Issue 8 - March 2009 - International Chito-Ryu Karate-do Federation ...

A Violinist in the MetroThis interesting experiment provides a lesson for all of us. In your every day life and morespecifically in your training are you so preoccupied, or in such a hurry that you are missingsomething special? Are you focused on learning the pattern of the next kata, and the one after that,and the one after that?, slow down and take the time to look at what you are currently doing to reallyappreciate what it has to offer. O'Sensei was reported to have studied Seisan for the first 7 years ofhis training, how long have you really spent on your kata to see what is truly there?A man sat at a Metro station inWashington D.C. and started to playthe violin; it was a cold Januarymorning. He played six Bach piecesfor about 45 minutes. During thattime, since it was rush hour, it wascalculated that thousands of peoplewent through the station, most ofthem on their way to work.Three minutes went by and a middleaged man noticed there wasmusician playing. He slowed his paceand stopped for a few seconds andthen hurried on to meet his schedule.A minute later, the violinist receivedhis first dollar tip: a woman threw themoney in the till and without stopping,continued to walk.A few minutes later, someone leanedagainst the wall to listen to him, butthe man looked at his watch andstarted to walk again. Clearly he waslate for work.The one who paid the most attentionwas a 3 year old boy. His mothertagged him along, hurried but the kidstopped to look at the violinist. Finallythe mother pushed hard and the childcontinued to walk turning his head allthe time. This action was repeated byseveral other children. All theparents, without exception, forcedthem to move on.In the 45 minutes the musicianplayed, only 6 people stopped andstayed for a while. About 20 gave himmoney but continued to walk theirnormal pace. He collected $32.When he finished playing and silencetook over, no one noticed it. No oneapplauded, nor was there anyrecognition.No one knew this but the violinist wasJoshua Bell, one of the bestmusicians in the world. He playedone of the most intricate pieces everwritten with a violin worth 3.5 milliondollars.Two days before his playing in thesubway, Joshua Bell sold out at atheatre in Boston and the seatsaveraged $100.This is a real story. Joshua Bell playingincognito in the Metro station wasorganized by the Washington Post aspart of a social experiment aboutperception, taste and priorities ofpeople. The outlines were: in acommonplace environment at aninappropriate hour. Do we perceivebeauty? Do we stop to appreciate it?Do we recognize the talent in anunexpected context?One of the possible conclusions fromthis experience could be:If we do not have a moment to stopand listen to one of the best musiciansin the world playing the best musicever written, how many other thingsare we missing?A new year - time for a newperspective.River of Knowledge – Autumn 2009 22