have so many phrases that take this idea on board: ‘in tune with nature’, ‘tuned in to (an idea)’, ‘on (the same) wavelength with X’
All these are perhaps expressions of our desire to be a part of that harmony of the universe; of eternity. Our desire to be a part of the world.
Finally, I refer you to Paul’s own poem: “Silence”.
Listen to it with your heart and your spirit; and you will hear the silence between the words.
By hilly, January 22, 2010 @ 12:34 pm
of topic (sort of)…I just went and read that poem again and
“wooooooooooooooooooooooo” I love the new presentation of your poems with the photos in the background.
Great work Paul and Pam; this site is a joy for the eyes as well as the mind
By sagacity, January 22, 2010 @ 3:50 pm
If I may, there is a simple distinction I would like to make: to judge (or to evaluate) is something that we all must do daiy and in all aspects of living and existing. This is quite different from “passing judgment,” which is taking those conclusions drawn and translating them into sweeping generalizations which (often unfairly) classify or label people, situations, thoughts, beliefs, actions or ideals in very narrow and/or rigid terms.
By moncanzuba, January 22, 2010 @ 4:58 pm
“Vibration is to sound what thought is to matter”
Dear Mr. Glaser,
What a wonderful words you wrote about witnessing ourself as we are through the sounds and vibrations. In fact deaf people are incapable of perceiving sound BUT vibrations. They distinguish situations depending on the vibration they perceive.
Personaly I do an excercise since long time ago when I meditate: I put some music, empty my mind and let the music affects me, and believe me, the experience is always different. I’ve experienced anger, sorrow, joy, pleasure and at the end I’ve got myself lifted. Is in THAT momento when I sense that I have accepted myself in every of those emotions, because the music always vibrates inside me. It puts me in motion and helps me to get over a million of situations (and this reminds me The Alan Parsons song “Music” sang by John Miles).
As time goes by, you start to “vibrate” once you recognize yourself as a part of “the Cosmic Connection” that links everyone with everything (God Bless Dr. Carl Sagan for such a wonderful book!).
And don’t forget that we are familiar with vibrations right from our mother’s womb, that’s why when we hear a drum, it is impossible that we stay still, rythm and music are in our blood, in our soul, in our breath and show us how we vibrate in any situation (pleasant or unpleasant).
This is an interesting way to see ourself, for sure.
Thanks again for the pleasure to be here, always learning and sharing, and excuse my english which is not my first tongue.
Best wishes.
Monica (from Argentina)
By moncanzuba, January 22, 2010 @ 5:25 pm
…is in that MOMENT (no momento … again my spanish playing with my writing *lol*)
By stonealbatross, January 22, 2010 @ 5:30 pm
Once again I am reminded of the power of words and their suggestion. I have a mild form of Dyslexia and one area I do have a lot of difficulty with is filtering out background noise. The opening paragraphs invoked such a strong reaction I had to resist the desire to curl up in a ball screaming and crying. (I’m not usually this melodramatic, it’s just been a bad year.)Anyway a few more read throughs and I will have desensitised myself and be able to read what is actually there.
The rest of the blog however came as a great relief. As I read what has been written I realise I used to know this stuff, but it has been so long since I had the space to consciously think about it, let alone practice it that I have lost the ability to articulate any of it. I have had great problems trying to explain some things to my now ex-therapist. How could I possibly experience such powerful outbursts of grief and have nothing to say beyond it’s just part of the bereavement proccess? It is the cause of much introspection when you realise your therapist doesn’t understand you!
It’s great to be able to read through the comments and see that other people get it, that I’m not actually out of sync with the whole of humanity.
So Paul, thank you for giving me back the words, they have the power of rediscovery and restoration. Once I get past the histrionics (bare with me on the sense of humour folks)there really are some good things being dredged up.
By lady800cc, January 22, 2010 @ 9:21 pm
PMG, PamM and BlogFam,
Standing under Natural Bridge in West Virginia; Hearing and experience the song “The First Time Ever I saw Your Face” as sung by Roberta Flack; Standing atop the CN Tour on a clear day; sitting on a blanket at Cape May Point watching the sun disappear into the white of the ocean; feeling a calmness overcome mind, body and spirit from the sounds of my children laughing; these are moments in time when I just absorb it all without analyzation and witness/feel the power, grace and love of God. When pain leads to a different perspective, it is in that transition of thought and emotion that reveals the power, grace and love of God. I don’t think I would want to witness every moment with analyzing or judgment because that is where the emotions challenge the judgment; Experiencing our emotions allow us to grow to bare witness (of our feelings and not just the “war story”) to ourselves and others for future trials and obstacles.
Lady800cc
**Yeah I Ride**
By lady800cc, January 22, 2010 @ 9:23 pm
Doh (Homereese)
“… I don’t think I would want to witness every moment without analyzing or judgment because that is where the emotions challenge the judgment …”
By Rike, January 23, 2010 @ 12:45 am
there are moments in my life that have an even greater impact on me because of sounds or music. Sometimes it only needs the first beats of a song to make one cry – out of the blue, a chord that stroke with such a vehemence.
I vividly remember one special moment… I had to move out of my home, after 26 years of marriage my husband broke up with our relationship. I had to move out fast – since his new love waited impatiently to move in.
I found a little apartment, old, but cheap enough so I could afford it. First I wasn’t sure if it was the right place. But I had no choice.
Before I moved in I went to my new place in the evening. It was winter, short after Christmas. I felt so incredibly sad, alone, left… After I had switched out the lights I sat down on the floor in the corridor. Through my little roof window I could see the illuminated steeple of the church nearby. I sat there for long, trying to imagine how it would be to finally live there… And my new apartment ‘spoke’ to me. I listened to the sounds the gas heaters made, listened to gentle sounds from outside, cars, people on the street. The church bell… and suddenly I was calm, I felt welcomed. I felt an inner peace I haven’t felt in ages. I know – maybe it sounds absurd. But that was an experience that I will not forget. Because it changed something in and for me….
I read all the comments with great interest, and I thank you all for sharing so much. And especially a big ‘thank you’ to you Paul – for giving us a place like this….
love – Rike
By fee, January 23, 2010 @ 3:56 am
For me the most soothing sounds has always been that of the sea, waves gently lapping or the roar as they crash against the rocks. Add to that the sound of the seagulls as they wheel overhead.
I love walking either on the beach or out in the country and listening to the sounds around me. The birds, wind rustling the leaves of the trees, anything like that.
I agree that one of the most wonderful memories is that of our children’s first words and their laughter. Laughter between friends over something that has been shared.
Yes, certain songs or pieces of music always have the ability to transport me back to a certain time or place.
I have always loved words and reading books (maybe why I chose to work in a library!)
Working there gave me the chance to talk to people and learn a lot from them. Being small branch libraries in the outer suburbs you have people who come in more to chat with another human being than to take out a book. Young mothers stuck at home all day to elderly people who are on their own they all have the need to communicate with another human being. We all need to communicate in one way or another whether face to face or like this on the internet.
This will give a laugh to those of you posting here that have met me but I used to go to elocution classes when a child and actually won prizes! (Hilly & Jools! I heard those snorts!!) I know I still talk way too fast and non stop!
Lol! Anyway, that gave me a love of poetry that has lasted all my life. Words can really make one think or move one to either tears or laughter.
Paul, your poem “Silence” is one that really speaks to the heart. Thank you!
Must go and check out the new layout on the poetry page now.
Fee
By fee, January 23, 2010 @ 4:01 am
Wow! I agree with Hilly that the new layout is fantastic! Well done! Buuut Pam, half of “Silence” is missing!!! My favourite poem is missing a bit!:(
By hilly, January 23, 2010 @ 5:00 am
…see, I was so “ébloui” (dazzled / awed) by the new layout – I didn’t notice that the poem seemed a little shorter than I remembered.
By Raffy, January 23, 2010 @ 5:30 am
Sound (and silence between sounds) seem more powerful than any other things we can experience. Maybe it is the primordial connection we had with all around us, the vibration we know more through mysterious ways. As Paul says, it could also reminds us of something even before this life. It is maybe our better capacity to witness this particular transition from vibration to sound that makes a difference? It speaks so greatly the fact that we couldn’t get the experience and the value of it if there were not a part of ourselves able to witness it. It gives us a great occasion to really “touch” this part of our being, our consciousness. Witnessing prevents us to fall into judgement, and allows us to “be” that sound…
As Paul so wonderfully said, when we “judge” our inner experience or try to define it we lose our connection to it. I think that we “are” when we “witness” ourselves, our humanity, what is going on moment by moment. Of course it can appear quite strange and unacceptable to our mind that “being alive” lies in that act of witnessing. I guess that is the moment when it reacts, leading us away from our consciousness, from the Everything. But we can choose…and choose…and choose…
Raffy
By Christine, January 23, 2010 @ 5:40 am
Its funny how a certain song or tune can remind us of a certain person or place. When Amy and I came to see ‘Aladdin’ and you sang the Ting Tings song ‘That’s not my name’ while dancing around the stage while booming out ‘Ababazar!!’ really has to be one of the funniest parts to watch! I actually bought the cd after that and can’t help smiling whenever it is played. Then every time I hear ‘The Three Degree’s’ ‘When will I see you again?’ I always think of you. I suppose most of us have song’s that remind us, some happy some that actually make me cry; I guess it depends what mood you are in, which cd you choose to listen to. Love as Always, Christine xx
By Christine, January 23, 2010 @ 5:43 am
Sorry that should have been ‘Abanazar’ my typing is not up to scratch this morning! I really need a strong cup of tea! xx
By Rach1970, January 23, 2010 @ 7:55 am
Hilly – I like your explanation of “listening and hearing”. When I go for walks I love to listen to nature. It’s just something I find so soothing!
Christine – You’re right that certain songs do remind us of special people or a special place. I have my favorite songs and I share some of them with my dearest friend. We love the BFF songs.*g* Those are my favorite ones!
I do live near Vancouver, B.C.(lower mainland) and we do live in such a beautiful area. Our city is hosting the 2010 Olympics so we’ll be one busy place in Feb. (off topic, but just responding to an earlier comment*g*)
Rach
By hilly, January 23, 2010 @ 8:16 am
you sang the Ting Tings song ‘That’s not my name’ while dancing around the stage while booming out ‘Ababazar!!’
I wish I’d seen that!
Rach – I see they are having to ‘find’ snow for the Olympics ….I could have sent you some LOL
Seriously: I’m not sure if my mind is imagining this, but I have a memory of Paul being quoted way back in the S&H days as saying that running was his mantra ‘a shelter for the mind’. (bear in mind here, folks, that although I have a fantastic auditory memory the rest of my mind resembles a sieve!).
I can’t run – I walk (very fast) instead…and I take refuge in my breathing and the sounds around me to find some kind of mantra and I feel more at one with myself when I get to the end of the trail. Right now I can’t go for those walks because I’m having treatment on a knee problem…and I find that it is difficult to focus my mind to meditate (or even think straight!*) because my spirit isn’t getting the exercise either; and because of this I am more aware of the discomfort (the pain is gone) in my knee and that makes me less “quiet of spirit” too.
*and this waffling probably proves that point.
I was thinking over Paul’s poem and the other classic ‘ode’ on the subject – Simon and Garfunkel’s The Sound of Silence” came to mind. The idea of embracing darkness to listen to “the sounds of silence”….interesting. Thank you Paul for sparking off so many fascinating insights from the people who have posted here.
Softly, each time I read one of your posts I go off and think about the subject all over again. Your approach is as gentle as your pseudonym.
By hilly, January 23, 2010 @ 8:19 am
This will give a laugh to those of you posting here that have met me but I used to go to elocution classes when a child and actually won prizes! (Hilly & Jools! I heard those snorts!!) I know I still talk way too fast and non stop!
I always understand what you say Fee (it’s the typing that lets you down!) For those who haven’t met her – Fee is a wonderful friend and what she has to say is always worth listening to (even when we were giggling helplessly!)
By hilly, January 23, 2010 @ 8:25 am
rike – I just took a look at some of your photos. they are beautiful and inspiring
By Rach1970, January 23, 2010 @ 9:11 am
Yup Hilly we have no snow so we should’ve asked you.*g* In my area we rarely get snow, but this winter is warmer then normal. Last year would’ve been perfect for the Olympics as we had snow like Europe did this year and I was in my glory.*g* Thankfully our mountains are preparing for the Olympics and are ordering snow.*g*
I love the snowy weather for walks. The silence of the snow falling and the beauty of it is lovely. Just not to drive in.:)
Rach
By Christine, January 23, 2010 @ 9:15 am
Hi Hilly, Honestly Hilly, it was brilliant! Nice to hear Paul sing and the dancing couldn’t help but make you grin! It was a wonderful night one that I will always treasure. I only hope that Paul comes back to England to thrill us again in panto. Sorry everyone, I’ve gone off topic just a touch! xx
By Rike, January 23, 2010 @ 9:27 am
@hilly – thank you, that means a lot to me… especially since I’m not that good with words
@Rach – some warm greetings your way – had the wonderful experience to spend some days in beautiful Vancouver in 2000, I will never forget how much I loved it there… I hope to catch as much as I can on TV during the Olympic games…
By hilly, January 23, 2010 @ 12:03 pm
rike – my German is near non-existent – could we make contact on the forum page here
(you too softly if possible)
- leave a message and we can contact each other there
and as I’m off topic – Christine I heard from others that Abanazaar was as great as Hook, Bromley (London) was easy to get to but Sunderland in January was out of the question!
By PamT, January 23, 2010 @ 12:34 pm
Weird as this may sound, I have from time to time tried to ‘listen’ to the growth of grass and some plants. Once spring is in full flow (and you can definitely ‘feel’ it in the air), the life force is coursing through their veins and the grass and certain species of plants shoot up at a phenomenal rate – virtually before your very eyes. So, despite a few curious looks from the neighbours, I have lain or sat in close proximity and listened carefully (please don’t send around the men in white coats just yet!). And, my perception is that I might have ‘heard’ or ‘felt’ something ….
We are bombarded by an amazing variety of sights, sounds, smells, tastes and sensations every day – and we have acquired the habit of ‘screening out’ many of them, especially the more unpleasant ones, primarily as a defence against our senses going into overload. But equally we can still be capable of listening at an instinctive and deeper level – and I think it’s undoubtedly true that we all have an intensely emotional relationship with music. My view is that we also have an intrinsic compulsion to use sound, in the form of voice, song, rhythm or music as vital expressions of creativity, storytelling, worship, communication or connectivity. I’m certainly no expert, but off-hand I can’t think of a society that hasn’t done this in some form or another. So, sound – and the ways in which we perceive it and also create it – is certainly a fundamental, and even primeval, part of our being.
Anyway, here’s the thing. Paul, I think I must have read your piece a dozen times because I wanted to get to grips with the progression of your thoughts and many of the concepts were entirely new to me. I found myself experiencing a sense of uneasiness. Initially, I attributed this to my apparent inability to comprehend the premise of thought becoming matter (and the associated witnessing). To be honest, I’m still not sure I do understand; unless it’s thought provoking bodily reactions and responses. My mind doggedly chased its own tail on that one for some time.
I thought I had a grasp, albeit a tenuous one, of your concept of never-static molecular energy being present in all and translating through vibration into thought, sound and matter. That made sense to me, as did the link you made (if I understood you correctly) between this and the energy therefore also being present in our own thoughts and bodily matter – making us all part of the ‘everything’. And the sentiment of your final conclusion was compelling, although it’s difficult for me to abandon the desire to know (not necessarily define) because to me, thus far, that’s been an integral part of possessing a curiosity about our existence and its ramifications.
So, although I didn’t understand 100%, I felt I had absorbed at least a proportion of the essence of your thoughts. And yet, I still felt unaccountably uncomfortable … but I wasn’t sure why.
It’s been milling around in the back of my mind for a day or so. In truth, I think a part of me was (and is) backing away nervously, while protesting: “I’m an individual with my own identity. I don’t want to be swallowed up and absorbed into one great anonymous, homogenous mass.” And operating in tandem with this is an aversion to commitment. Having recognised this, two things then struck me immediately. First off, how closely this fitted with your premise that the ego will struggle vigorously to preserve a sense of autonomy, control and being separate. Secondly, how this had been something of a recurring theme for me in other aspects of life. And, yes, I automatically careered off into fully-blown, self-judgment mode.
I am now trying to simply sit and observe once again ….. without the wearing of sackcloth and ashes. I think somebody in previous thread referred to the dangers of ‘self-absorption’, but my view is that ‘self-awareness’ is a whole different ball game. Anyway, Paul, sincere thanks once again for stimulating entirely new areas of thought, for being the catalyst to the discovery of increased awareness and for the offering up of new possibilities – even though a part of me may be finding them a rather scary prospect at this very instant.
Kind wishes.
PamT
PS. @Softly, I liked your post as well – for many reasons, but not least because, having my very own versions of zebras and artichokes, it gave me encouragement that patience and perseverance can eventually bring some insight. Thank you!
@ Stonealbatross, I think one of the most isolating things about the grief of bereavement is the feeling that the rest of the world has kept spinning and continuing as per normal – whilst our own is falling apart and we are experiencing overwhelming emotions that we may not even begin to articulate. Forgive me if this not the case with you, but I wish you well.
By Gina, January 23, 2010 @ 1:23 pm
Beautiful words to read. I am NOT an intelluctual, so my responses won’t be on the same level as your words, and many responses, but my thoughts on sound:
The through-and-through completeness and joy achieved by a perfect chord, or the relief achieved by a resolved dissonant chord, are feelings difficult to match or achieve any other way.
of discontent…Ouch. I’m thinking specifically of anger, misery, gossip, hatred…sadly, the list can go on and on.
Likewise, the noise, noise, noise, NOISE (ala The Grinch
Luckily God blessed us with the ability of concrete memory, by which we can bring up the beauty of perfect chord progressions, favorite songs, happy sounds (a child’s laughter, birds singing) at will.
And happily, He’s provided the gift of earplugs when the hollering gets too loud.
And a note about deafness, as I am a sign-language interpreter~just because your ears work, doesn’t necessarily mean you really HEAR. And just because they don’t, you can still feel the vibrations.
Just my thoughts.
Gina
By hilly, January 23, 2010 @ 2:34 pm
that’s what I was trying to say too Gina; the deaf listen in other ways.
PamT – I don’t think that’s odd. I have always thought that we do hear the sound of invisible movement in the world – I’m never sure of I see tiny particles of dust in the air or is it ‘atoms’ spinning around me. And either I’ve got tinnitus or I can hear my router bleeping right now…so I’ll sign off before it decided to update and go offline!
By HILDA LIPRACE, January 23, 2010 @ 9:31 pm
HELLO PAUL: I READ AND I READ AND COAT SOMETHING OF YOUR WRITINGS… THE BODY THE SOUL THE SPIRIT OF EACH PERSON IS DIFERENTE-CADA ONE HAS ITS OWN SOUNDS, MEMORIES, SENSATIONS IN THE THOUGHT (I) WE ASKED MANY THINGS NOT ALWAYS WE HAVE THE ANSWERS – WONDERFUL RECUERDOS-ES TO REMEMBER OUR NIÑES, ADOLESCENCE HAS GOOD AND BAD MEMORIES BUT OF ALL OF THEM THERE IS EDUCATION – SONIDOS-MUSICA AND OUR MIND WE LISTENED TO WHEN THEM WE REALISED AN INSTANTANEOUS TRIP TO THE BEAUTIFUL SITE I LISTEN TO WHERE IT WHERE IT BRINGS TO OUR MEMORY MEMORIES AND BAD THAT ARE IN OUR BEING IN THIS LIFE IT IS A CONSTANT TRIP TO THE PAST PRESENTS/DISPLAYS AND FUTURE WHERE IT IS APPRAISED THE BEAUTIFUL THING THAT IS TO LIVE I I LOOK FOR THAT MUSIC (GOD) WHERE I ENTER MY HEART AND NO LONGER I HAVE THAT HOLLOW I HAVE MUSIC AND I DO NOT WANT PERDER-LA TO IT LIFE I TEACH MYSELF MUCH UNTIL NOW I HAVE THE LOVE OF MY PARENTS AND OF MY DAUGHTER DIFFERENT LOVES THAT MUSIC IS IN MY BUT THE LOVE OF A MAN THE MUSIC OF MY SAME ONE NOT WHAT IS THE MUSIC OF THE LOVE TO FEEL THAT ONE IS LOVED BY A MAN (APRENDISAJES WHO THANKS TO THE LIFE) TO LEAVE I CAN WRITE MY THOUGHTS .DIOS BLESSES (ALL THE THOUGHTS AT THE OUTSET TO YOU BELONG TO THE LOVE… LATER, ALL THE LOVE BELONGS THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THOUGHTS (ALBERT EINSTEIN) HILDA LIPORACE ARGENTINA
By lady800cc, January 23, 2010 @ 10:58 pm
Ahh a fellow musician; Hi Gina…
“… The through-and-through completeness and joy achieved by a perfect chord, or the relief achieved by a resolved dissonant chord, are feelings difficult to match or achieve any other way. …”
Those are the chords and progressions that are euphoric! There is no time, no space, no past, no future, and even the present is lost in the experience of the profound beauty of the sound…
By Softly, January 24, 2010 @ 2:17 am
There is a line in a song by Eddy Brickell that goes:
“ This eye looks with love,
this eye looks with judgment,
free me take the sight out of this eye.”
I have played that song and that line in my head for I don’t know how many times. Sometimes I sang it to myself as a heartfelt wish, “please stop judging yourself and others”. Sometimes I sang this line as a statement of fact, “I do have two ways of looking at the same thing, so…?”
