How's The Weather in Here?
My, my how time flies when you're fun is having, huh? It's "this type thing, I'm a thinkin' so," ya see. Let's look at the human psyche as a weather system, shall we? With different stratas of activity, from upper level lows to Gulf of Mexico moisture being sucked inland as the low moves towards the Texas Hill Country from the Panhandle. Throw in a trough or two and you've got yerself some weather! By god, I've had me some weather in the head these last couple of months. But it looks like the front has moved on through, and Spring is POPPING all over Lake Travis!
So..."like I say, if I'm 'sessful - yer 'sessful." And before I forget, and erupt in a volley of brainfarts followed by a middle-aged moment, allow me to posit this explanation of one's survival of an authentic nervous breakdown:
It's all about two things - protecting the mind and the survival of the very organ we know as "the brain."
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THE MIND'S PROTECTIVE MASTER CIRCUIT BREAKER
Ya see, the rational mind believes that it's in charge of itself, the heart, and the place that cannot be fooled. BUT, in truth, the mind is our mental model of survival. It certainly has its place, above the heart, but by creating an opaque membrane between itself and the heart, the mind can trick itself and the heart...buying into the "power" of this mind...this feeble leaf in the wind...while bloated and bellowing, hoping to avoid any contact with the place that cannot be fooled - at ALL costs.
Well, dammit, that just doesn't work. So, when one has been grabbed by the short hairs, uninvited, and with no way out, by a huge burst from the place that cannot be fooled...bubbling up through the heart directly to the mind, whether or not the mind is ready to listen, look, and experience that nasty bubble of unvarnished, tactile truth...well the mind's circuit breaker goes off, and the hard drive shuts down in an attempt to salvage as much of the rational mind as possible - WHOOPEE!
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SURVIVAL OF THE VERY ORGAN KNOWN AS THE BRAIN
When all of the above converges in one's psyche to form a perfect storm, the brain automatically performs a fundamental shut down in order to survive. This shut down is fundamentally more powerful than the mind's attempt at saving itself, because the entire organ is at stake. The brain knows what it's doing. The organ itself survives in almost all cases.
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TELL ME, HEATHEN MONK, HOW DO YA COME BACK FROM ALL THIS SHIT?
Well, my sweet SaddlePals, it ain't easy. First the brain restarts when the storm passes. Then the mind's circuit breaker reconnects. The heart starts up again, bruises and all, and the rational mind begins to get the lay of the land. As one begins to find just enough focus to read a menu from Denny's, the mind assesses just how much of itself has been salvaged, how much of itself laying there in tatters is salvageable, and looks around the the burnt embers of places it once thought were necessary in order to engage with the world, crying like a newborn baby. If you're lucky, in this state of fragility, you may have salvaged enough to work your way back into the everyday world within 6-9 months. And you may find your groove in about 18 months...if you're lucky that is. And I sure as hell hope you're lucky. I know I am.
posted by The Heathen Monk | 7:12 PM
3 Comments:
First off, I'd like to say what an exquisite time the V's had visiting with you, Monk ... thanks for coming up to Nashville!
For anyone who has not had the pleasure of meeting The Heathen Monk, you are missing out! His sense of humor is one in a million and he is truly one of the most enjoyable people to be around that you'll ever meet! The pictures of the visit speak a thousand words ... we'll be getting a copy to you soon. We are rejoicing in memories that will last a lifetime!
Now to respond to this, your latest blog entry. The Heathen Monk strikes again with the same mastery & precision as when playing (keyboard) & singing Otis Redding, Jerry Lee Lewis or one of his own many signature songs -- all of which I love & exhibit astonishing, rare talent!
From what I gather, you're saying that the mind constructs barriers to protect itself, perhaps for what it thinks are reasons of survival, but in the long run, it just doesn't work!
Transparency is so far better than a veil, and the heart (along with one's rational mind, of course) is the only path to clarity and truth. The brain as an organ survives, but the mind as a product or instrument of the brain is afraid, as we all really are, and excels at blocking reality at least as well as it does understanding it. (And those who are not aware of their vulnerability are perhaps the unhealthiest among us.)
We must be free, and there is only freedom when those walls come tumbling down and clarity, understanding and insight into oneself, others and life prevail, and from that, the answers flow and occur naturally, almost as a by-product. Let me know if I'm anywhere close to the mark!
All of my love (and talk soon)...
P.S. We also enjoyed immensely attending your seminar on the finer points of Buddhist living and are putting them into practice now!
Well now Mr, Heathen like Varmit. I realize it's a long time since April but it's only a short time ta the next one sos I thought I'd ask whar the heck r ya? I know, I know, I am not a very goodun neither, been quite a spell. Let's get ta gether and chity chat. Unc Ed & Aunt B
I'm back with some more questions. I don’t usually do much for Earth Day but with everyone going green these days, I thought I’d try to do my part.
I am trying to find easy, simple things I can do to help stop global warming (I don’t plan on buying a hybrid). Has anyone seen that EarthLab.com is promoting their Earth Day (month) challenge, with the goal to get 1 million people to take their carbon footprint test in April?... I took the test, it was easy and only took me about 2 minutes and I am planning on lowering my score with some of their tips.
I am looking for more easy fun stuff to do. If you know of any other sites worth my time let me know.
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