Yo, the freakiest thing just happened to me. I was just finishing up some homework in the bathroom, and as I was washing my hands afterward, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. That wasn't the weird thing....oh wait, it was.
Have you ever looked in the mirror and not recognized yourself? I don't mean in some metaphoric, soul-searching, Michael Jackson kind of way. I mean in a concrete, physical, Michael Jackson kind of way. I see a kind of resemblance to the person that I was, but what I saw tonight is not an easily recognizable face from my catalogue. I look like a long-lost brother, or something.
It's understandable, I must say. Within the last two months, I've gone bald, got new glasses and most recently, attached a goatee. I think the cumulative effect of all these small changes just seemed hit me tonight. Strangely, this is not the first mirror gazing I've done today, thanks to the Armani Exchange sunglasses I copped at Marshall's that needed modeling. Furthermore, I've been through various phases of hair, goatee-ism and visual aid, so I think there's something special about this new image. I'll wait till I get to see the Tejanos and Minnesotanos- y'all will tell me whether you recognize me or not.
I can't stop laughing to myself about the whole situation, to be honest, both because it's silly as hell to not recognize yourself in a mirror- and it's also kind of magical. Let's say, for instance that this different face I see is in fact different- what kind of ramifications would that have? I guess for a lot of people it would be problematic, but to be honest, I think as long as the face is an upgrade, why the hell not? Or have I always had some type of facial dysmorphia? Who knows (how to spell dysmorphia)?
Anyway, I just connected some deeper dots here that probably needed absolutely no connection, except for in my crazy head, but this is my blog and I'll do what I want. What I want is to tell you that I've jumped on the Oprah/A New Earth bandwagon. Yup. I'm coming out, a la Diana Ross, who as we all know is Michael Jackson's alter-ego. (Fellow bloggers- don't you just love when an totally random idea, like Michael Jackson, becomes a handy, spontaneous theme in an entry?)
Back to A New Earth. I'm a sucker for religious/spiritual stuff, and so I picked this thing up a couple of weeks ago. It's basically a distillation of a lot of universal wisdom, which is nice, and very user-friendly, I find. The points in the book that are germane to this post are the author's ideas that our identification with the physical world around us separates us from our true being, which is Consciousness. Detachment from the 'ego' (all the labels and conditioning we carry with us) is possible through experiencing the present moment, which requires letting go of the past and future. Through detachment, one is able to objectively and fairly experience the material world without identifying with it and the suffering therein. Good stuff no? It's like Zen for those of us who can't devote our entire lives to living in the monastery, and I don't mean that in a derogatory way. I really dig the way this guy explains experiences and intuitions that I and I'm sure you all have had.
So I'm sitting in bed, practicing Presence, and feeling good, and it was only after that practice when I looked different to myself in the mirror. In just 5 minutes of practice, I was able to detach myself from the image I had created of myself, and WALAH! I'm a new person. Now you see why I'm laughing.
So, the point of this story is to let all y'all know that I'm officially enlightened. Feel free to touch the hem of my robe (bata in Spanish) as I pass by on the way to and/or from the morning shower. Also, let's have a celebration in celebration of my enlightenment. (Did I really just do that with 'celebration'? Sometimes I really deserve a fucking Nobel.)
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4 comments:
I have never disrecognized myself, but one time I looked in the mirror and knew exactly how I was going to look as an old woman and I laughed and laughed. I am jealous of your instantaneous spiritual awakening, though. I have a hard time with detachment, fo reals.
If I woke up one day and was able to detach myself from "ego."
a) would I not recognize myself in the mirror?
b) would I recognize my twin, or would that image change as well?
c) all of the above and an eskimo pie.
My deep thought for the day.
I'm reading the same book right now. My aunts bought it for me after I brokedown at our last dinner :) Between that and the Ayurvedic doctor I'm seeing - I've embraced all the crazy! Seriously though, the book IS great. Clear, simple writing that is major food for thought...and practice!
I read "A New Earth" this fall, upon the recommendation from my friend Karla. There were many new and good ideas in it, although I found the book pretty dry. Mayhap I will revisit it for new enlightenment.
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