In this blog the word judgment pops up every now and then and got me thinking what that means to me and I have stumbled on a few things. Please let me share.
One way of judging is very black and white, it is either good or bad, right or wrong, true or false, ugly or pretty, guilty or not guilty. I thought about how I feel judged when the verdict is negative and praised when the verdict is positive. Which is funny because a verdict is still a verdict, a label, a canvas, a way to categorize.
Then a funny image popped into my head. An old fashioned jury next to a skating ring, the ones that were there when the Olympics were still in black and white, the ones with serious faces and old fashion hairdos, that would hold up wooden signs with there marks painted on. Those judges would give marks for artistic qualities, how intricate the moves are, and the overall entertainment value or something like that. This way of judging seemed to me to be more faire, after all, a lot more things are taken into consideration. But you still end up with a way to categorize, bronze, silver, gold or go home empty handed.
I use both systems to judge myself, others, food, art, the weather or sounds. So I sing: “free me take the sight out of this eye.”
Then it dawned on me, what if I stop judging mind for judging. Why don’t I let mind do what it is good at and let it have control over concepts. Let mind sort out a way to weigh pro’s and con’s. Mind is no dummy, it knows we are in a permanent state of flux, it knows it is not the be all and end all, but mind does need a place.
So today I formalized it for my mind; I gave mind a job; find out a much as you need or can about any behavior of self, others, situation or a subjects, than map out as many merits as is fair to judge these behaviors, situations or subjects on. With the full understanding that anything can change or needs to change at any moment. Mind leaped at this near impossible challenge of finally being able to do what I has always done, but now without the fear of being judged, and the rest……the rest feels very free.
Watching where this will go, I remain forever learning.
Softly
By Softly, January 24, 2010 @ 2:18 am
After thought.
Process vs. Result,
I’m not very result driven, in fact I have a hard time finishing what I start. But I’m a sucker for process, I jump at any change of finding out how something works, be it a machine, how artichokes are grown, a hat is made or how mind works. Process is what makes me tick. I stay way from competitions, be it in sport or in the workplace. I never know where I’m going, I don’t have a place I want to be, a career, a position or an end result, (this last statement is not a 100% accurate, but it’s pretty close). Being very process driven has its perks, The act of judging become a process of weighing. I picture an old fashioned scale, one with two dishes, one on either side. You put the artichokes on one side and weights on the other side, and watch the needle find the center. So the result you are looking for is always balance.
Wait, I have to think about this some more,…. does this mean I am result driven after all?
Softly
By xtexan86, January 24, 2010 @ 2:27 am
First off, Hilly, I can’t begin to count how many times I’ve said that same thing… “…if ever I have the spare money I’ll buy shares in hearing aid companies!”
And my thoughts on song/sound/music…what we ‘humans’ would call music is really our souls expressing a voice, a sound. The Bible says ‘Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” How else is this done except with the soul?
Nature does the same thing, maybe not as harmonious, but just as pure. Think of the sound/vibration of thunder as it echos off of mountains, the sound of ocean waves crashing on the edge of a reef, the sound of a stream gently flowing down an incline of rocks.
And another question of the day. Where does the soul live – in the heart or in the mind?
Peace.
By marly, January 24, 2010 @ 4:02 am
I don’t like change….
In fact I often clench to what I experience to be safe
Change is not safe at all.
If I hold on tight I might be able to stop it.
That’ll put my mind at ease.
My mind tells me this and I could almost believe it to be true.
Almost…..
Deep down,my subconscious(?)does experience the everlasting vibration of change.
It’s always there….
It’s frightening but also strangely reassuring.
No use in fighting it.
Everything vibrates, vibration is change.
I’m part of it all,I’m alive!
If I could only hold on to this insight.
If I could only set my mind free.
Forever learning,
Marly
By hilly, January 24, 2010 @ 6:14 am
Where does the soul live – in the heart or in the mind?
that’s a very good question ‘xt’
First let me make one point – I have no religious label, my spiritual ID is too complicated to list but my Jewish heritage is most likely the major influence on my journey; it’s the framework on which I can build the rest of my system of values.) To me the words ‘spirit’ and ‘soul’ have no religious significance (small ‘r’ and big ‘R’) but more that they are concepts within our being.
I don’t imagine my spirit or my soul ‘migrating’ from my body as an identifiable entity – but as an understanding of my experiences. So if, when my physical being dies, my soul and spirit move on (towards nirvana perhaps) there is not a physical migration but a new realisation that the person (or ‘being’ – I’ll take a cat if I can’t be human) has learnt from my experiences and takes those lessons forward in its (my)journey forward
To me the ‘soul’ of each thing we think do or say or hear or see is the deep meaning within it. It is my ‘for intérieur’(french) – my deep inner being.
Whereas the spirit of something can be the impression it gives – it’s more a feeling, an emotion. It is also a part of that ‘for intérieur’ – but it is the reasoning and the interpretation that enables and empowers the inner being to function and to be at peace with the world around it – including the physical environment that is my body.
My spirit is my emotional soul.
We can have a ‘change of spirits’ but I don’t think we can have a ‘change of soul’. We can change our spirit – our emotional approach to life and the world about us – but our soul is always there; our inner being struggling to make sense of our spirit’s interpretation of our environment. Our spiritual progress can, therefore, bring comfort to our souls.
Some of us have had ‘out of body’ experiences (coming out of a coma; para-psychic experiences; being stoned!) these can be scary or they can be so pleasant that we don’t want them to end. They give us a moment of rare observation of our inner selves…not as others see us but as our own spirit sees our soul. Sometimes that is a scary thing – and sometimes we learn something that we want to hang on to – and have to watch it float away like a child’s lost balloon when we regain our ‘normal’ awareness.
Then we need to call on the experiences of our spirit to hep our soul understand the new things we saw and learnt and be ready to run after the string of the balloon when we see it floating within reach.
By Marianne K, January 24, 2010 @ 7:56 am
Vibration and thought are energy,which can neither be created or destroyed…..so it all exists always. The “sounds of silence” are the most wonderful and peaceful sounds because everything is present in that silence.
By Christine, January 24, 2010 @ 8:51 am
Just a thought that came to me at 2:30 this morning; when I was thinking about this blog. Have you ever ‘heard’ a smile? You know when you talk to some one on the telephone, mobile phone, or loud speaker etc? You can actually ‘hear’ the smile in their voice; If you close your eyes and listen, really listen to their voice you can hear it. I have often noticed it on tv or radio too even if you aren’t in the same room, to actually ‘see’ it. With love, Christine.
By xtexan86, January 24, 2010 @ 10:23 am
Christine, how weird! Just the other day I was listening to U2′s “Losing my religion” and I came up with “I thought I heard you smile” for a title of a future story. I’m glad to see that using that would make some sense to people.
Peace.
By xtexan86, January 24, 2010 @ 10:30 am
Oh, and Hilly, yes! I would suspect that at least one ‘Soul’ does live in London! lol
By Rach1970, January 24, 2010 @ 10:49 am
Christine – I agree a smile can be heard in a voice if we just listen – good point. I like the saying it takes less muscles to smile then to frown.:) How true!
Rike- I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Vancouver. I hope you got to see some of our lovely sites. The Capilano Bridge is something for the senses and I remember going there as a child. I won’t forget it.*g* It sways! My BFF and I want to go on that adventure but we’re afraid we’ll need to bring uh barf buckets. lol
I read earlier some comments about judging. Very good points! I know within myself I try daily to not judge others. It does bother me when people are critical and mean to folks so they can make themselves feel better. I work at seeing the postive and I try to uplift others. It goes back to the mirror and I put that always before myself.
Happy Sunday, Rach
By Christine, January 24, 2010 @ 11:34 am
xtexan86,
Thank you. I’m just pleased I’m not the only one who thinks that way; otherwise I might be in trouble (lol). I think the great thing about sound, and our ‘hearing’ is that we can pick up on all the different emotions of the people around us; if we just listen. The tone of voice reveals so much about what’s going on inside of us. When a friend telephones us in need of a shoulder to cry on, or support in some way, most times you realize immediately by the ‘tone’ of their voice. I love the way an actor can just ‘get’ the right tone of voice for whatever scene they are given. That’s why most times I end up crying at films or tv (lol) because an actor can make you ‘feel’ Add to it the music in the film and its a tissue job!. Also have you ever noticed how loud a ticking clock appears in the middle of the night? yet it is barely noticeable during daytime? With love Christine. xx
By Rike, January 24, 2010 @ 11:55 am
@Christine – you are definitely not alone on this
That hasn’t changed LOL
About that ticking clock *g*… well I have to admit that I love that. Even as a child I had an alarm clock right beside my bed, just because for the sound it made. Reminded me of a heartbeat and I was able to drift of very fast
About actors making us feel emotions only with their voices, that’s a good issue. For instance: Some time ago I bought all seasons of S&H on DVD. Until then I only knew the German versions on tape – dubbed of course. It was a whole new experience for me without dubbing. To hear each single nuance in the original voices, every tiny little detail in the expression made such a difference. Especially with the great, great body language and the facial expressions… It added so much for me to finally have the complete package. It was like watching something I hadn’t seen before. Phew…
@Rach – have to send you an e-mail to tell you all about my fond memories regarding Vancouver
Hope you all have (had) a great Sunday.
By hilly, January 24, 2010 @ 12:37 pm
@Rike if I get started on the dubbed version of S&H on french TV….enough to say that Starsky was dubbed by a comedian much older than Paul with an established career as a comedy stage actor known for ‘buffoon’-like roles (!)and the voice they gave to ‘Hutch’ was that of an actor who still dubs….and I find it very disconcerting to hear ‘Hutch’ when I’m watching a recent series.
I also find it strange to watch Jacques Balutin as ‘himself’!
Neither of the voices was remotely like the real thing – and in consequence, for me, who had seen the series the first time around the character were never quite right dubbed.;) ^^
As we get older our voices change; often lowering in pitch, or becoming more ‘gravelly’….I wonder how we would react to S&H or any other “older” work by an actor we know well (OK so we all know who I’m thinking of – we wouldn’t be here would we!)if it was his voice as of now coming out of Perchik/Starsky/Ralph….;)
@Christine – I’m another one who misses the tick of a clock. Although I prefer the gentle wake up of my radio coming on (jazz only) to the jangling of the alarm bell!
By hilly, January 24, 2010 @ 12:39 pm
LOL xt – you got my e-mail then!
By Christine, January 24, 2010 @ 12:54 pm
Hi Rach,
Thank you, Hope you are having a good weekend.
Hi Rike, Thank you for that! I understand your delight at having the Starsky and Hutch dvd’s. I also have them all too! They have brought me so much pleasure, I watch them quite often. It must be so nice for you to hear their ‘real’ voices!
