One afternoon while visiting a friend, we tuned into a pretty fascinating programme on the science channel of that proverbial box that seems to consume us; i.e., the television. Imagine this: living in a home that is entirely computerized – from opening the door to keeping inventory of what may or may not be on our kitchen shelves or in our refrigerators. In the words of the narrator, ‘imagine never having to run out of milk ever again!’ A simple scan of the item ‘automatically’ has it delivered to your doorstep by the following morning. This world is closer than we think; dangerously so I might add.
LIFE, at our fingertips, brings further away from discovering the essence that we truly are.
Later, while laying in Savasana (corpse pose) during the twilight hours of what had been an otherwise grueling day up until this point, I began to ponder the distinction between paying attention and being mindful. For me, the former is passive, permitting us like a Pavlov dog to react to directed stimuli. Being mindful on the other hand, demands that we play an active role in carving the life that we choose to lead – abundantly so.
In the words of Marilyn Munroe, ‘I am always running into peoples’ unconscious;’ the end result of a linear life that is led by polarities.
Lately, I seem to be suffering from the ‘Munroe Syndrome.’ As a yogini, one could argue that I ought to be able to make this annoying phenomenon wash over me, however this is easier said than done for one that has more than their fair share of another popular affliction, one that is rooted in control; i.e., the ‘Type A’ personality.
Once revered, even businesses today are beginning to recognize that the Type A personality while undoubtedly useful, [it] lacks vision, hence the high rates of burnout that are experienced by such types.
In today’s world where everything has already been done and tested, we are witnessing and experiencing a call for something different, one that produces more meaningful results than the insanity that we’ve continued to weave under the illusion that this is life.
The notion of paying attention takes us outside of ourselves rather than bringing us closer to our centres; the only place where any sort of transformation is possible. Rather when we are mindful, we are able to see the connectedness in the ebb and flow of our lives and therefore respond responsibly and appropriately rather than from mere impulse.
So how then, do we live mindfully? The first step starts with bringing awareness to the breath; the main hallmark of the gift of yoga. Even if we then choose to live in a world that invites us to scan our way through our existence, through mindfulness, with gratitude, we are able to appreciate even more the wonders of scientific advancements such as a fully computerized home.
However as we move at breakneck speed towards technology I question the fate of the human condition and its need for love, something that no degree of technology will be able to provide for/to us.
New age ‘dis-eases’ like attention deficit disorder aka ADD, is reportedly a direct result of information overload – a very simplified synopsis of a seemingly complicated issue that affects all aspect of our being. Gosh, with the onslaught of information coming at us via telephone, SMS, BB, MMS, Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, newspaper, television and the good ole’ word of mouth, it is a miracle that we even manage to remember our names! Thankfully, those seem to get sewn into the threads of our DNA whether or not we are aware of this. When our names are called, it evokes and resonates a certain vibration within us and depending on the intonation of that calling, dictates how we respond or react.
Not to be mis-construed or mis-understood, I am by no means advocating that we shun paying attention and opt to wade mindlessly through life. Instead, I am inviting us to be mindful such that it takes the work out of paying attention. Being mindful requires that we trust ourselves and listen to our inner voices from a place of courage rather than succumbing like a helpless victim to that voice of fear that always lurks around the corner, like an angry cat, waiting to pounce upon its prey.
In paying attention to our inner guides we open ourselves up to mindfulness, the abundant flow of this thing called Life.
