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The Daily Dharma – August 15, 2021

The Voice in the Head (continued)

One in a series of paintings entitled ‘Looking Up’, which investigates where we tend to see when walking outside in urban areas. The paintings illustrate other aspects of the visual landscape that is often overlooked when we are focused on what is closer to our feet or toward the horizon. From a study ‘Green Light’. Big Green Light, Original oil on canvas, 40" x 20"
Big Green Light Painting Seamus Berkeley

As the train approached Tottenham Court Road Station, she stood up and walked toward the door with still no break in the stream of words coming out of her mouth. That was my stop too, so I got off behind her. At street level, she began to walk toward Bedford Square, still engaged in her imaginary dialogue, still angrily accusing and asserting her position. My curiosity aroused, I decided to follow her as she was walking in the same general direction I had to go in. Although engrossed in her imaginary dialogue, she seemed to know where she was going. Soon we were within sight of the imposing structure of Senate House, a 1930’s high-rise, the university’s central administrative building and library. I was shocked. Was it possible that we were going to the same place? Yes, that’s where she was heading. Was she a teacher, a student, and office worker, a librarian? Maybe she was some psychologist’s research project. I never knew the answer. I walked twenty steps behind her, and by the time I entered the building (which ironically was the location of the headquarters of the “Mind Police” in the film version of George Orwell’s novel, 1984), she had already been swallowed up by one of the elevators.

Eckhart Tolle

from A New Earth; Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose

To be continued . . .