Hi Paul,
Just a thank you for providing us with this blog. It has brought people together, and new friendship’s are being made, all because of you.
Love as always, Christine. xx
By disappointed_miss, January 24, 2010 @ 1:01 pm
Contributors,
Even though I’m not sure why, I needed to try to voice my confusion and disappointment one more time. I am just starting out in college and am not sure yet what I want to be or do with my life. Literature, philosophy, and sociology all interest me a lot; which is why I tend to be so curious and passionate about certain things. I’m interested in what other people write and think and feel and why they do so. That is what drew me to this webpage. That is why I walk away from it with a feeling of disillusionment that I can’t help but express. In the beginning it seemed like a great forum for discussion and not the same ol’ same ol’. That excited me. At first. Now? There are so many things about this whole experience that I can’t comprehend. There is so much about people and their motivations/expectations that I can’t make sense of. It isn’t that I am not receptive to other people’s opinions or trying to either oppose someone else’s system of beliefs. It was just that in finding a site that offered new variations on themes that already held my interest, I wanted to be a part of the exchange, not in any way belittle it.
Please.
This is probably the very last time I’ll visit this page. And I usually don’t leave comments. I have enough writing to do for my assignments to give an opinion on everything I read or encounter! In this case I have found myself really perplexed by the reactions to the need to ask questions or voice a differing view when the only objective is to understand and maybe put forth a point or idea that other people might not have considered, even if they don’t agree with it. I still don’t get it how that is somehow being afraid or closed-minded. I thought it was part of “the learning process,” or so that is what I am forever being told.
There really, REALLY is no need for others to jump in to point out the error of my ways.) As I said before, I am not a die-hard fan of the actor who established this blog; so my perspective is not at all a personal one. (I understand, all the same why devoted fans would find it unpleasant or disrespectful for a mere university student to log on and voice dispassionate opinions about their celebrity idol. The truth is, I’m not really in to television that much…but I do have my gurus in literature, philosophy, and social/political thought for whom I would (and do) defend with the same fanaticism were they the ones I perceived to be undermined or challenged.) I’d just like to say that contrary to what many may think about the “younger generation”, quite a few of us think and question deeper issues. We want to learn and grow just like you do. We understand how much there is to discover out there with the realization that the only way to uncover it is to watch and listen to the people who have been there and done that first. And we ask questions, not to put people down or to be know-it-alls but because that is the only way to learn or figure out what to do with the stuff we learn. That was why I feel the need to express my disappointment right now. It felt like this was a place to explore new ideas. Right now my Exploration of Philosophic Thought class is focusing on Eastern religions and principles specifically in terms of how the impact upon the acceptable Western teachings and ideals of today, so I actually discussed things I read here in class and a couple of people, because even though I don’t get everything that is said or even agree with parts of it, there was always something in it to make me think and want to find out more. But it seems to me that it isn’t the younger generation that has no desire to listen or keep be open-minded about things (at least not to the extent it is accepted in our present world). How can anybody open her mind or be amenable to new concepts or opportunities for growth when any failure to understand or agree is looked upon as threatening, negative or somehow disparaging?
Respectfully,
dm
By michaela804, January 24, 2010 @ 1:14 pm
Disappointed,
I hope and pray that this post “hits” before you log out. I would just like to quickly say this one thing. Never stop learning, questioning, or exploring. You seem very bright and inquisitive with a great deal to offer. The same way you found this blog you can find others. Please do so. And never stop seaching for venues for deeper understanding or self-exploration.
Good luck to you. And you keep standing up to be counted. You have many important things to say and should never feel as though you are wrong to believe yourself worthy to be heard.
By disappointed_miss, January 24, 2010 @ 2:19 pm
Dear M804,
Thanks. When I went to get some dinner I left my computer on and at this page because I was sure that someone would take offense and blast me for being judgmental or failing to listen to/value the thoughts of others. I wanted to believe nobody would but I still had this sick feeling in my stomach. And when I told my best friend about it, he told me I really shouldn’t have let it get to me because I really wasn’t that a big of a deal; even so, being heard did matter to me. More than I admitted even to myself. That’s why it was really cool of you to take the time to make me feel okay with saying something that I felt was important (for me) to say. I’m even considering writing my next paper on this whole experience, but I don’t think I’ll be logging in to any more blogs any time soon! X-D
Whoever you are and wherever you are, have a nice night; and thanks a lot.
dm
(You have kids, don’t you? If you don’t I think you would be a really slammin’ mom!)
By Softly, January 24, 2010 @ 2:32 pm
Dear Rike,
When I read your post, I could feel you sitting there in your new apartment on a winters night, hear the sounds with you and see the illuminated steeple, I’m so happy you were embraced by calm and found that inner peace we all are looking for. Thanks for sharing and for the wonderful pictures, you’ve got a marvelous eye and a brave spirit to go on that journey with your dad.
Dear Hilly,
Thanks for thinking me gentle, I’m trying. Hope your knee is healed soon, and you can start your walks again. I know how hard it can be when your body has other plans. Hope this blogging keeps you spirit high (and walking fast)
Dear Pam T,
Enjoy the zebra’s and artichokes, just keep breathing in and out, it’ll come. Don’t worry about being swallowed up, jump on in, the water is fine. You can always climb back out.
Dear Marly,
Don’t try to hold on to insides, they will change to, that’s the fun of it.
Dear all,
It is wonderful to meet you all here (that goes for you to DM), thanks for teaching me.
Very happily I remain forever learning,
Softly
By sagacity, January 24, 2010 @ 2:50 pm
“M804″
KUDOS TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
Bravo! Bravo!
*wild applause*
*standing ovation*
Sincerely,
S.W.S.
By Saskia, January 24, 2010 @ 3:26 pm
I know this has went off topic then back on topic, then off again etc… but for an on topic comment, I would like to say that without sound I do not know how I would live. Sound is everything, from someones breathing to birds singing. Without it, you would miss things, like reactions, facial expressions, sarcasm etc. Obviously you would miss the tone of a conversation, one of the things i love to to hear the most, is someone laughing; my mam, boyfriend, best friend… and without that sound, i don’t think i could be fully happy. But then I considered life without sound, would it really be so difficult? If you never had it, why would you miss it? You would have other things, a much more concentrated outlook on movement and smells. If there wasn’t sound, I’m sure i could live with not hearing a laugh, but being able to smell the ones I love! (have you never realised that?! Everyone has their own unique smell? I love it)
Music; music can change my moods just by the genre of it. If I’m down I would put a depressing song on etc. Even if i’m not down, i may put a sad song on just because i like it, and it will then inturn make me in a more of a down mood, but in a strange way, also happy, cos i can connect with the music.
When I get a text message off someone, or i am talking to them through my computer, i can sometimes hear their voice through the words; if you know someone so well i think that’s what begins to happen, you know their tones, pitches..etc. One of the beauties of sound
You can live without sound, but you can’t live without the people you love..
By Laertes, January 24, 2010 @ 3:40 pm
Saskia,
“You can live without sound, but you can’t live without the people you love….”
Indeed, a most evocative statement.
~L
(And to “Sagacity”? I second that emotion.)
By HILDA LIPRACE, January 24, 2010 @ 4:53 pm
The possibility of the sound since it makes us feel deaf .los feels vibrations and is pleasant or they, the sounds do not stop, musica.ruido since she makes us feel young person, old, feliz.triste so that we traveled through time we go to the past very instantaneously when we listened to something that brings memories to us – Our existence in our conception-the you drink in the belly of its mother listen to absolutely everything and something that to me this in the Bible in a Psalm enchants ” and my hembrion ” saw your eyes; – The thoughts become matter – that is faith is to put into action those thoughts to turn them into matter-like human beings we have the gift or talent of brings back to consciousness to be better to be human to be integral that is not just like honest – what is the difference-a hobre realised a trip by a highway and it paused in a restaurant with his companion I take the food for the trip .pararon to have lunch and they were that in the package habia much money, return-the owner of the restaurant queria to call to the average ones to show to this man man-but honesty him claim that does not do it so that its companion was not its wife – the honest era but nonintegral in his form of live-it is there when we felt in our heart the truth the God love – thanks to be able to share my thoughts Paul god bless you and that the fire and the light of your heart never goes out, to be able to share your thoughts that are part of your life – Hilda Liporace of Argentina
By S. Parry, January 24, 2010 @ 7:22 pm
PMG — With all respect, I don’t get it. I just don’t get it.
By Terri Nefarious, January 24, 2010 @ 7:24 pm
The Emperor has no clothes….
By HILDA LIPRACE, January 24, 2010 @ 8:15 pm
Law at great length all thought .mi opinion is that all this interlace, all of some form represents something very important in his vida.la niñes where inmaginaba its future and darce tells that each person is an individual being, only-the beautiful and terrible recurdos of its life, where its mind travel constantly to be able to extract the best thing of the aprendisaje than it is the life – it knows it very well to the past – the present this living and trying to be the best one to be human, accepting its fears, mistakes, profits… and as all think about the future, where it feels impotent since it does not know what sucedera, but in present this ordering his life having faith, the faith .la certainty than is expected, the conviction than it is not seen – it will hope but of his thoughts it clarifies my mind and my heart thanks blesses it greatly to God –Hilda Liporace of Argentina –all the writing is my humble interpretation — thanks again
By macthedog, January 24, 2010 @ 9:05 pm
Hello All –
Such a fascinating conversation. I am enjoying many of your comments – thank you all for sharing.
It is my great joy and blessing to have a job playing in a symphony orchestra and therefore, the sound of music (no pun intended!) is something I think about often. Somebody (many posts back) said that “what we call music is really our souls expressing a voice” – (hope I’ve got that correct!)
This is beautiful (thank you!) and I absolutely agree. I truly believe that music – like thought – is a higher form of communication. Also, that what we hear and choose to really ‘listen to’ will in effect, form the soundtrack to our lives and bring up all sorts of emotions and correspondences whenever it’s ‘turned on’. This is no doubt true for our other senses as well, but I would say that sound and smell are the ‘biggies’! Interestingly my mother who has been blind since age 13 has throughout her life, ‘seen’ the world largely through sound. She constantly amazes me with her ability to perceive so much from just sound. Through the years I’ve been her ‘escort’ to many CNIB gatherings and it’s absolutely astounding and humbling for me to watch blind friends find each other in a crowded room and interact. I know this must sound kind of odd, but the ‘energy’ at those gatherings is unlike anything I’ve experienced elsewhere – they seem to communicate with a very deep level of perception. Hard to put into words – but I have always come away from such gatherings feeling strangely blessed – like I’ve brushed shoulders with the angels.
Paul –
Thank you again for sharing your thoughts.
