Only 7 people out of over a thousand actually paid attention to his extraordinary playing, as part of a marketing experiment in whether people actually listened to the music and recognized this well-known performer. Two nights earlier, people paid $100 or more for the experience of his playing at the symphony. You’ve probably read the email going around about this. It’s about the power of listening, of discriminating what is important in the moment, about being present. This ability to be fully present to our experience, to enjoy the music and rthyms around us, is a gift to ourselves, and ultimately, to the people we live with and love. As we cultivate our ability to live in the moment (have you listened to Eckhart Tolle or Pema Chodron or Rachel Naomi Remen yet?), we practice keeping our ears – and ultimately – our hearts, open.
