Fast Breaths
and Slow Diamonds
The class of students was gathered around Slow Motion. Every now and then he could pick out a recognizable face. There was Penny. Reno, no doubt present in order to get some ideas for a new story. Smalleyes and most of the Buckaroo Banzai Theatrical Players.
Well, here we are, said Slow Motion, sitting in a clearing, enjoying a beautiful day, trees all around us ... This is not the only kind of place you can meditate ... I mean a meditation can last for three seconds while your sitting on a bus and there's a crying baby right next to you ... Just close your eyes for three seconds and take a deep breath ...
They all breathed in deeply.
Good, said Slow Motion. Okay let's go home, we're all done! He rose.
There were gleeful protests all around.
Okay, okay, if you insist, he said smiling and sitting back down ... But I'm not here to teach you how to have a vision, I'm not here to force you into the kind of inner tormoil that might bring about certain madness ... I'm not here to enlighten you with wise words so that you go away feeling upbeat and positive ... What I am here to teach is something very basic and very simple, it is an acknowledgement of your own existence ... In the middle of a heavy battle you can do this three second meditation, it puts you in touch with the cosmos for what seems like only a useless moment, but, it is not useless ...
Smalleyes spoke up, Wait a minute, isn't this the same guy that tells us to slow things down so that we can taste life? He grinned with mischief.
I, uh, hey, why don't you shut up, said Slow Motion. There was laughter. Of course I wish life would slow down enough for me to appreciate all of its nuances, but, our world moves quickly, we have fast food, fast cars, why not fast meditation? It's as simple as taking a quick breath, breathe in -- close your eyes, breathe out -- open your eyes ... Remember, if something unwanted comes to mind it's okay, but absolutely nothing, zero is preferable ... Let's try it again ...
They all tried the three second meditation.
Good, good, now the three second meditation may seem like a highly pretentious act compared to doing the same things for three hours but add up all the times you do it and believe me it will come to hours and hours by the time your lives are finally over ... Besides, this is an introduction to the longer more thought provoking aspects of meditation. Now, let's all just talk normally and give it a try ... Go on, the session is now over ... let's mingle ...
Conversations sprouted here and there and before they knew it the class had become a picnic but without the food and drink.
Slow Motion walked around watching them talk, listening. He noticed Penny had heard something that bothered her, it was clearly visible on her face, she closed her eyes for one second, took a deep breath, then smiled at Slow Motion. The gal had grasped that people need not notice one was committing the act of a quick meditation. She had gotten into the swing very quickly and continued with the conversation. Slow Motion slipped away from the party, quite gratified.
He was walking through the woods. He pulled a little plastic baggie out of his pocket and looked at the tiny hair inside it. Hanoi Xan's hair and a follicle. DNA he would soon give to the Institute for its on-going fight against the World Crime League. He held it in his hand and listened to the trees ... Evil ... Evil ... he could hear them clearly now ... Bad Man ... Much Blood ... No More, Take It Away ... Okay, he said, It's time to give it to Banzai. But, I thank the spirit of the lost brother Hanoi Xan for helping me hear the trees voices ...
He returned to the party.
Where were you, asked Penny.
Listening to the wind in the trees, they have a lot of good stories to tell.
Teach me a long meditation, she asked. Silence now filled the air. Everyone was interested in hearing about this ...
Okay, said Slow Motion. He and Penny sat on the ground. The others followed and did likewise.
This meditation is called The Diamond Meditation. No matter what your subject is it is deemed beautiful and will be looked at from all angles. That's the key. Think of a place you'd rather be right now.
In Buckaroo's office.
Where in Buckaroo's office?
Standing in front of his desk looking down at him.
Why are you there?
To ask him if he loves me.
Okay, leave that one be. You are now hiding under his desk, what are you thinking?
There's another woman in the room. She likes him, he likes her.
You are hovering above his head, near the ceiling, what are you thinking?
God is cruel to make me see him kissing her.
How do you feel about God?
I'm angry at him for letting me see this.
God is a wall you cannot reason with if He gets it in His mind to do something you don't like. You have to let the useless anger go. You're standing outside his office door now, what do you think?
He won't let me in to talk, I'm also very afraid ...
You are floating outside Buckaroo's office window now, what do you think?
I'm dying and I'm saying goodbye, but he don't hear me. She opened her eyes and looked around, felt embarrassed. What does all this mean? she began crying.
Slow Motion held her tight. It's okay, he said. You feel alone, that's all. We all feel alone at one time or another. Remember, it's a beautiful thing.
