The Mirror
By Chris Condon
In Zen, there is a meditation technique referred to as “koan” practice, where the practitioner focuses his or her attention on an often cryptic, riddle-like story or dialog, or sometimes just a single word or phrase. The intent, simply put (as the topic can be complicated), is to penetrate through our fixated/logical-rational/misapprehending mind and realize our true nature, variously referred to as “buddha-nature”.
It can all be quite mystifying. For example, one well-known koan asks, “What was your original face before you were born?” How does one answer that? Where to even begin?
I certainly have nothing that comes to mind. Nevertheless, I must admit some familiarity with the appearance of my current face, which I see every morning in mirror. But what am I really seeing (aside from an obvious need to shave)? Am I actually seeing my face, or am I “seeing” my mind racing off in a million different directions in pursuit of the to-do list, the don’t forget list, the worry list, and so on.
Recently, in my more thoughtful moments, I’ve been reflecting on the recent Academy Award-winning film, Flow. The momentary lull helps my mind, as if by magic, to ease and settle. The film begins with a cat quietly looking at its reflection in a pool of water. Everything pauses. Then, as the film’s many adventures unfold (I’ll avoid any spoilers!), a hand-held mirror appears, which eventually winds up broken into fragments.
At the end, though, the film comes full circle. The cat, along with the animal friends it has made along the way, all pause to look for a full moment, together, at their reflection in a pool of water. These pauses are deeply felt because the entire film is situated in the sensory world feeling and emotion. There is no dialog at all.
So, what was my original face before I was born? Still no answer, I’m afraid. But in my quieter moments, I can pause for a moment, let go of words, and allow everything – myself, my fellow sentient beings, the earth below, the sky above – to deepen, and attune, and resonate.
Together.