Reading your latest made the hair on the back of my neck prickle. I’ve long been fascinated with the topic of the mind and it’s perceptions. Reading Jill Bolte Taylor’s ‘My Stroke of Insight’ shed a practical light on the subject for me. Her story (of her stroke and subsequent recovery) is fascinating, enlightening and inspiring. After having only the Right Hemisphere of her brain functioning for much of her recovery, she explains that the Right half of our brain can only see that we are all connected, lives in the moment and KNOWS we are only visiting here. It is also here that we ‘sense’ everything – The Left Hemisphere draws borders, defines and seeks to understand, explain and talks, talks talks! (Her Right-Brain experience was so blissful, she almost didn’t want to come back!)
Anyway, this came to (no doubt, my Left) mind as I read your recent blog. Whether or not you’ve ever thought (or would even choose to think) of it in these scientific terms – you’ve expressed it so beautifully. I very much appreciate the way you say the ‘experience of change and becoming’ as opposed to ‘eternity’ or ‘infinity’ … very interesting. And, as I’ve grown to think of God as (Divine) love and wisdom or truth, that also, hit the mark for me.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy blogging as much as we do ‘hearing’ your thoughts!
OK. I’m starting to feel a bit self-conscious now … not usually this long-winded. Thanks to all for sharing your heartfelt thoughts.
Warm Regards –
Deborah
By HILDA LIPRACE, January 25, 2010 @ 8:39 am
About falling and returning to levantarte to fail and to return to begin, to follow a way and to have to twist it to find the pain and to have to confront it to that. .no you call advercidad llamale wisdom. Aeso to feel the hand of impotent God and saberte of fijarte a goal and to have to follow other to flee from a test and to have to face it to plan a flight and to have to trim it to yearn for and you do not prune to want and not to know, to advance and you do not arrive at that. .no you call punishment llamale education about passing together sad happy radiating days dis of company solitude to that. .no you call routine llamale experience about which your eyes watch and your ears hear and your brain works and your hands tabajen and your soul radiates and your sensitivity feels and your heart loves. .a that you do not call it to be able human llamale miracle of God to which your eyes esten reading this message and that you have the time to enjoy the one that you listen to that melody and you have that sensation of which the heart is high and mighty to that you do not call chance llamale love of God arrives at where it wants to arrive and as it knows that you need messages as this a traverse mine made to you never arrive you always doubt it God hara to arrive to you what you really need… DISO BLESSES Hilda to YOU Liporace of Argentina
By hilly, January 25, 2010 @ 12:36 pm
Dear Disappointed Miss
Don’t be put off by all the ideas that flow on these blogs; that is what “shared thoughts” are – sharing and exploring. Before internet and blogs we students discussed like this in study groups or small classes – and drew what knowledge and enlightenment they could.
You say that you are just staring out in college – you are stepping into a wide universe of information – stick with the liberal arts because they will teach you how to interpret what you see around you.
You are young and seem to be saying that you feel bombarded by the replies here; but why are you disappointed? Did you hope to find a single answer to a question? I’m sure you didn’t – you wouldn’t be hesitating between those subjects if you were. the art of studying – and of learning, is to gather and select and sieve the information that is throw at us by the musings of others and their replies. Take the time to take a deep breath and read through the blogs again – and see what you need to take from them. Be like the bee that selects the flower with the nectar he needs to survive….and fly past the others saying ‘hmm pretty color but no thanks’.
There are no right answers…only signposts to the paths that may lead you to you solution.
By hilly, January 25, 2010 @ 12:38 pm
I know this is off topic but I can’t remember which of Paul’s original blogs it would be appropriate to. I saw this graffiti on a wall near where I parked my car today:
“God is made in our image”
I thought you guys might enjoy the idea.
By stonealbatross, January 25, 2010 @ 1:34 pm
Hi hilly,
You’re right, “God is made in our image”, I’ll be grinning at that one for a while.
By TheLidlessEye, January 25, 2010 @ 5:17 pm
in the spirit of honesty, as honesty iz fertile ground for mental exploration & discovery.
it seems that pmg is just piecing together a bunch of vague thoughts and images. “Noise makes us angry” he says. why? where are u getting this? are people universally opposed 2 noise? Its his opinion. yet he attributes “anger” to everyone, to “us”–and were sposed to just take his word for it… what if noise makes me feel good? reminds us were alive? what if silence is unnerving?
music, noise, sound–they have no meaning to us “before conception” because we at then have no auditory capabilities to detect them. we have no ideas yet to give these sounds meaning. even if one were to suspend belief here and belief that sound “taps into” some preconscious experience, pmg here doesn’t give us much of a glimpse into what he thinks this, preconscious experience might be. i don’t think that he really has any idea of what he’s talking about; he just leaves readers flailing in a bog of pseudo-philosophical mush. Some people sink willingly, it seems.
maybe if pmg expounded on his ideas about his idea bout the relationship with sound and the preconscious mind, his theory would make more sense…
i dont understand this either. “contemplate where vibration becomes sound, or where thought becomes matter.”not only is the analogy an awkward 1 in the 1st place, but here pmg is attemptin to argue that these two allegedly similar processes are not just analogous, but synonymous too? this is either unclear syntax or unclear thinking…
& what does he mean by “thought becoming matter”? how does he define “thought” here? “matter”? these things can be defined differently depending on the thinker’s epistemology. is he talking about ideas taking the form of reality through our actions? if so, this is very unclear. 1 of the 1st things you’re supposed to learn in philosophy, or in explaining any theory or idea, is the necessity of keeping definitions constant. pmg hasnt presented any clear definitions, expecting his readers to just follow blindly nonetheless.
how can the mind “create” concepts of infinity and eternity. how can the mind “abhor” anything? the mind helps to make the creation of concepts and the feeling of abhorrence possible, but the mind itself can neither abhor nor can it “create” concepts per se.
“just my thoughts.”
By TheLidlessEye, January 25, 2010 @ 5:27 pm
interesting thoughts overall, pmg. but more clarity would help ur readers make more sense of ur experiences.
By starskylover22, January 25, 2010 @ 5:39 pm
I luv luv luv luv luv luv paul.
But I’ve gotta say that this recent post doesn’t make much sense to me…
at all
to thelidlesseye: don’t be so hard on paul; he’s an absolute darling.
pauliepaul, i
but wut do i kno? i kno That I
By sagacity, January 25, 2010 @ 6:34 pm
A response seems in order regarding the very honest, very courageous statemnts made by “DM,” for I can fullu identify with her “disappointment.” Between each syllable she offered I could not help but catch glimpses of myself at that age–constantly reminded that “my” generation represented the future, repeatedly lectured upon the “responsibilities” inherent in “inheriting” the world, then cast aside into the shadow of narrow-mindedness and stereotypes when I (and those like me) stepped up to be counted (apt imagery “M804y amongst the “older” generation. Our young people (and I use that phrase as one in my thirties) have far more with which to contend than ever our generation did. I, for one, cannot imagine the world they will “inherit” or conceive of the problems now integral to daily living. Gone is much of the security we enjoyed as teens and young adults; and albeit that society passed was imbued with its own very real problems, there were also social norms in place (some good, some bad) which set the parameters for day-to-day living. Yes, we debated nd discussed the ills of the world, determined to change things for the better; however, we also had the safety netting of home, hearth, and community which is steadily (and alarmingly) vnishing all around the “youth” of today. Even at my age, I feel that ever-shifting sand of our changing (many would say “deteriorating”) world beneath my feet; thus, I fully understand the frustration of those just starting out. Not only are they expected to mature more rapidly than we in a world far more complex and treacherous than ours facing the same biases we (as the adolescents of that time) did…yet they must also slog through the closed-mindedness and condescension of those same elders who announce, “The kids of today are better able to ADAPT than we were.”
I can see how a blog such as this one would draw a young woman with the interests DM described. I can also see how she (or others like her) would walk away disillusioned. Here they find an adult with something to say which addresses their concerns in a “forum” which encourages both critical thought as well as creative (or innovative) thinking only to be let down by the adults involved. Today, younger thinkers have access to far more information than we ever dreamed possible–and with that often conflicting empirical data, with those new ideas comes a greater need to question, to challenge in order to formulate the system of beliefs which best suits each individual in accordance with his or her background, experiences, education, home life, social conditioning, parental influences, race, creed, gender, community, social status, economic status, and on and on and on. They have far moire to consider…and therefore far more questions; as follows, they expect us–the adults–to respond to those questions, that quest for not only knowledge but the wisdom,guidance, and direction to apply that knowledge to a personlized system of beliefs. Now, I understand that this is in many ways a “fan site.” Neverthelkess, it was begun by someone who obviously conceived of something far greater. In his entry regarding “Reactions,” he went out of his way to welcome opposing views–even when he did not understand them–as a way for him to grow and think as well. No one, in my opinion, is enlightened enough in this stage of mankind’s infancy to face challenges to his or her system of beliefs without recoiling as though from a personal attack; yet, in this case, the situation was addressed honestly without disguising the tinges of hurt or effrontery which are natural reactions to having one’s “self” called into question. Then? He went on from there. That kind of reaction would encourage a young thinker/explorer to feel she had arrived at a safe (as in “accepting”) place to try her wings outside the classroom; yet, I have to say that the responses by the presumably adult bloggers took even me aback.
It is not enough to speak of tones and inflections or lecture a literature major (I hope I remebered that accurately) on the proper usages of bold or italic script. There is a need to respect the fact that everyone who visits this site does so with different motivations, expectations; representing different views and perspectives; perhaps hoping to find some nugget of truth (or even untruth) to spur the need (or feed the desire) for learning. It is not enough to admonish against “judging” (in tones which sound to me like judgments in and of themselves). What should be respected is that the motives of the person commenting before or after you are probably as important to them as yors are to you. It is for the originator of the blog site and no one else to set the parameters; thus, although we all have opinions, it is unfasir for some to leave others feeling as though their contributions are out-of-line or inappropriate. That should be left to Paul Michael Glaser himself. (And he seemed more than capabled of voicing his perceptions to me!)
The DM’s of this new internet-charged world will continue to come away “disappointed” if they visit a place such asd this one in which the original speaker invites thought, discussion, and debate only to be made to feel censure when the invitation is accepted. Perhaps I am out oif line to have said what I did; yet I actually hurt for that young person who tentatively opened her wings only to have them clipped by others who unthinkingly spoke without remembering or respecting the rights of others to speak as well.
Now, with apologies to any who may have taken offense and repects to all, I shall wearily climb down from my soap box.
By xtexan86, January 25, 2010 @ 6:43 pm
Okay, I’m ducking my head and bracing for any possible onslaught. But before I dive in, let me first thank Deborah for the lovely comment on my ‘music is the soul’s voice’ comment. I’m sure you do feel gifted after witnessing those incredible events that your mother has a part in.
And for S Perry, LidlessEye, and probably a few others. I do feel your frustration, too. Pam M answered a post of mine about a similar comment, adding that ‘Paul doesn’t need any help expressing himself.’ (Pls don’t quote me, but that’s what I remember.) And I would fully agree, but only to the extent of what I have heard him discuss in taped television interviews. Trust me, there isn’t enough YouTube videos on PMG interviews to satisfy my longing to understand the real person behind the character I have admired for so long. I enjoy his outlook on life, his quirky sense of humor, and love listening to that voice. But, when it comes to putting those thoughts down on paper, I’m sorry, I just get lost in the translation at times.
