Sensei and the Monks were invited to a concert in town hall being performed by the ‘Three Blondes on a Piano’. These were the world renowned trio of three blondes who specialised in playing classical, contemporary and modern music, simultaneously on a single piano!
The hall was packed. The three tall blondes wore black jackets, black trousers and had free flowing long blonde hair. Their shirts were deep burgundy in colour and so were their shoes.
They played on a beautiful black Steinbach Piano and sat next to each other on three deep burgundy leather seats that had small black rollers. The audience had been given black binoculars to observe the hand movement of the three blondes as they played.
Once the trio started playing, the audience was mesmerised. From classical Bach to Chopin they cut across to modern Stravinsky and Sibelius and cast a magical spell in the hall. Their hands moved effortlessly across each other’s on the piano keys. Their long fingers with burgundy nails that slid across the black and white keys, was like an apparition.
After the concert ended, the Monks and Sensei went back to the Monastery and enjoyed a light supper. Just before bed, everyone assembled in the main hall. Sensei asked the monks to describe what they saw.
Truthful Monk said, “Sensei, most of us were spellbound by the women. We did not hear what they were playing. We were staring at them.”
Inquisitive Monk said, “Sensei, I did close my eyes to listen to their music for a while.”
Romantic Monk came forth and said, “Honestly, I closed my ears so that I could just appreciate the women.”
Mischief Monk said, “The funniest was Head Monk! He closed his eyes and also his ears. I saw him.”
Sensei laughed loudly and said, “Learn to move from experiencing to listening and then to observing.”
Mischief Monk said, “Sensei, what about Head Monk? Was he sleeping?”
Sensei gurgled loudly and said, “No. He was ‘silencing’. In the end, you will understand that nothing is more beautiful than silence. And that is when you will hear your own divine music.”
*****