It’s a nice word.  But what is it?

It is an origin.  A beginning of sorts.  The start.

Now, it will be defined as a cinematic masterpiece by Christopher Nolan.  And well it should.

Nolan’s Inception is a journey through the deepest levels of the mind and reality…a rare event that will unite scientist, science fiction buff, action lover, and spiritualist alike.  Indeed, these groups, as well as the casual viewer, can sit side-by-side in the theater, drawn into this insane tale of chaos and perfect sense.

Leonardo DiCaprio is Cobb, an elusive man with an even more elusive past, who carries a briefcase that holds the secret to entering your mind…and your dreams.  Once inside, he can take what he wants, or, in this case, leave what he wants.  Flanked by on-the-spot help including the surprisingly appropriate Ellen Page as Ariadne, and cool-as-a-cuke Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Arthur, Cobb is on one last mission that could make or break him.  Literally.

The audience is left dangling off the high cliffs of reality, and I believe that is the key to Inception’s masterful touch.  We are often as disoriented as the characters, often not privy to information they are not.  Robbed of the usual in-the-know attitude, we sit on the edge of our seats as solid drama plays out in levels of reality normally reserved for a good night’s sleep or the deep subconscious.

The stakes are high and the action is real.  DiCaprio’s performance is a masterful blend of blank expression that masks deep secrets, and an intensity and passion for inception.  What he keeps out of public view cannot help but seep in while “on the job,” and his unintended disregard for his compatriots only adds to a character complexity rarely seen on the big screen these days.

I could tell you about Inception from start to finish.  I could describe each scene in detail and let you in on the twists and turns.  I could give away the beginning, middle, and end.

And it wouldn’t make a difference.  You would still be lost.  You would still enjoy the movie.  Trust me.

For those of you who meditate, explore the subconscious, study particle physics, or just love to be challenged and entertained, Inception is your imaginary cup of tea.  But make sure you grip your popcorn tight…it’s the one thing that will keep you anchored to reality.

-josh

And frustration.

We never know when we will meet the teacher, it’s true.  But when that teacher comes along, we sure know we’ve met.  In many ways, that is the spirit of Dan Millman’s Way of the Peaceful Warrior (HJ Kramer, Inc., 1980).

I picked up this book after many years of hearing about it.  I have seen Millman speak, and know others who have read this book, and the other day, I decided to pull it off the shelf and read it.

Essentially, Peaceful Warrior tells the story of Millman’s journey with a mysterious gas station attendant, Socrates.  Millman, a student athlete at Berkeley, encounters this odd figure one night and is swept into a world that has always been right before his eyes, but just out of reach – it is a world where one can find happiness through discipline, and joy in a world of illusions.  Socrates’ teachings slice Millman’s perceptions to shreds, and challenge his fears, ultimately liberating the mind.

The goal of the book, as far as my experience with it, is not to get caught up in the details, wondering whether the book is a totally true and accurate account of Millman’s life, but rather, to consider deeply if what we believe is true at our deepest levels, or only at the level of illusion.

There is little ultimately new in this book in terms of teachings and philosophy, but that is not a knock on its content.  Rather, it is a recognition that the book’s tag line, “A Book That Changes Lives,” refers to looking at your old beliefs in a new way.  A way, in fact, that you may already know, but just need a kick start in remembering.  Indeed, ancient wisdom told in a new way is the hallmark of effective spiritual books, and Peaceful Warrior achieves this goal. For Millman, as the months pass under Socrates’ tutelage, his mind clears to a crystalline state where he can see a reality that was always there, but hidden under ego, fear, and perception.

And that is a great lesson for all of us.  If we have even one iota of the discipline of the sages we so admire, perhaps we can reach a point where we, too, can get past the illusion of living, and get down to the business of life.  Once there is an understanding that the world is so much more than we perceive, and that the inner world is more vast than our daily, limited experience, we can confront our true selves on a level that can bring happiness.

Lasting happiness.

Enter the world of spiritual books.  Even if it is from 1980, my guess is that not too much has changed…although, perhaps, you may change.

-josh

He sings, teaches, supports. I am lucky to have him in my community, and have been fortunate to hear many of his teachings. He lives in the world, but shows that there is another way to engage it. That maybe, we can learn to prioritize stress with other important things, such as family, spirituality, friendship, etc.