Now, please don’t think I’m ‘angry’, ‘fearful’ or stupid for saying so. I assure you, I’m not any one of these. And I certainly don’t mean to imply that you (PMG) should give up posting. Oh no, no, no. But as LidlessEye pointed out, definitions need to be constant, or at least have as much ambiguity removed as possible. “Preconscious experience” can have several meanings to many people and I was unclear as to whether PMG meant that he believed in reincarnation in talking about ‘moments before conception’ or if he was trying to get another point across.
Now, having said that, it is obvious that many others here understand things just as they are and that’s fine. If need be, I’ll keep reading all the posts in hopes that any unclarity I have will be straightened out. I do believe PMG is a very generous and accomodating man and that he does have a lot to share. I may not believe in every single thing he says, but that doesn’t mean I respect him any less. Thank you for listening.
Peace.
By xtexan86, January 25, 2010 @ 6:58 pm
One more thing, Sagacity, as far as I’m concerned you can climb right back up on that soapbox. I felt you explained things very well, yet I still feel intonation is extremely important in making sure people understand what we mean. Even the deaf put more emphasis on their hand signs when they want to express certain feelings and thoughts.
But, at the risk of embarassing only myself, I don’t seem to be finding these ‘disrespectful’ posts that are causing so much discussion. Perhaps, as in PMG’s posts, I’m just not reading the message right or skipping over words. Like Softly says, I am forever (trying) to learn.
By michaela804, January 25, 2010 @ 7:25 pm
Sagacity,
Now its my turn to offer wild applause and a standing ovation. We’ll siad.
By Laertes, January 25, 2010 @ 7:58 pm
Yes, Ms. “Sage”. I KNEW I liked you!
By the way, Michaela. Did you by chance mean “well said?”
By michaela804, January 25, 2010 @ 8:43 pm
Dear L.,
Thta I idd.
By Rike, January 26, 2010 @ 2:32 am
not sure if to jump in or not since I fear that what I wanna say doesn’t come out right – since my foreign language skills maybe are too poor to explain it right… So I don’t wanna offend someone, I just want to share what I feel.
@TheLidlessEye – I read your comments with much interest. And some disagreement
First of all I do understand that there are a unanswered questions – or better that the thoughts by Paul or others seem to raise questions. For me, I don’t take all or sink willingly in to what was written just because Paul wrote it. I try to understand, try to get what he meant. I don’t see this blog here as an answer to certain questions, or to questions regarding my life, I see it as an offer. I don’t think he’s a ‘guru’ or since he is a somewhat ‘public’ person that he knows it all.
You wrote quote: “it seems that pmg is just piecing together a bunch of vague thoughts and images. “Noise makes us angry” he says. why? where are u getting this? are people universally opposed 2 noise? Its his opinion. yet he attributes “anger” to everyone, to “us”–and were sposed to just take his word for it… what if noise makes me feel good? reminds us were alive? what if silence is unnerving?”
I got the impression that noise according to Paul – was meant in a negative way. For some it is the clicking alarm clock in the middle of the night, unnerving. To me it is sound, soothing… We all have our own likes and dislikes when it comes to the question what is positively called sound, or negatively noise, right?
quote:”music, noise, sound–they have no meaning to us “before conception” because we at then have no auditory capabilities to detect them. we have no ideas yet to give these sounds meaning.”
What about the studies on unborn babies, regarding their mothers voices, or the positive effect music can have on them? I got the impression that might be an example. At least to me…
quote: “i don’t think that he really has any idea of what he’s talking about; he just leaves readers flailing in a bog of pseudo-philosophical mush. Some people sink willingly, it seems.”
Honest? That part did hurt – to me it implies that – and I only can speak out for myself – some people here acting like a flock of sheep, following the shepard without thinking too much.
As I said, I take this blog as something that makes me think, makes me agree on things, makes me disagree. I’m not disappointed when I don’t get it all, because I went here without expecting solutions, answered questions. Maybe it is because to others I’m not high-minded, meaning that I don’t have a college education, maybe because I’m modest (not sure if this is the right term for what I want to say).
Anyway, as I said, no offense at all. And it is good to read the disagreeing thoughts of others, I enjoy when there’s a real ‘discussion’. But I see a harsh tone in some comments – but maybe I’m only too thin-skinned.
Thanks for reading – and I hope I didn’t sound foolish
*hugs*
Rike
By Christine, January 26, 2010 @ 6:27 am
After reading this blog this morning, it would appear that Paul is being criticized (in my opinion unfairly) for trying to share his thoughts and life experiences with us. I obviously will never know what it is like to be in the public eye or be a ‘celebrity’; and I have to say I don’t think I would want that, when you see how the media tears them down only to build them up, for the whole process to start again. I personally love this blog, and even if sometimes I don’t quite ‘get’ Paul’s viewpoint I like others, try to understand it. As I am, like so many others; interested in Paul’s and others point of view and opinions. . I personally really want to learn, to understand, and to support in whatever way I can. I really don’t understand how anyone would want to criticize Paul on his own blog, when he makes the time to share his thoughts with us. Paul you are an inspiration, this is a great place to come if you genuinely want to enjoy your ‘shared thoughts’ Love as always, Christine xx
By HILDA LIPRACE, January 26, 2010 @ 7:18 am
I really read all the commentaries and that all we will not agree in many things because to judge to us than we wrote here I create I we are for sharing the thoughts of Paul and our own thoughts for and always we fall in the judgment than escribio the other, tendriamos that to learn to respect to us but like human beings with different opinions, do not bother to me if they estan in agreement or with Paul .el escribio its thoughts not to share so that we pruned to conoser it a little but, is not easy of interptretar but one is read at great length are many symbolisms in his to speak or to write is thus and point I in many things do not agree but I am not going to judge fellow who has the absolute truth? empesemos to share and the one that wants learn one of the other —-a warm greeting to all — Pam you do not get angry demaciado happens through high something that you do not like –I appreciate much to you as to Paul as much — PAMELA GOD BLESSES TO YOU. AND THAT BLESSES THE LIFE DE PAUL AND TO ALL THAT WE ARE DIFFERENT HUMAN BEINGS WHERE WE ARE ONLY WITH OUR FORM TO THINK AND TO LIVE –THANKS TO SHARE –Hilda Liporace of Argentina
By Rach1970, January 26, 2010 @ 7:46 am
Christine – I agree with you my friend! Paul is sharing his thoughts and life experiences with us. His only intent is to be a blessing and help others. I cannot judge him for that. It must hard to be in the public eye and I cannot imagine it. The press and the world see you as one thing, but to those who really look see someone else. I support you Paul and I appreciate you for who you are. It’s refreshing and you are a postive light.
Rach
Rach
By Rach1970, January 26, 2010 @ 7:47 am
LOL Sorry for the double Rach.*g*
By Terri, January 26, 2010 @ 7:48 am
Hello Paul, I’ve read and reread your comments and some of the others and find I am in the group who gets lost in some of the statements.I was told years ago that I’m in a group of the “very intellegent but uneducated” meaning I never received the higher education that so would have inhanced my life. My advanced education only comes from expierence, usually difficult. As my Aunt once said “you have a great medical education but didn”t get it the way you would want to”. That said, most of these comments are above my head but I do so love reading what you write, think. Sometimes I even get it. When I feel a little lost you’ll write a statement that I have said ,thought, felt. This time it was “noise makes us angry, music makes us fall in love”. Noise does make me angry and there seems to be a lot in my personal life. For me one of the events I feel is no more than noise is when a group gets together and voices opions and makes comments one on top of the other and it isn’t constructive. A gathering here is usually “but I, but I , and it makes me crazy. My circle (family) never do it differently. There is more to life than I. However I have always been a very quiet person so any loud or droaning sound gets to me too. On the other hand music is the best sounds. It has made me feel so many positive emotions. I’m almost addicted. I hate for a day to go by without taking time to listen to a few favorite pieces. It’s very calming. There is one other favorite sound, the one that caused my interest in you so many years ago. The sound of your voice, it’s unique and very soothing to me. Love and Happiness, Terri
By HILDA LIPRACE, January 26, 2010 @ 8:25 am
a landmark but of the writing previously – all somehow we loved Paul, but despite we are not going to always give to the reason like the crazy people to him, we do not forget that he is a human being, not only one celebrity, has much wisdom and also who to learn, like all we in this life, all the day learn ourselves something nuevo.el wants much to share so we share, its experiences and ours – many Liporace thanks-Hilda of Argentina It blesses them to God
By HILDA LIPRACE, January 26, 2010 @ 8:30 am
THANKS PAM FOR ITS WORDS .TENGO THAT TO USE THE RIGHT TRANSLATOR AND WHEN IT WAS ABOUT TO BEAT THE MESSAGE I AM WITH ITS WORDS SO VERY MANY THANKS. AND THANKS TO SHARE – HILDA-
By Christine, January 26, 2010 @ 9:17 am
Hi Rach, Thank you, its nice to see we think alike! Your comment is really lovely.
Hi Terri, I hope you don’t mind me commenting, but I have to agree with you…. Paul’s voice is lovely! Isn’t it interesting how we instantly recognize it?
With love Christine xx
By stonealbatross, January 26, 2010 @ 12:23 pm
With reference to the various reactions to what Paul writes, I think I would have reacted the same way as everyone here at various points in my life, but after 20+ years of reading Toaist, Buddist and other esoteric writings I do now understand what is being conveyed (opposed to what is being said on the page). Anyone who has read the Tao (Dao) Te Ching will know that it is pretty vague stuff, but it doean’t matter, because as with a lot of Eastern religions/philosophies the point of the excercise is to look inside ourselves to find the answer. Even Gnostic Christianity encourages followers to find God through self knowledge rather than the preaching of an authorised religious speaker.
In the West we are trained to accept what we are taught. We are given facts to learn and digest, this is a good thing if we are carrying out a chemistry experiment, but here we are exploring more ethereal elements. I am sure we are all familiar with the old chestnuts “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” and “If a tree falls in a forest and there is no-one to hear it, does it make a sound?” These aren’t questions meant to be answered but to be contemplated and thought around to widen our thinking. Yes we can argue that the tree will make a sound because sound is caused by the vibration of air and something as large as a tree moves a lot of air. We know this because it has been witnessed, but if there is no-one to witness it how can we prove the theory then. Even if we leave a machine, a recording device in the forest, that is still a ‘witness’ so a sound will be made. Hopefully you see where I’m going with this.
The point I am making is that what Paul is writing is intended to make us think, to look inside us and find a meaning, an answer, that is relevant to us, to find ‘ourselves’. Keep these blogs and read them again in 6 or 12 or however many months time and see if your interpretation is the same as when you first read them.
