I equate listening to music with remembering the past and to people and places who have influenced us over time with what I call “cultivating stillness”. Many people look to meditation and prayer to reach a state of bliss that takes them to a 
place beyond the norm, or to where our spirit realms. Traditionally, reaching this “state of bliss”, is considered as something we achieve by obtaining a true mind of spirit and of remembering. Hoping that our virtue and compassion for all things found in both nature and others can show us as our most authentic self. That our authenticity proves real.
In popular culture, music from our younger years often sparks memories, taking us back to moments and places from the past. Sitting in the stillness of meditation connects us to the essence of “what takes us there”, and once we arrive, the joy can be so profound that we want to stay. Many believe that reaching this “state of enlightenment” allows us to merge with the stillness. Through meditation or prayer, we transcend our physical surroundings, glimpse the infinite blue sky, and journey to the origins of wonder. Becoming one with the stillness, a gentle quietness where the nature surrounding us becomes the most important focus. Everything else fades into steps leading us there.
As we grow older, the significance of the physical world fades, and achievement takes on a more spiritual meaning. It can be as simple as waking up to see another day and the blue sky, which becomes enough as the light we are here to witness grows in importance, guiding us toward rediscovering our origins and returning to a state of remembering.
Cultivating stillness becomes a daily practice as we reflect on the eternal memories we’ve always carried—some remembered, some forgotten, and others simply overlooked. These moments suddenly take on profound importance. Looking back, we see both the joy and sorrow our actions have brought, and we can’t help but wonder how different things might have been with other choices. That as eternity springs forward to greet us, having another chance to make things right becomes all we can hope for.
My travels with Lieh Tzu / Interpolations along the Way
Chapter Five – The Questions of T’ang
83. Woeful songs of Joy
Who can sing and bring forth the emotions and feelings of all so that others too are caught up in tone and rhythm?
The great musician and singer of songs Chin Ching allowed a young man named Hsieh Tan to study under him. Before long, after thinking he had learned it all, the young man left and set off for home. Chin Ching did not object. However, as he left, he sang such a sad song that the sound shook the trees in the entire province, and the echoes stopped the clouds above. So stirred by these events was Hseih Ten that he returned to study under Chin Ching and never thought of going home again.
Relaying another incident to a friend, Chin Ching told of a woman who while traveling became hungry and traded her songs for a meal. So enthralled by her singing were the bystanders that for three days after she left, they all thought she was still there.
Chin Ching continued that as this singer and writer of songs, her name was Erh of Han, passed a local establishment the innkeeper insulted her. She began singing woefully in long drawn-out notes. Everyone upon hearing her song wept sadly and could not eat for three days. The citizens of the town ran after her, apologizing for the rudeness of only one man in their town. In her joy, Ern of Han sang another song which brought much happiness and dancing and hand‑clapping where only a brief time earlier all were filled with sadness. Afterwards, as she left, they gave her many presents and food to eat along the way.
Even as we speak today, we remember this traveling minstrel at special occasions such as weddings and funerals by singing her songs of joy and sadness. Everyone takes their cue from their memory of the Erh of Han.
Both the young man who remained to study under Chin Ching and the traveling singer of songs, Erh of Han were to become immortal. Because they could sing the songs that made everyone upon hearing them both laugh and cry, shake the trees around them and cause clouds to stop upon hearing them just to listen. Reminding spirits who heard them of their home once again. 4/27/95
Number eighty-three of one hundred fifty-eight entries
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