ON THE MOVE, TAKE YOUR TIME, and WORKS OF ART
If a person does not keep pace with her companions, perhaps she hears a different drummer.
Henry David Thoreau (paraphrased)
~ A Book Review ~
Lately I have been busy as a bee while working at slowing down and taking my time. Ironic, isn’t it?
The book Take Your Time by Eknath Easwaran (1910 –1999) drums to that different beat.
What I liked about Easwaran writing is his utter practicality. For example – focusing on one thing at a time, you or I will do that one thing better and with greater appreciation. With this simple bit of wisdom, Easwaran turns head over heals the modern western ethos that multi-tasking equals speed, efficiency and success.
Take Your Time: How to Find Patience, Peace and Meaning is a short read. I highly recommend it.
I’m reading it twice.
Here is a brief excerpt, in photo essay style. . .
Take Your Time – by Easwaran
Our civilization has developed a mania for speed, careening out of control in the fast lane of life – a race with no prize and no way of winning. . .
One sure sign is that no one has enough time. Another is how many of us are hurrying to be late. Everyone seems to be trying to fit more and more into the same fixed twenty-four hours. That is the paradox: we hurry faster and faster only to find we have less and less time.
An unhurried mind brings the capacity to make wise choices every day – choices of how we use our time, of how we place our resources and our love. I am not just talking about avoiding the rat race, but about a life full of artistic beauty – a life that has almost vanished from our civilization, but is quite in reach of everyone.
The Buddha called this “living intentionally.” It is a way of life. Slowing down is not the goal; it is the means to an end. The goal is living in freedom – freedom from the pressures of hurry, from the distractions that fragment our time and creativity and love. Ultimately, it means living at the deepest level of our awareness.
In this, I believe, we do more than simply elevate our own personal lives. We begin to remake our civilization. We can began to transform our global jungle into a real global village…
Our children will remember naturally the needs of all the children on the face of the earth. This is our destiny. This is what we are all born for and what we have been looking for all our lives, whatever else we have been seeking. ~ Easwaran ~
“A mind that is fast is sick. A mind that is slow is sound. A mind that is still is divine.”
~ Meher Baba ~
Posted for the Weekly Photo Challenges – On the Move and Works of Art
through the luminary lens 
I like the initial image of the old man and the sow. It’s from a favorite film of mine ‘the Milagro Beanfield War’ -shot in New Mexico, produced by Robert Redford
Yes – I love the movie too. My wife and I went to Truchas New Mexico, where it was filmed. This is a photo of a photo that we saw in the State Capital Building in Sante Fe, celebrating the film and Robert Redford.
Nice. I’ll look for the photo at the Roundhouse next time I have an extra hour in Santa Fe. I have an old adobe house on the other side of the Truchas Peaks. For now I work in Hawaii but soon to return to the Land of Enchantment. Be well Bruce, Dohn
Sounds nice. Thanks, Dohn.
Reblogged this on League of Bloggers For a Better World.
I am so appreciative of the way you’ve reminded me, encouraged me and challenged me to think about the “h” word. I learned a big lesson last September after hurrying and rushing through a variety of family events, too many personal appointments and not caring for myself. I took a really severe fall, at work, and I knew in a flash that it was due to inattention. I’d been hearing an inner voice for weeks telling me to stop. And I thought I’d outsmart that voice, get to the end of my list and THEN practice mindful, peaceful moments. I was not seriously injured, but shaken enough for my first ambulance ride. I was very fortunate. In the month that followed, I think I got the message. I still need reminders, and this is such a beautiful one. I really connect to the photos and the words, and I’m very interested in this book. I’m pleased to read this an hour before I’m going to be on the road for a couple of hours. I will drive “mindfully.”
Hope your road trip went well, Debra. Your story of hurrying and then having an accident reminded me of numerous times I have had similar situations. I’m glad your fall wasn’t too serious. We all need the reminders, and thanks for giving a clear example of how hurrying can effect us all.
You never fail to provide my brain with an opportunity, even if relatively brief, to do its job – usually, just as its preparing to amble innocently way in an unmistakeable beeline for the TV ( :
Brief is good Claire – that aha moment counts for something. Funny about the TV – I hardly ever watch it, but occasionally when I’m at my step daughters I can get hooked for 2 or 3 hours at a time. I like blogging much more because it is interacting with other people – though one can get “hooked’ on too much of anything.
I just wanna clarify – often, my brain IS occupied by your posts for a significant time. I just meant that EVEN when I’m whizzing through, I find that I always shift gears when I get to your site: that is, I stop in my tracks, regardless of other distractions, and become fully engaged. That these briefer engagements are as authentic as the longer time frames I reference is a testament to you. You should be proud of your ability – it’s no small achievement, most particularly in the face of the impact media technology has had on the ways in which people receive/expect to receive information.
Re. TV, I usually raise my blood pressure for a couple of hours by yelling at various broadcast journalists, although the brilliance of my critiques is, of course, lost to posterity even as I hold forth. I think the best interactions I have are those prompted by the unexpected, sometimes nearly miraculous revelations of ordinary strangers persuaded to tell a story to a nosy stranger with a notebook. These encounters, and the ways in which I (mostly used to) document them are /were both about me AND not about me, and were what I loved most about being a journalist.
Anyway, thank-you very much for helping to keep us all connected!
Hi. Claire. Sorry for the delay in response here. I can see how it must be difficult to observe mediocre news that seems to be the norm these days – especially being a journalist yourself, and one who has given it your all. I liked what you say about finding revelations in the everyday ordinary interactions with strangers, notebook in hand. I am especially humbled about your praise of my blog – it helps keep my spirit alive to know you find value and inspiration from this. I’ve had moments wondering if what I do makes a difference. Now I know. Thank you for your affirmation.
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wonderful practice, Bruce!
i’m feeling slower
but not yet
slow enough 🙂
Not slow – not fast, but half fast, as I heard the joke go. Thank you David, for your example of mindfulness:.
I am grateful for the luxury of working and living at a slower pace.
Yes – good point Rosaliene. It is not only is a wonderful practice to work towards living more mindfully, it is also a privilege to be able to be in a situation of security to do so.
Life is meant to be enjoyed and taking our time helps us achieve that. Sadly, we all seem to be rushing, running often in a hurry. Thanks for helping us pause and reflect.
Your welcome Island Traveler.