As I said in an earlier blog, what I read here is dredging up things long since forgotten. For me this is a journey back to a place I used to be, and then I can start learning again. There are things I disagree with, but my response is “Why? What does that teach me about myself?” When I reach a point where I read Paul’s blog and just think “Oh yeah” then I no longer have a reason to come here.
By hilly, January 26, 2010 @ 12:25 pm
*****Sagacity, I hope there is room on your soapbox.
I so agree with you that we are of a generation that went out and protested and stood up to be counted. I was a teenage protester (a young but feisty teenager) in London against the Vietnam war. I joined the Peace Pledge Foundation and CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) when I was in what the Americans would call Junior High. I didn’t burn my bra (I needed it!) but I stood up for a woman’s right to choose her fertility and to be addressed on equal terms with men regardless of her marital status (the male version of Miss is Master but how often do you hear a grown unmarried man addressed as a minor?)
It troubles me to see the present generation seeking to understand and are confronted by the limitations of the internet based path to knowledge(?), rarely turning out for a real cause (unless a favorite star is singing)and who are so confused about how to help that in their well-meaning naivety they raise money to send computers to villages in Africa and are stunned when asked ‘but so they have electricity?’ (that happened – local scouts thought they were being really helpful until a friend of mine’s husband – a man with 25 years of experience in Africa working with agrarian projects – brought them back to reality)
So yes I understand DM’s disappointed – instant answers don’t exist.
Some of the posts above express confusion; puzzlement (and in a couple of cases plain snideness) about Paul’s remarks. Fair enough. We don’t all see things in the same way; we don’t all find ourselves on the wavelength. Somewhere in one of these blogs Paul remarked about ‘rambling on’….well that’s fine with me. I like to read/hear people ‘thinking out loud’. You are no lesser or greater if you ‘get it’ or not.
As for the person who made the remark ‘the emperor has no clothes’…when you are really clear of the glass structure be careful where you chuck your rock!
what I’m saying is that each person who comes here sees the blog in a different way – and then shares their reactions.
Maybe if we were all sitting together ‘rapping’ (as we used to say) wee would find it easier to discuss our reactions – on ‘real time’ rather than with the delays of work schedules and time zones that make it a staccato experience.
Thanks to all who are contributing It certainly gives me a lot to think about when I’m driving to work.
By hilly, January 26, 2010 @ 12:28 pm
stonealbatros – your comment came up as I was typing.
The point I am making is that what Paul is writing is intended to make us think, to look inside us and find a meaning, an answer, that is relevant to us, to find ‘ourselves’.
you have captured the essence of hat I’ve been trying to say.
By marly, January 26, 2010 @ 12:31 pm
May I be so bold to quote Paul(see his blog “Reactions”):
“I always find that I learn more from my negative reactions, (read: ‘expressions of fear’) and those of others when I am able to not personalize or judge them.”
Let’s try and do the same…..
I visit this blog in order to learn, that’s why I’m here for.
I know there is positive feedback and there is negative feedback.
Constructive feedback (a positive form of criticism) is learning to improve, and when given correctly
is an act of kindness, love, or concern.
It is helpful to receive constructive criticism.
Think of it as gaining knowledge, not as a put-down.
Don’t fall in that dangerous trap of anger and fear
Therefore I welcome people who have the “courage” to ask critical questions.
I say, invite them in and take profit of other, different opinions.
Let’s indeed not personalize or judge them but remain open minded and always willing to learn from one another.
What’s the use of being a rather small, select group?
Well, it’s pleasant to find people who seem to think alike about important issues.
But if we really want to learn we need to be able to question each other about what is being presented to us by pmg without judging anyone who dares to defy or question Paul’s words.
I’m well educated but I’ve got to admit that at times I find it hard to understand what Paul is actually trying to say(the language barrier isn’t helping either!).
Just like xtexan86 I get “lost in translation” at times.
Please don’t tell me we’re the only ones who sometimes fail to understand pmg’s trail of thought.
A lot of the(often wonderful)comments on pmg’s thoughts confirm what is being written by him and most of the bloggers seem to get it without further explanations or discussions.
There’s nothing wrong about that but maybe we’re denying ourselves a valuable chance to learn even more than we already do on this blog.
Wouldn’t it be so much more instructive and meaningful if we could actually discuss these shared thoughts on another level?
I think we could benefit(learn) so much more from what Paul is offering us and I even think that, in return, Paul could benefit(learn) so much more from us if we’re are courageous enough to give him and each other constructive feedback.
Please, I don’t want anybody here to feel offended or hurt by what I’m trying to put across.
I’m not criticizing anyone, I’m just sharing my very own thoughts with you.
This is a special place for a lot of people and we all have different reasons for being here.
I thoroughly respect and understand that.
Forever learning,
Marly
By moncanzuba, January 26, 2010 @ 12:49 pm
“just my thoughts.”
to TheLidlessEye,
In my humble opinion, we are not here to discuss who has definitions and who hasn’t, Who has any idea of what or who hasn’t. We are just doing the excersise of sharing our experiences on topics that Mr. Glaser writes down on HIS blog.
Some may agree, some may not but we all keep on sharing and learning which is the real meaning here (IMMO). After all, who has the truth?. A yoga master says “Keep your distance from those who proclaim having the truth”, and I agree on that, so it’s the reason why I enjoy being part of this place in which I learn everyday from people with different backgrounds (I am Argentinian).
“just MY thoughts” (very respectfuly)
Nonica.
By moncanzuba, January 26, 2010 @ 12:51 pm
lol
nonica means MONICA
By moncanzuba, January 26, 2010 @ 1:07 pm
“May I be so bold to quote Paul(see his blog “Reactions”):
“I always find that I learn more from my negative reactions, (read: ‘expressions of fear’) and those of others when I am able to not personalize or judge them.”
Dear Marly,
In fact The Kabbalah (a jewish science) says that the enemy is not the other BUT our negative reaction. And When something or someone makes us react, we should try to find out what inside us makes us react and learn from it, instead of judge the other (who/what makes us to react.
So I Do agree with you that I’ve learned more from my negatives reaction than my kind ones. Thanks for showing me that I was not wrong on this.
Best regards.
Monica
By Raffy, January 26, 2010 @ 2:06 pm
I think that what we feel within our heart, our soul, can’t be easily discussed, or proved…mostly it can just be felt. We can only try to share it, to hardly turn it into words, aware that others, however human beings like us, will get it in different ways. However, in my humble opinion, the most important thing is that whenever something gets us delighted, interested, or disappointed or angry or questioning…it means that it is touching us…someway, somewhere… that we are willing to open, to learn…to sail the ocean. Sometimes we are only doubtful or afraid to let our boat go…
Thank you, Paul, for sharing yourself from the heart…
Raffy
By starskylover22, January 26, 2010 @ 2:14 pm
while we’re “Sharing Thoughts” here, can I share somethin???? Its a poem: “Sounds of Paulie”
Here we go:
I luv you pauliepaul, tho
sumtimes you drive me up tha wall.
you bring to lyfe so much reflexion
to your fans so much direction.
with his muzings on vibrations,
he brings us so much inspiration!
luving is our greatest power so guess who I luv?
guessguessguess!
PAULIEPAUL!!
YAY! lol.
pauliepaul, ur my hero.
Just sayin!
By starskylover22, January 26, 2010 @ 2:17 pm
WOW! is poetry lyk sound becoming matter? Like pauliepaul said?
wowie! I think I gott it!
…maybe…
By PamT, January 26, 2010 @ 3:02 pm
Dear All
@ Sagacity. You make a lot of valid points. We are in no way superior to the ‘younger generation’ – just sometimes disappointingly lacking in wisdom despite our experience and older! If anything I have previously posted comes across as ‘close-minded’, then it’s my fault entirely – because I do genuinely value open, honest, relevant and mutually respectful discussion.
@StoneAlbatross & Raffy. Well said.
I apologise in advance for the length of the post to come but I feel the need to vent ……
I first came across Paul’s website a few years ago when I was struggling to cope with the aftermath of a relatively condensed sequence of life events. I honed in on the transcripts of his interviews and speeches. Some of his words (and the way in which he had responded to the cards that life had dealt him and his family) did indeed resonate and had a profound effect on me. What I took from his approach to life pointed me in the right direction and prompted me to venture through a few ‘open doors’. Without going into detail, my life has been the richer for it – and I am still very much learning. Anyway, the point is that, aside from being very grateful for the ‘lifeline’, I was left with the firm conviction that Paul has some extremely valuable and enlightening things to share. I can’t speak for others, but I strongly suspect my experience was not an isolated one.
I have an instinctive aversion to labels, but I won’t pretend that I haven’t become something of a fan along the way (although I don’t engage with the various fan sites – no offence to those who do – it’s just not my thing). However, with regard to Paul’s blogs, I have tried to express my views honestly and without bias – whether I ‘get it’, don’t understand or disagree. But for me, it’s important to comment with the respect he deserves, without churlishness and with a degree of awareness as to why I may be reacting as I am – in the way I hope anyone would. Although I recognise it would be unrealistic ‘perfect’ scenario, I would like PMG’s willingness to communicate and share to be fully appreciated. As far as I’m concerned, he has been freely sharing out of a spirit of generosity and compassion. And from an entirely selfish point of view, I wish to continue reading, exploring, contemplating and learning.
Speculating on the motivations that lie behind some of the posts on this blog is tempting. In truth, I have done it myself. And trying to recognise our own motivation is a useful part of self-awareness. I have come to the conclusion that what you get out of this blog probably reflects what you honestly invest and that must be the ultimate reward. In addition, I personally prefer concepts which demand some consideration. From my experience, teaching that is spoon-fed and defined down to the letter doesn’t have a great deal of longevity or depth. It’s the stuff we really have to engage with and contemplate that leaves its mark.
Breathe out and relax ……
Finally (at last, I hear you cry!), I think as PamM says, it’s ultimately very simple – these are Paul’s reflections and it’s up to each of us what we choose (or not) to take away from them. It can also be valuable to exchange opinions and maybe learn a little from each along the way – hopefully with integrity of intent, tolerance and respect. There are always going to be exceptions, but I sincerely hope this is the way forward.
PS. @starskylover22. I fink ur speling snot reely as bad as wot u make owt but u mayde me laff.
By xtexan86, January 26, 2010 @ 4:27 pm
At the risk of beating a dead horse, my only motivation is wanting to understand. When I understand a statement, personal statement on philosophy, or a chocolate cookie recipe, then, and only then, can I make the decision whether it is something that I can take into my own life to make it better.
