Sensitivity

Peace,

This's my first offering part one of a series of lessons about music, chanting, spirituality, life etc.  I'm moved to discuss, because I feel these subjects have lots of parrallels throughout the universe and life, and they're so much fun to explore!  I'm gonna try to focus on the important and more infrequently discussed topics most of the time and hope some people will enjoy and benefit from these writings.  

Language is limited.  And since to me these topics are very deep, multi-faceted and probably much bigger than any one person can fully understand I, of course, can only do my best to clearly present my little piece of it all.  Also should point out that these are only my perspectives.  Not everyone finds significance in the same stuff.  This info is not "the" way or anything like that.  To each their own.  And please feel free to comment or email me with any questions, additions, criticism etc.  We'll see where this goes...  


Now a short piece on sensitivity:

What do we think of when relating this word to music?  Sensitivity...  (Insert long, etheric metallic sound here)

All too often the we're presented with the idea that a technique, concept etc. is taught, learned and then we have it.  Done, finished... it's yours.  Can be deposited in the bank and forgotten about.  But many of these subjects can be so much deeper than that if we make them to be.  For example, tones on a musical instrument:  The instrument can be just about anything.  Could be a guitar, voice, the body of a dancer, or a feather.  But let's suppose we're learning to play some type of drum. There's probably a low pitched tone, a higher tone, maybe a midrange, open strikes, closed and so on.  There's immense power in each of these sounds and all sound for that matter.  A whole world of variation lies within each tone on that drumhead.  Sound is movement and vibrates contiuously through the entire universe, through every level of ourselves!  You can close your eyes and ears and still be altered by it.  You can put up your fists and can't stop it.  A rhythm faster than the heart can be exciting, slower can be soothing and to varying degrees of subtlety.  Even the smallest, tiny little sound has these qualities.

Doesn't all this suggest that in life sensitivity to the small details might be worth considering, might be very worth considering?  We're effected by the subtleties of sound and can effect a willful development of control and perception.  And, it's a subject that's pretty much neverending.  It can be developed over a lifetime.  With a wise and caring voice in my memeory a man named Baba Crowder who was once a teacher to me sings these words, "Eventually it comes down to how sensitive you can be." Thank you Baba.  

How closely can we listen?  How closely can we listen while speaking at the same time?  How precisely can we control sound, volume, the metronome, pitch and timbre of the drum, the intensity and quality of emotion.  What's the most minute detail that we hear?  How comfortably do we execute each technique?(sensitivity to small bodily discomforts in posture etc. and then the ability to correct them)  Sensitivity to what you're lover needs without the need for a verbal cue.  What are we listening for?

Asking ourselves these questions I feel can be valuable because the directions they point us to might contain artistic nourishment.  These infinite treasures that we all have inside are waiting to share themselves.  It's up to the individual to figure out and choose how.  As soon as the way to get through the locked doors inside us are found, then the endless sea of infinite names can rain.  It's all about opening doors...

Anyway I could go on much longer, but I think it's been said already.  Curb your enthusiasm Bret!  Sensitivity: an essential vocabulary word full of playful contemplation and self discovery. 

Peace,
Bret

p.s. I'm remembering this... "Whatever it is that you are unnecessarily carrying... Try to get rid of that" (And then he smiles)