Share the Aware: April 2012

Monday, 30 April 2012

The Art of Meditation

Great lecture that 'demystifies' meditation and 'deals with the mind', and all in a fabulous French accent!!

Merci, Monsieur Ricard!

Friday, 27 April 2012

Twenty Seven is, of course, the day of my birth. Whilst in Bangkok, I found this passage on the number 27 in a bhuddist temple (Wat Saket, to be precise). Here's what it reads for anyone else who can relate to this special number:

You're like a huge liner, filled with merchandise that always sails across the ocean peacefully every night and day. Whoever casts this number is lucky for or she would often get plenty of fortunes, success in trade, and make any wish come true, Asking of a spouse, you'll find the best one and have a forever-happy marriage. If you're ill, you'll completely get well. If you're involved in a lawsuit, your contestant with be the loser.

No, I cant read Thai, but thankfully there was a translation!

Thursday, 26 April 2012

I Love You, Lili

I heard this played on Jazz Fm. It works well if played along with the first two clips. How beautiful!

Yesterday, I spent my day in Nimes, after doing Son's duty of dropping off Mother and Sister at the local airport.

The morning went by well. I wandered the narrow streets, sipped on an espresso, and sketched some strange locals.

This guy left before I could finish his face.

I caught this guys eye. He knew I was drawing him. It was obvious. Yet he appeared to be holding the same pose and continuously chain smoking for 20 some minutes. I considered giving him the copy. But then I thought that would be weird. Best to keep life as a mystery. Plus in my personal experience, it is more flattering to be drawn than the actual end result!

It was just before lunch, when I was ready to return home, when I had a bit of drama.

I was walking past the admirable Roman coliseum, when a young man of Roman decent (the gypsy type not an italien) approached me pointing towards a form that he had held in his hand. I did not say a word but smiled amiably. He showed me the form. I read 'petition for the deaf and muted'. I immediately took pity on him for he was obviously deaf and so I agreed to sign the petition! And such, he was overjoyed! So much so he even hugged me. I gladly returned the hug as it is in my nature to do so... more hugs the merrier. Yay!

Except, as I began to write my details, I read on to the column DONATION. Ah... Now it makes more sense. My consciousness regained control. Dammit this guys after money not my signature. Ahwell, I still pity him so I'll pass him 1 euro. But when I gave him 1 euro, he wanted more!!
"Go to the cash machine" he signaled with his hands.
"Ah forget it!" I gestured and walked off.

Then I realised, Holy Crap did he just pickpocket me!?

I checked my pockets. My heart rate rose. No. Phew, everything's here. Yet he had stired something in me. I was bitter. That was a one sincere hug! No. I felt like I had been slashed in the heart by the sword of stupidity. I had been ignorant, unaware, I had been a target... a tourist!!

Normally I'm on high alert. In France, I feel at home. That day I let my guard down. I settled my emotions by sitting down to draw the Colosseum. Ah nothing like some rigid and methodical Roman architecture to cool yourself down. I was ready to call it a day and head home.

Only then, in my returned state of calmness, I was attacked by whilst driving by another car driven by an angry French Algerian (probably), for driving below the speed limit! Godammit, my heart rate went up again as he overtook me whilst honking his horn. Unsurprisingly he sat still in traffic ahead of me and as a casually rolled up behind him, he could not resist the temptation to gaze back at me in an angry, menacing manner.

I didnt want to drive home feeling blue, white or red emotion. Instead I stopped for a sandwich and admired another Roman relic. What if Marine LePen had made it to the second round? The thought stayed in my head. I felt as though I had had a glimpse of France's immigration issues and frustrations. Whats the solution? Who knows, but the Romans did not belong here and look what they left us behind.

Sunday, 22 April 2012

Carnival Challenge

So last Sunday, I took over 100 MEH photos at this years Aix en Provence Carnival, and today, I decided to reduce it down to 10 YEH photos.

Since I started this blog I havn't given much attention to how many photos I post. Usually I just upload them all. Yet, in editing I've noticed I tend to get attached to photos. Sounds weird right but its true.

I want to keep every single photo to 'remind' me of each moment. Its difficult to let go, since largely they represent certain aspirations and hopes we had for the photo. I hardly want to delete and destroy them!

But with attachment, our minds are clouded and we lose clarity for true quality. Those failed photos are representations of our own lost aspirations and hopes. Therefore to let go lifts a lot from out of us. We are now free from what was holding us back, accepting the past and moving forward.

Yet the mind still finds reasons to hold on to those average photos. Here for example I found myself choosing them according to the colour, to get a balanced mix of photos. Its this same logic that sits side by side with attachment, you have to keep this photo for this reason or that. And to some extent I am still being seduced by such a force.

But to live freely, is to live without attachment. And then you discover a great deal. There are no constraints, no expectations. You find those photos so authentically caught in the moment. There was no thought at the time, just the index finger pressed down at the most precise and perfect moment. These are by far the best photos. The ones you didn't try to capture 10 times but the ones where the camera was an extension of the self in perfect harmony.

I've learnt that, in future, more consciousness is required to share more meaningful photos that trigger real emotions, and not attachments. It might not make judging easier but its being truer to myself.

I just hope others enjoy my photos, or else whats the point!

Cheers my Dears!