Pam M, I’ve never seen you do a televised interview, but I can understand close to 99% of what you are saying. Obviously, for whatever reasons, I’m having difficulty with PMG’s written word. If this shared thoughts blog were switched to a college classroom, with him as the instructor, I would be asking for clarification in the same, and hopefully, respective manner. In this case though, other ‘classmates’ are stepping forward to provide the answers. It certainly helps, but doesn’t have the same impact as if it could come from the source.
xt
By Terri, January 26, 2010 @ 6:22 pm
Hi Christine, Of course I don’t mind your comments. Be my guest. Terri
By lady800cc, January 26, 2010 @ 9:37 pm
Hi PMG, PamM and Blog Fam,
I find benefit in reading all posts here, especially those that question, because it is in the questions that you further expand your mind and knowledge. For me, all comments are welcome and do not need to be defended. My life’s journey, the experiences I’ve had, the formal education I’ve been blessed to pursue and the many relatives that are or were in their 80′s and 90′s, that gave me the gift of just being in their presence to listen; all these have made me a person that never sees anything too deep or too over my head… I have yet to meet a person that impresses me more, or makes me think more than my 87 year old Grandfather – he is by far the smartest, most intellectual and philosophical person I know [although meeting Bishop Tutu came very close]. I take in what I feel I want to take in here; try to be positive, reflective and a little personal in my responses and enjoy ‘witnessing’ the exchange; doesn’t make me any better or different from how others respond, just uniquely me.. my ‘Shared Thoughts’
By StripedTomato, January 27, 2010 @ 11:40 pm
This is another blog that has resonated with me (excuse the pun). I am a big music lover. Music and the creation of music has been a large part of my life. Just recently I have been reading a lot about how sounds and vibrations can trigger, and indeed prompt the way we act or feel, or behave – without us even realising it. I find that fascinating.
For example, there is a hip-hop artist (who shall go un-named for purposes of this point) who talks about how different frequencies of sound can harbour positive or negative thoughts in people. He speaks of his unhappiness of the current hip-hop music genre, how it is filled with negative words, couple with negative vibrations and frequencies and about how this is our legacy to the next generation.
I have been reading a lot about this kind of stuff (being an amateur music creator myself), so you can imagine finding a blog written on a similar subject by someone who I find fascinating to read is quite a surprise.
I would be very open to learn more if you would ever care to expand on this thought.
By hilly, February 1, 2010 @ 12:48 pm
Therefore I welcome people who have the “courage” to ask critical questions.
We can learn from their questions. Why should anyone apologise for ‘not getting it’?
I am eternally grateful to all of those who post consturctive thoughts here – yes even the ones that may seem to some to be negative….each of them helps me to reflect again on what I saw in the original post from Paul.
We all have to face our fears when they hit us out of the left field.
Right now I feel adrift; surrounded by a sea of helplessness that scares the (pick you word here) out of me. I am dealing with a situation that comes back at me like one of the balls on a long elastic that you hit with a bat; I think ‘this time I’ve broken the elastic’ only to see it come flying back out of the left field and hit me in the emotional solar plexus and takes my breath and my resistance with it.
It makes me feel helpless because I can’t believe that I’m not dealing with it with the ‘strength’ I know I have. If I were advising someone else in this situation I’d know what to tell them….but I can’t hear my own voice int he cacophony of fear and anger that the situation has caused.
By marly, February 2, 2010 @ 11:08 am
Dear Hilly,
You’re “only” human.
Try to accept your anger and fear instead of fighting it,doing that is just a waste of precious energy….believe me,I’ve been(and still am) there way too often.
Am I trying to tell you to feel compassion for yourself?Yes but I also know that anger and fear can be overwhelming so take your time.
Sometimes having a good cry helps to relieve the emotional pain and stress as well.
Here I am,feeling helpless(and trying to accept that)for not being able to do more than just showing you my empathy and my compassion.
Whatever it is that’s causing you so much pain,this situation will pass,Hilly,it will pass….
In hope of being heard over that cacophony of fear and anger I wish you peace of mind
By Softly, February 2, 2010 @ 1:05 pm
Hi Hilly,
It must be the moon…..It hit me too, my perpetual bouncing ball. It didn’t hit me that hard this time, maybe I saw it coming, maybe the ball is finally getting smaller or am I getting bigger….? I don’t know.
Here are two things that help me when the noise inside my head is getting to loud.
One is a technique I learned long time ago, it helps with anxiety, fear or when you just need some distance between you and the situation.
You picture yourself sitting in a movie theatre in the balcony looking down on yourself sitting on the 4th row watching a movie of yourself in the situation you need answers in. You are not in the situation, you are watching yourself watching yourself. Have a bit of popcorn and relax the answers will come, probably out of left field (grin)
Two. I put on a tape inside my head, It is a small cartoon, that loops. In it a little Zen monk, looking very friendly, nodding, with an understanding smile on his face, and repeating over and over is a very calm and soothing voice: This too will pass, my friend, this too will pass. Eventually his voice drowns out the cacophony in my head.
If you want to lend my little cartoon monk, he’s yours.
I’ll be thinking of you, for I know rough sea’s are never fun, with a kind hart for you and all that are dealing with big things. This I know for sure my friend, this too shall pass.
Grateful for learning even in rough seas I remain,Softly
By hilly, February 11, 2010 @ 12:54 pm
thanks Marly – that was the kind of advice I needed…and Softly – dear new friend; I’ve just understood the reference to the ‘zen monk’ in your e-mail! better late than never.
the ball is still bouncing back but I think the elastic has stretched – it doesn’t come back quite as fast as it did. Maybe soon I’ll be able to reach our and but the elastic for once and for all
By Softly, February 11, 2010 @ 3:18 pm
Hi Hilly,
If the monk won’t help, I can lend you a pair of scissors.
Meet you here or there.
Softly
By Tee, February 27, 2010 @ 10:40 am
It is with some irony that I find myself writing. However; not to write might be a flagrant attempt to ignore what is meant to be. So, while feeling silly yet a second time, I find myself seated in front of the keyboard. The irony being that I have only twice communicated by internet with someone I have never met—and both times it has been with Mr. Glaser.
The first was an email sent thru this website asking for advice in reaching a large number of people to help fund an independent living facility for multi-handicapped deaf adults. To my knowledge Mr. Glaser has no connection with deafness and I was as much puzzled by my sudden “need” to write requesting his help as he must have been (if he ever even saw the email). I have no particular belief in serendipity, but believe quite strongly that many of us, myself included, miss the opportunity to do what God has planned because we are too busy trying to figure out exactly what it is He has planned.
So, when the Arielle Beanie Baby showed up in my work area in an unexplained manner the same evening that the KYAdapt fundraising committee met to discuss our rather dire need, I decided to act on blind faith.
Perhaps the act of acting was not as important as the act of having faith. And, certainly, feeling as foolish as I felt, I was no testament to true faith.
When there was no response to my email, it was easy to shrug off as a moment of sheer silliness.
But, once again, I find myself puzzling over my own urge to write a second time. This time a former student of mine asked me to explain the words Mr. Glaser had written regarding sound. She has been deaf since birth. Unlike so many of her Deaf counterparts who embrace their deafness as both a physical difference and a cultural difference, my former student questions her inability to hear and strives constantly to gain a stronger understanding of what she has never known. Apparently while surfing thru the myriad of ‘hits’ that the single word, “sound”, brought to light when entered into her search engine, Mr. Glaser’s blog appeared.
Once again, I am bewildered to find myself writing. But, once again, cannot get past the manner in which Mr. Glaser has again “appeared” in my conscience mind while I am actively sitting on a committee attempting to brainstorm fundraising for a need that I feel is as unrecognized by the general public as he must surely have felt when first delving into the need for pediatric aids research. There is no parallel to the amount of personal involvement, the numbers of people affected, nor the end objective. I am at as much of a loss as to why I am writing as any other logical person must surely be…but, still, I hear a voice saying, ‘the worst thing that can happen is you’ll look foolish, and the best possibility is that this attempt will facilitate access to knowledge that will successfully bring attention to and funding for a much needed program.
All that having been said, I would like to respond to the blog entry referring to sound. Because Mr. Glaser’s writing style does not lend itself to transliteration into American Sign Language (which is a language completely separate from American English), I spent a great deal of time attempting to understand what he has written—- apart from the actual words he used. It is the concepts, which swirl around illusively in the midst of all those words that I strove to make meaningful to my deaf friend.
One of the limitations of internet communication is the same attribute which has brought it to the forefront of modern communications: The ability to correspond with people heretofore unknown. When there is no real relationship between the author and his reader, there is no true point of reference from which the reader can compare his perception of intent to the writer’s likely meaning. It is frightening to think that tiny nuances of punctuation, semantics, and even font choice, might influence the reader’s understanding.
I tried to explain to my deaf friend that a great deal of written meaning in interpersonal communication is reliant on one’s knowledge of the writer’s personality, sense of humor, tendency toward the use of sarcasm, word choice and many, many other factors which influence true communication of intent.
It would be truly arrogant of me to read anything that Mr. Glaser has written and assume that I fully understand what he has meant. I don’t know him except thru his portrayal of characters I have see on screen. And, while there must surely be a bit of Mr. Glaser in those characters, I don’t think that anyone of them IS Mr. Glaser. (Mr. Glaser is, even now, probably most associated with Starsky. Had Detective Starsky actually existed, even HE would no longer be the same person he was 35 years ago.) Therefore, my attempt to interpret the meaning of Mr. Glaser’s writing may be entirely off mark. If so, I apologize and will stand corrected without objection.
With the statement, “As humans, we have the gift of consciousness and the ability to focus our minds…”, I believe, Mr. Glaser negates the possibility that his use of sound to illustrate his point indicates his belief that deaf people (who have never had the ability to hear or associate sound with emotion or event) are incapable of attaining the level of self awareness alluded to in his writing. It would seem to me that Mr. Glaser’s reference to sound is a result of his inner debate as to what point something intangible becomes tangible to our limited human minds. He seems to be making the point that when we, as humans, give up our need to “understand” and begin to accept that things “are” we free ourselves to live in the here and now.
I put no one on a pedestal; I tend to choose ‘heroes’ who are known to very few. And, yet, I, once again find myself writing to someone who is known only to me by the publicity he has received over the years.
I was brought to this moment in time by something as unlikely as Mr. Glaser’s reference to sound. It was my deaf friend’s curiosity about sound that brought me to the reading of Mr. Glaser’s written words.
However; it is Mr. Glaser’s reference to ‘existence without judgment’ that led me to respond with my own writing. While Mr. Glaser may not agree, I believe the act of accepting ‘without the need to define or know’ IS faith. I am working hard to put aside my need to define the chain of circumstance which led me on this path and simply trust that life is unfolding as it should. I am hoping that I will not be judged, but, if I am to be judged, I am also hopeful that at least the core of my intent will be recognized as something worthy.
By Pandra, June 4, 2011 @ 9:03 am
Paul, you said, “When our minds try to define or interpret the experience, we are no longer feeling it.” This makes me think of how people chase after happiness, seeking ever more exciting and expensive experiences to make themselves happy. Yet the happiest people seem to be those who just live their lives without really looking for anything to make them happy.