I hate this Diamond Meditation! she shot out suddenly, rose, and ran off. Reno went off to comfort her. The others thanked him for the lesson and asked when he was going to give another class.
That's it, he said. That's all there is to it. What more do you need? You have all you need to create your own meditations. I only give that class once to any given group of people. Think about it, it would be useless to do it twice, wouldn't it? It would be the same thing! How many times do I have to repeat myself? I won't do it again! I won't waste my time ...
He walked away leaving them blinking and scratching their heads.
----------
Part 2
Penny was leaning against the outside wall of the Institute weeping when Reno ran found her and placed his arm around her. She threw his arm off her and looked him in the eye. For the first time, Reno saw something in Penny's eyes that scared him.
You know who the other woman was? asked Penny.
No, said Reno, who?
My sister, she said. I've been living in Peggy's shadow for too long. It's time I assert myself.
What do you plan to do? he asked.
Slow Motion approached carefully. Is everything all right?
YOU!!! said Penny.
Slow Motion raised his hands up as if surrendering. What? he asked.
Thank you, she said. You helped me realize that I've been hoping in the wrong thing. Buckaroo will never love me as much as he loved and still loves Peggy. I've been a fool for too long, and it's time I did some ass kicking of my own around here. I've been procrastinating long enough, I'm signing up for classes: karate, sharp-shooting, you name it. The next time we go up against an enemy, I'm going to be just as ready as anyone else.
She walked away, her movements taking on the impression of a tower of strength in motion.
I think you've created a monster, said Reno with a smile.
Let's hope that monster doesn't return to kill its maker, said Slow Motion.
Do you always look at everything from as many points of views? asked Reno.
Only when I have the time and the energy, he responded.
_______
Slow Motion was about to go into his room, when a heavy hand blocked his way, slamming against his doorframe. It was Penny.
I want to finish the meditation, she said, get back on the horse. You're going to help me whether you like it or not.
Okay, he said, come in.
She entered his room, admired the framed artwork of a lone Indian riding on a horse across a plain chasing a herd of buffalo.
Slow Motion quickly shoved something into the freezer while she wasn't looking. Close the door, he said. Now, sit down on the mats.
There were two mats set up on the floor, as if Slow had been expecting her, but that was impossible, wasn't it?
Soon, they were face to face.
Quick breath, said Slow Motion. They both breathed in deeply then let the breath out quickly. You were hovering outside of Buckaroo's window feeling like you were dead and calling out to him but he wasn't hearing you. You felt alone. Who is the woman.
Peggy.
I thought so. Now comes the People Meditation. What would your mother say about how you feel?
I have two mothers, the one that gave me up, and the one that adopted me.
Both.
My adopted mother would say I was stupid and wasting my time trying to get Buckaroo to love me.
What about your real mother?
I never knew her.
Not true.
No really.
You have an idea, even if you never knew her. We all have ideas about people we've never met. Think ...
She would take me in her arms and hold me and tell me to wait for him to realize he'd learn to love me, and that he'd one day see I'm not like Peggy at all, I'm my own person.
And your brothers?
I have no brothers.
Make believe you do.
They'd tell Buckaroo that he ought to make a decision about me or they'd break his legs.
And your father?
He's laughing at me, laughing at my predicament, saying he knew I'd one day get myself into a pickle like this.
And your sister ...
She misses me and only wants the best for me. She's sad that we never met. She began to weep again and it was only when she stopped that Slow Motion continued.
There is an old saying, but I don't remember where it comes from: "I am large, I contain multitudes." All of these possibilities exist within you, you have to decide who you're going to listen to.
I'll listen to myself.
But if they are confusing you, how will you know who Your Self is?
I feel lost. Help me.
The Diamond method extends to all things, you can be inanimate objects in a room, animals, the weather ...
Let's try animals.
Okay. You are a deer that comes across Peggy in the woods.
I'm afraid of her and at the same time I'm curious.
You are a bear in the same situation.
I'll rip her to shreds!
You are a fox.
I go up to her and go to sleep between her legs.
You are a snake.
She is bitten.
You are half-bird, half-horse.
Uh, uh, I don't know ... She climbs up on my back and I take off flying, I take her straight to the one she loves, Buckaroo, and I leave her there, and I am happy for her ... I'm free ... I'm free because I set her free ... Thank you, Slow Motion.
Thank Ray Harryhausen. Clash of the Titans. 1981, I believe.
