sound

a priest, a man and his wife and 2 young sons had just walked past the resort on their way to the temple next door. i realized that soon i would be hearing the chanting and ringing of the priests bell as the ceremony began. so while i was exercising on my porch, the ringing of the bell by the priest, began. it was so lovely. i regretted that i hadn't planned my morning more in sync with the sounds, so that i could have been meditating at the same time that he was ringing his bell, and feel what it feels like "inside" when it rings. but, the ringing only lasts for 10 minutes or so, so i knew i lost my chance. i continued on with my tai chi by the sea, and again heard the bell ringing. hmm...this is a special ceremony, ringing the bell twice. as i did the tai chi it was easier to "listen" and what surprised me was that it was as if a "universal" tone. it fit in perfect with the sound of the waves and the peace within me. i tired to figure it out. what note was it? how could it be such a perfect sound, uniting nature. the ringing went on and on and i could feel how the same ringing tone, from every bell of every priest here in bali, is putting out a specific vibration into the air. just like when the ice cream truck goes around and it creates a certain response in those who hear that same sound every summer, from every "good humor" ice cream truck in detroit. and it even surprises me to realize what the name of that ice cream truck was!? Good humor! maybe that is why i am addicted to ice cream?! it was always related to "being in a good humor! and maybe that is why i am addicted to hearing these priests ringing their bells here in bali....because the vibration vibrates at a specific vibration that is like the ice cream truck....something that i love and want more and more of, that brings me a nice feeling inside, that makes me feel connected to something much greater than my own small world. is it the note "C" in the middle of the keyboard of a piano? why is "C" the middle? the ringing continued on and on even while i went to meditate, and i saw how perfect it felt. all was ONE. nothing airy fairy, just ONE.

the following morning, the accapello voice of one of the chanters rang through the air at 5 a.m. as usual. it was one of my favorite melodies. it reminded me of a sean o"connor song. i saw how lovely it is to wake up to this....rather than to an alarm clock (not that i use one) and what a way to start your day!

i also realized how the constant sound of the waves crashing on the shore, was very soothing to me. i always sit close enough to the sea so i can hear it as my background music. it even made me laugh once when someone offered to give me a reflexology treatment, and asked me to arrange some nice background music so that i would be relaxed. being the obedient person that i always am, i found something on my laptop and put the speakers up, as he began the treatment outside by the pool....only to find that why in the world would i want some "canned" music, when the wind, birds, and sea are surrounding me?! everyone else would be recording exactly my surroundings in order to use as background music for people in a room getting a reflexology treatment! i didn't need some recorded music to relax....i am here on purpose...so that my background music in life is nature, and not the sounds of machines, or cars, or televisions, or recorded music. it is this live, real sound of people and life and live instruments that touches my heart. it is the quiet conversing between people, laughter, chickens, pigs, bells, singing, that fill the air and leave their mark on me.

i read an article the other day about "boxes" by rabbi nathan segal. (www.nathan.net) and i suddenly found a kindred soul that put down in words what i felt, but didn't understand why. he said that we go around in boxes all day; our car, school, house, workplace, even synagogue! and i realized that here in bali, i live outdoors from 5 a.m. until 8 p.m....no "boxes", no walls, no doors, no windows....just out in nature, hearing the sounds of nature, and life. the temple is just a courtyard....there is no building to go in to. and there is a feeling of unity, of connectedness because of the sounds that are in the air all the time....the gamelons that are playing now are ringing out from the deceaseds' house and everyone knows it as they hear it ringing in the air from a distance. sound....