Listen Carefully

With the whole community (now about 40 people) we watch the 5-hour long Peter Brook film of the Indian epic tale, the Mahabharata, written some 400 years BC. It is the story of the five Pandava brothers and their nephews the Kauravas, and the war that ensues between the two. The film has a timeless feel and gorgeous music. Its many tales and twists reminds me of fairytales and Greek myths. I love every minute of it, but then again, I have been deprived of movies since coming to the ashram. 

Still, the Mahabharata is more than an enthralling tale. It represents the battle that people fight within themselves, to understand who they are, their role in life... Answers are given to those who break the code. Each character represents a different aspect of ourselves, like the senses, the mind, greed, desire and honesty.  So after each film, Shelley and I discuss: "What does it mean for the Queen to be blind out of free will? What does Bishma represent? Why did Draupadi marry all brothers?" A film to meditate on. For "If you listen carefully, at the end, you'll be someone else."