Not Everyone Whose Eyes Are Closed Is Asleep

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 4 July 2023 "We all see and that's good. But, blessed are those who see and feel simultaneously, because their physical and inner eyes work in tandem." Walt Whitman, additional poems to "Leaves of Grass" One day, the legendary violinist Yehudi Menuhin held his violin in a concert but didn't play it for an inordinately long time. When hours passed, a fellow violinist dared ask the great master, " Sir, what happened? " The learned audience was also silently waiting for the virtuoso to come out of his deep meditative slumber. "Oh, sorry, I was speaking with my violin and went into a trance," Menuhin said. That night, Yehudi Menuhin gave such a splendid display of his mastery over the strings of a violin that everyone in the audience cried. The ever humble Menuhin said in the end, " Thanks a lot, all the connoisseurs. Tonight, my heart suddenly became aware and it did talk to my violin and urge me to give a memorable performance before you. I'm happy that I could do that.' He didn't play violin after that for sixteen long years. A fully aware person finds a lot many things in life and around him as something mundane and that's not pontification. That's unattached sublimation. Awareness is tied to none. We all have eyes but we are not aware. Only when the eyes of the heart do open, we suddenly become aware and also enlightened. Awareness is a complete and comprehensive transformation of one's existence. Not everyone whose eyes are closed is asleep. And not everyone with open eyes can see. Awareness is something different. It needs no eyes. All it needs is a sensitive heart that beats even to the sound of a drop of tears that falls thousands of miles away. Awareness is not to be impervious to what's around us. It's a sudden revolution of all senses, working in a perfect confluence. Buddha called it, Pratyabhoot Saakshatkaar (spontaneous self-realization or satori). In other words, awareness is a different kettle of fish. John Milton wrote his best poetry in blindness. The great Hindi poet and the greatest exponent of 'Chhayavaad, ' Suryakant Tripathi ' Nirala' wrote his finest creation ' Saroj Smriti ' when he lost his daughter whose name was Saroj. Mind you, a personal loss is not at all required or desirable to be (extra) aware in life and creativity. The point is, a sense of loss often makes a person more aware and sensitive. A cynical mind is not capable of awareness, whereas a sensual and sensitive mind that feels, can walk easily into the arena of awareness. The inner light shines and one does not need the external light to comprehend the deeper nuances of life. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/everyone-eyes-closed-asleep/d/130128 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism