Recently I watch a 60 Minutes segment about a bomb-hunting unit working in Afghanistan. The (mostly young) men on this team had developed incredible skills for sensing the presence of buried explosive devices.
Although the Army brings technology to the task, the soldiers depend primarily on experience and sense-perception. In one case, a misplaced clothes-pin caught a soldier's attention - and it was connected to an explosive.
War being what it is, the soldiers sometimes missed, with devastating results.
As I watched the program, I thought about what it would be like to bring the same sort of attention to the bombs quietly resting within me.
If I cared enough to stop the destruction - if I viewed the matter as life-and-death - I might also develop the skills needed to detect and defuse the explosive devices I bring to the world.
I think that's why practice was invented.
Both photographs are from The Hurt Locker, a recent motion picture about a bomb-deactivation unit in Iraq. I recommend this film.
Hi Barry,
wonderful metaphors and teachings, thank you! Yes, we're full of bombs.
Posted by: Uku | November 23, 2009 at 02:05 AM
a mind field...!
Posted by: Genju | November 23, 2009 at 06:31 AM
Thank you for the wonderful post. As you tied together life and death, continuous practice, and uncovering hidden bombs, I could hear the following gathas as they are sometimes shouted during prostration practice:
"Great is the matter of birth and death!
Impermanence surrounds us!
Stay awake each moment!
Do not waste your life!"
Thank you for breathing fresh life into these words this morning!
Posted by: Kusa | November 23, 2009 at 08:19 AM
Wow, that is a powerful metaphor for practice! Did you see The Hurt Locker? It's supposed to be quite a good film about this topic.
I seem to be detonating bombs repeatedly. I see that in email clearly.
thanks,
jill
Posted by: jill i | November 23, 2009 at 04:34 PM
Thanks for your comments, everyone! Given the deadly force within each of us, Kusa's reminder to not waste our life takes special urgency.
Jill - Yes, the Hurt Locker is quite fine - playing at the Crest right now (cheap!). Worth seeing.
Posted by: Barry Briggs | November 23, 2009 at 08:23 PM
As most people may know, staying for 10 days with family can be one deadly mine/mind field! There indeed were some major bombings in the process, but I've somehow managed to detonate mildly only once on my part. The rest was spent diffusing bombs - I did alright considering! This time, I did care enough to stop the destruction, and I went in with the resolve. Practice clearly worked!
Back to NYC - and winter - tomorrow!
Posted by: Alice | December 03, 2009 at 05:39 PM
Hi Alice - Yep, a mindfield, minefield, and myfield. Good for you, keeping the damage contained!
Posted by: Barry Briggs | December 04, 2009 at 03:10 PM