I arrived at a
house on a towering hill and walked through the door. There were 30 party
"guests" and the rules were simple: bring a dish of food and perform. A huge
living room was crowded with musicians, poets, storytellers, and mime artists. It didn't
matter how good or bad you were, at the end of your performance everyone applauded wildly
to nurture your talent.
During the evening, a young man got up to play
guitar. "I might not play well tonight," he said. "I've hurt my neck in an
accident." He was great.
Then it was my turn. As I walked toward the grand
piano an idea suddenly hit me. I'd been studying how a musician's intent can be carried by
the music to benefit a listener. It was time for an experiment, I thought, and boldly
announced: "I'm going to play for the guitar player's neck."
I sat down on the piano bench and my mind went
crazy.
Now I've done it. What if this doesn't work? Who am
I kidding? I'll make a complete fool of myself.
I took a deep breath and remembered that nothing
would work if I TRIED to make it happen. I had to reverse the notion of me playing the
music, and let it play me instead.
I took a second deep breath and touched the keys.
Okay, I thought. Play me.
I imagined myself in a place of healing and a
curious sensation stole over me: the audience disappeared and I became an observer. I
watched my finger delicately coax a tone from a piano key. My hand moved. Another tone
followed, then a third. My left hand joined my right. Notes turned into chords. Chords
broke apart and became notes. By some magic a melody emerged from my improvising, and then
I forgot myself and the guitar player, and lost myself in the music. When I finished, I
looked up, surprised to see the audience cheering loudly.
A while later we all went into the dining room to
eat. And I ran into the guitar player.
"So, how's your neck?" I asked, not
really expecting him to say much.
He swiveled his neck from side to side. "It's
amazing," he said. "Something changed -- I have a much greater range of movement
now."
I was floored.
Once again it proved to me that when we get
ourselves out of the way, a universal current can act through us and provide a benefit to
whoever needs it.
No matter what you do, when you paint, cook,
garden, create music, or perform the most mundane job, if you imagine you're doing it with
love, that universal current will come through you and benefit people in ways you cannot
imagine.
Copyright @1999 Al Harrris |
