The Sound of the Bell

Coolness
by Yosa Buson (1716-1784)

Coolness--
the sound of the bell
as it leaves the bell.

This week, sounds will be our teacher.  Sitting quietly and being present for the sounds that arise sounds so simple.  What can it really teach us?  

Sounds anchor us to the present moment, for we hear them only as they are happening.  And then they are gone, their vibrations no longer making their way to our inner ear.  If we allow them to follow their trajectory of beginning, middle and end, sounds can be a wonderful reminder of the impermanent nature of all aspects of our experience.  Thoughts, sounds, emotions, moments.... all have beginnings, middles and ends.  They are here and then they are not.  

If we continue to dwell on the sounds after they are gone, we can practice returning our attention to the present moment, noticing that we have been caught in some aspect of the sound that has arisen.  Our awareness that our mind continues to engage with some story around the sound, and our subsequent returning of attention to what is actually taking place in the present moment serve to strengthen our focus and attention.  

If we resist the sound, or cling to it, we become aware of our reactivity, and can practice acknowledging what is actually happening in the present moment and seeing it just for what it is, letting go of reactions that don’t serve us.  Take, for example, when we are meditating and there are birds chirping outside the window. Joy! Now imagine that instead of birds, it is two people carrying on a very loud and distracting conversation. Injustice! Can we respond evenly to both events?  Both are just sounds, after all.  What is different is our reaction to them.  In this way, paying attention to sounds becomes an equanimity practice, helping us to deepen our even-heartedness and even-mindedness to all that arises in life so that we may respond with wisdom.

We hope that you can join us this coming week as we listen and learn, with nothing to do in those moments, but observe the sounds within and around us with curiosity and kindness.

May all beings everywhere, without exception, live in peace, 

The CMP Team

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