8-11-08A Body takes a Stand

Re: Thursday after Lagoon

Of course my Person woke up early – as in the middle of the night – although he hadn’t been asleep very long – infused as he was with a wash of adrenaline from the evening before – combined w/ a jumble of conflicting thoughts mixed with emotions – which kept playing in his Brain like a broken record - over & over & over again. Knowing that this was not doing my Person any good whatsoever – wasting his energy and shattering any internal peace that was left, I impelled him to get up and meditate despite the fact that Body was exhausted.

 

Body: “<Grumble – Grumble. > What the bleep do you think you are doing – getting me up at this time of the night? It is still dark outside – hours before dawn – not even a hint of light out there.”

Being: “It’s for your own good. Brain is spinning his wheels – using up our vitality – overheating the engine – going nowhere. You need to realign your circuits – open up the channels - release the negativity through positive direction.”

Body: “<Grumble - Grumble. > Well, all right.”

 

Body is never that pleasant when woken out of a sound sleep – especially by Brain’s ceaseless babbling.

We directed Body to put herself upright – spine erect – knees tucked under – chin in – shoulders down – with Mind's focusing attention on the lower tan tien (just below the navel). Body aligned we attempted, nearly in vain, to reign in Brain & his runaway chatter, as he was disturbing Heart and the other organs with his nonsense.

 

Brain: “You blame me, but we had some real issues to deal with. Remember we were all real excited about working at the Lagoon – especially Feet because of the wood floors. And of course Heart, Body & I were just hoping to relieve some stress. We were still hurting physically, mentally and emotionally. Out of balance from the Breakdown we felt that the Cask, mismanagement combined with the cement floors, was the root of our problems.”

Body: “Yeah, because of the traumatic experience at the Cask we were a little hesitant about returning to work. Still weak and recovering we, all of us, felt that the Lagoon was going to be our salvation by providing us relief from our woes. How wrong we were.”

Being: “OK, OK. Maybe I was being a little harsh – but just for dramatic effect. Let’s see what Brain was going on & on & on about.”

 

Brain: “O, woe is me. Wife wants us back at work – sick of our Face. Lagoon was going to be the prefect solution – a few days at each restaurant. And now this. What to do? What to do? We’re scheduled for another training shift tomorrow night – followed by a weekend at the Casket. We must go on for the good of the Family. But how can we?”

Body: “No, no. Feet can’t handle it. Our root will be shattered – Relapse- We’ll be a basket case by Sunday – if we make it that far. I’m afraid of another Breakdown if you force us to go on. Heart palpitations and a failure of will. We need to cut back if we are going to make it.”

Brain: Cut back? We can’t cut back. How about our sense of responsibility to the family unit? How about our obligation to the Lagoon – to the wife – to the World? To back out now would show weakness. Mustn’t let anyone know that we’re ailing. That would show vulnerability – when we are strong. After all we do Tai Chi and are well versed in Eastern wisdom.”

Body swoons a bit – starting to lose consciousness.”

Brain: “OK, OK. Maybe we’re not that strong. But how about the wife? What about the Future? And the Cask? How can we face the turmoil without another job lined up?”

Body: “Future, schmuture. I’m just trying to survive right now. And I need to recharge for the weekend.”

Brain: “But the wife …”

Body: “What about her?”

Brain: “She’ll give us one of those withering looks of disappointment and discouragement.”

Body: “So what? We need to recoup or we’re going to be Routed in our next battle. Our soldiers haven’t fully recovered yet. Last night was an orderly Retreat. Next time could be worse. It’s only been 2 months since the Breakdown. We need more time.”

Brain: “But the wife – our pride – the future – our hopes and dreams.”

Body: “Screw your projections. I’m talking right now. And I can’t face another night at the Lagoon followed by a weekend at the Cask. I fear a setback that we might not recover so easily from.”

Brain: “But, but, but …  How can we face the wife? How can we face the Lagoon? The cask?”

Body: “Jut be honest and tell the truth.”

Brain: “But what about our Pride – our strength?”

Body: “Just an illusion that your have created - no more substance than a small cloud passing over the sun & blocking it’s light.”

Brain: “But I don’t want to show weakness. Everyone will know I’m not a spiritual master. They’ll realize I’m a fraud.”

Body: “Master, schmaster. Who cares about these stupid ideas when survival is at stake?”

Brain: “But the Wife and her withering gaze and disparaging tone.”

Body: “She’ll get over it. She’ll have to. It’s either her or me this time. And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll choose me. For without me you’re nothing.”

Brain: “All right. All right, Have it your way, Aurgh! The shame – the embarrassment. What will the neighbors think?”

Body: “Sheesh! You’re worse off than I thought. I think we need to write a book about the Breakdown to shred your ego into a tiny million pieces to disperse throughout the Universe.”

Brain: “Write a book and expose my weaknesses to the Public? How humiliating. Never. Forget it.”

Body: “You must for the good of us all. It will open up channels we didn’t even know existed.”

Brain: “Who cares?”

Muse: “I do. When you open those channels you open yourself up to me and my Divine Inspiration – the only feast worth consuming. After tasting my essence you can never go back to the bland food of day-to-day existence – no mater how splendid the setting.

Brain: “All right. All right. I’ll do as you say.”

Body: “Suddenly I’m getting very sleepy, the issues have been resolved. The tension released – Time to go back to bed.”

 

Whew! Glad that crisis is in the past - has passed,

Brain reluctantly told the Wife of the decision to abandon the Lagoon. Her response, while not enthusiastic, was not as bad as he had imagined. She even exhibited a little sympathy and understanding – when confronted with the possibility of losing everything – which included a small handhold on the Cask – with which we were hauling ourselves out of the Mire.