2012.06.29 _ 80

I had a sleepless night last night and it makes me realise that I have absolutely no control over whether I will get a good nights sleep or not. It is given to me or not and there is no point in making it into a 'problem.'

"Life itself cannot be a problem – life is just life, being itself. Problems arise with the individual; there are only problems in the story of ‘me and my life’, and in my attempt to control life." Foster, Jeff

Tonight I watched a movie. Not a common occurrence. It was Tom Stoppard's "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead". Wikipedia currently describes the original play on which the film is based as "an absurdist, existentialist tragicomedy" - which seems like a good description. Free Will vs. Determinism, and Discovery vs. Invention... and Death, are all recurring themes.

There are some wonderful quotes in the movie. Here are some about death:
* "With the knowledge that for all the points of the compass, there is only one direction and time is its only measure."
* "We are tragedians, you see? We follow directions. There is no choice involved. The bad end unhappily, the good, unluckily. That is what tragedy means."
* ...
"Do you think Death could possibly be a boat?"
"No, no, no... Death is 'not.' Death isn't. Take my meaning? Death is the ultimate negative. Not-being. You can't not be on a boat."
"I've frequently not been on boats."
"No, no... What you've been is not on boats."

And on a slightly different tack(!), how about, "Uncertainty is the normal state. You're nobody special."

haha... am familiar with this film, Storm. It was so brilliant to 'lift' those characters from Hamlet and give them their own story.

I watched a worthy film today also... Woman in the Dunes... powerful film metaphorically, though nearly indescribable. O recommended this in email to the group a while ago, and I see why.

It being day 80, I have begun (in the shower actually, hah) a 'next phase' of mantra practice, thanks to dearly appreciated, Friendly guidance.