He sings a song with a particular lyric, “always be in joy!” That is so difficult. Especially as our days become more stressful and demanding. For, how can one be in joy in the midst of a hectic day? If we were yogis in Himalayan caves, maybe we could tip the scales to states of less stress, but not in a cube with a ringing phone and a recession constantly knocking at the door. In those moments, peace seems so far away.

I have a job in the world. It is stressful. It is demanding. I don’t always feel at peace. When it gets to be too much, I often slip into the skeptical part of my brain that asks, “Is it really possible? Is it possible to get help in the midst of my hectic day? Is it really possible to always be in joy?”

Sometimes wish I had a pick-me-up at noon on a Tuesday.

That’s why, when I was asked recently to review an iPhone application called “Joy of Being,” (Version 1.0) I jumped at the chance. I know there are a lot of products out there that claim to help people relax, and it is hard to sort through them. That is why I have decided to start reviewing products here at Orumai to see which ones might really help me (and others) to relax a little.

The app store describes “Joy of Being” as “a set of three guided meditations to help you find inner peace, relax, empower yourself, and open your mind to creativity and freedom.”

Sounds good.

As many of you know, the iPhone is an Apple/Mac product that operates on the AT&T network. There are many people who program for Mac and iPhone, including the co-creator of Orumai. I own an iPhone and was eager to try out this product.

The application, designed by Random Ideas (makers of iZen Garden and Edibles), sells for $1.99. I downloaded it from the application store (via a free promo code from the programmer) and into my phone and started the program.

It contains three meditations: Beach, Forest, and River, each accompanied by meditation-specific pictures and sounds. For example, the “Forest” meditation comes with pictures of trees, flowers, sunlight, and rocks. The guiding voice, a woman who speaks in a delicious, soothing alto, will guide you though descriptions that take you on journeys within. These are familiar meditations with motifs I’ve heard before, but they are presented with nice visuals and music.

“Beach” begins with an invitation from the silky voice to leave the everyday, as this is my “special time to find peace and comfort” in my day. I find out the sun is around me and I am relaxed. As I take off my shoes, I am walking on a beach with the sounds of the ocean in my ears. It is quite nice, actually. I imagined myself with my girlfriend when we were in Kauai. There are birds, waves, sounds…I am asked to imagine a wondrous light as it enters my body and relaxes my body. It was all very relaxing, I must say.

In the “Forest,” the woman asks me to “marvel at the creation of life,” and beckons me into the woods, safe and protective. I am asked to be a tree with deep roots. I am encouraged to breathe deeply from the surrounding air, allowing clear light and life to enter me. I am rooted and strong.

At the “River,” I hear echoes of the Tao. I am encouraged to be “fluid and open” and to meander around, and smooth out, the obstacle in my path, much like rushing water can do to stones in a riverbed. I imagine myself at my favorite spot in Oak Creek Canyon in the Southwest. I gaze at pictures of swans and water, and I realize that I am free flowing, allowing the water to dissolve any blockages within me. As the voice describes the water, I am asked to smooth out obstacles. It is an ancient, and lovely image.

I must say I did feel relaxed after the program ended. The iPhone format works well, especially if you want a quick listen during the day.

The only issues I had with the program were in its basic functionality. I found that if I received a call (ironically, my girlfriend called as I was listening to the “Beach” meditation), it would stop the program, and it had to be restarted from the beginning. Call interruptions are one of the pitfalls of a meditation application on a phone device, I guess. Also, there is no way to ‘pause’ the meditation. In other words, if I stopped it and wanted to start it again, I had to go back to the beginning of the particular program. It was a little frustrating. I understand that if I’m meditating and am interrupted, then something is lost in the relaxation flow, but it would be nice to start up again where I was, especially if I am on a quick break at work or in between appointments and could quickly get back to it. However, I do understand this is the 1.0 version, and I am sure future incarnations of the product will improve these issues.

But overall, it was lovely. The music and pictures were very nice and the images in the meditations are calming. This was a nice few minutes.

I know it is hard to always find joy. I guess maybe one of the ways to start the search is to find relaxation first. From there, the mind is clearer and can better follow the clues to happiness. Products like “Joy of Being” help us to find ways during the day to breathe and relax. After all, these are the great building blocks of inner peace and joy.

What would my teacher say about all this?

I’ll call him on my iPhone and find out. Or, maybe I’ll just ask in person.

-josh