Every moment is new

I’VE MET HIM a handful of times, but for him, each encounter is the first…

There are places I love to walk.  Even knowing an area pretty well, there is always newness that strikes me.  There are peculiarities of buildings I’ve not before noticed.  There are gardens and yards whose beauty I’d previously overlooked.  Nowadays, I’ve been winding and wandering the neighborhood with the added enjoyment of roses that are blooming everywhere in pink, red, & yellow.  They even climb the fences that line the highways that traverse this gorgeous island of farms.  

[roses in the neighborhood]

Since living in Jeju City, a particular nearby hill, Sara-bong, has been a favorite.  At least twice, and sometimes five times a week, I ascend her west side stairs, take in the summit view of Jeju City’s north coast, and descend the switchback path on the east side.  Being a regular, there are other regulars that I recognize.  There’s a man I’ve seen about a half dozen times, always walking the opposite direction.  Once, at the base of the hill, he was riding a bike.  Every time we meet, it’s the same conversation.  I’ve met him a handful of times, but for him, each encounter is the first.  As we approach each other, he slows down with a smile.  We greet each other with Good Morning or Good Afternoon.   Standing quite close now, he always says, “Can I ask you a question?”  Knowing what the question will be, I smile with, “Of course.”  It’s always, “Where are you from?”  After I tell him, he enquires about my stay in Jeju:  how long I’ve been here, and what I’m doing for work.  I’ve learned that he’s a retired elementary school teacher.   He seems to be quite healthy, possibly in his sixties, but probably in his seventies with nice aging. 

 

[flowers @ Sara-bong] 

My 84 years-young grandmother’s mind isn’t the sharpest.  She remembers who we are, and sometimes where we are, but couldn’t tell you what she just ate for lunch.  If she’s continuously asking what I’ve been up to, it’s a nice time to jog my own memory.  She might not notice me repeating myself, but I try to fish for something different, some experience I’ve not yet shared with her.

 

[looking West from Sunrise Peak, Jeju-do]

For Grandma and the retired schoolteacher, every moment is new.  Keeping that in mind, we can rid ourselves of unnecessary emotional baggage.  We can move on from people, places, and experiences.  We all have our stories, but they don’t have to dictate the present.  We can choose to listen to our hearts, to live here now, and to do anything we dream.  To stop comparing the present to the past, to take each moment as a new experience… is to live more fully, to be more aware of the beauty of this present life.  It never tires me to run into the retired schoolteacher, who greets the new moment with a new, genuine smile.  

Listening to the Heart

I could feel it contracting as it was closing in on itself.  The wide, open feeling of lightness was narrowing with each consecutive breath.  I actually felt the seed of anxiety rooting within me.  Physically, my spine must have moved from an elongated upright posture to a shorter, hunched position.  That’s when I finally realized what I must do.  How grateful I am to have had such an extreme physical reaction to the tone of someone’s voice.  It is not wise to allow the fear of hurting others cause us to falter.  Rather, it is wisdom’s voice that allows us to free our hearts from succumbing to those who fail to recognize the source of happiness.

When we realize we’re going in a direction that’s not maintaining the integrity of our authentic being, may we be grateful.  And when we have the drive (and sense) to keep following the true path ingrained in the heart, may we rejoice.

I often find myself advising others to do what makes them happy, to follow their dreams.  Just as often, I have allowed self-discipline to weaken.  When there is knowledge of self, truth, and the source of happiness, love, and light... the weakening of self-discipline leads one to lazily take the downhill offshoots of paths that aren’t the most appropriate.  The laziness conceals awareness, covering it up, veil by veil.   To kick that laziness is to re-open the eyes, heart, and breath.  To kick that laziness is to allow my body to, once again, be that beautiful channel of pure love and light.  To kick that laziness is to acknowledge and remember the Voice of the Heart.  Welcome home.    Thank you, Mearm the catalyst.  

The Gayatri Mantra

Om Bhur Bhuvah Swaha

Tat Savitur Varenyam

Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi

Dhiyo Yonaha Pracho Dayat Om.

May we meditate on the effulgent Light (or Power) 

of the Worshipful One Who Has given birth to all worlds.

May this One direct our Mind-rays towards the path of Good.

Solo night out

Ten minutes down the road, by foot, there lies the Jeju Culture and Art Center.  Dozens of times, on the way to the park or while out wandering, I’ve passed by without entering.  For the past seven months, I’ve noticed fliers for shows and exhibitions posted on boards throughout the city.  Finally, this past Tuesday, I had the chance to attend a performance that struck my fancy.  After work, I strolled down to see the Jeju Chamber Orchestra play Mozart.  The theater is quite nice and the seats are comfortable.  The cost of 10,000 won (less than 10 USD) was well worth it.  To anyone in Jeju for a little while, I highly recommend catching a show or performance at the center.  

I didn’t realize how long it’d been since I’d had the pleasure of hearing such quality musicians until the tears starting welling during the opening Overture “Die Zauberflte”.  I thought it was pretty cool that all three soloists (one horn, two pianos) were females decked out in fancy, sparkly gowns.  The icing on the cake was getting to see a French Horn solo for the first time.  Initially it sounded odd, but once I got over the strangeness of beauty in a petite Korean girl blowing into a super-shiny horn, I sat back and melted with the grandiose melodies.