The Piano Lesson
Wishing to encourage her young son’s progress on the piano, a mother took the small boy to a concert of the great concert pianist, Paderewski. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her.
Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked “NO ADMITTANCE.” When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her son was missing.
Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”
At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in he boy’s ear, “Don’t quit.” “Keep playing.”
Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obbligato.
Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was mesmerized.
That’s the way it is with our attempts at personal and spiritual growth and improvement. What we can accomplish on our own is not always as noteworthy as we may wish it to be. We try our best, but the results don’t always meet our expectations. With the hand of the Universe — tuned in to our Higher Self, guiding our way, our life’s work truly can be beautiful.
Next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You can hear the voice of your inner, Higher Self, whispering in your ear, “Don’t quit.” “Keep playing.” Feel the loving arms around you. Know that in the big picture of things, you really can’t hit a wrong note.
Remember, The Universe doesn’t call the equipped, It equips the called.”
I had received this story a while back, as an anonymous one, and I felt it quite sahaj in its message. Personally I had met wonderful piano teachers that went far and beyond their ‘duties’ , so this article is dedicated to them. Also, it is dedicated to all of us students that at least once had experienced a life transforming, guru-like relationship with a teacher. The teaching of any skill becomes so inspirational and effective when the student feels included in the learning process, when there is Oneness – that transcends the mutual respect, trust and pure love – in the pupil/teacher relationship ; then only the student can hear the Perfection already sneaking into his own imperfect notes, simply because the Teacher is right there for him and with him, at every step of his learning and transforming journey.
Similarly it happens at the free sahaja yoga meditation classes offered anywhere, because this was the path set in Sahaja Yoga Meditation since its foundation by Shri Mataji in 1970. The declared and transparent goal of our meditation classes, in Halton and everywhere else, is that any student or beginner can become a Teacher himself, a fully matured Lotus and for achieving this purpose, the support is always made available, genuinely and joyfully.
Comment to Piano Lesson Story & Image from Adrian (sahaja yogi & friend from Burlington)
In this paragraph is Adrian’s comment to the story and original article below, and because I had found Adrian’s comment very sahaj = connected, I had felt to incorporate his comment into this article and enrich it. Enjoy!
“The piano is a very interesting instrument. Note the photograph at the beginning of this article… and notice the diagram containing the piano’s keys. There are groups of black keys surrounded by white keys. notice that any group of 5 black keys are surrounded 7 white keys. I think this grouping is called a chord. So there are 12 keys in total, each adjacent black and white key are a half tone apart. So at the opposing ends we find two white keys… with 5pairs of keys in between. The ends are the Mooladhara and Sahasrara… these are individual chakras… the others all exist as pairs a half tone apart… one in the front of the body and one behind, ie Nabhi, Anahat, etc. The keys of the piano are in tune… in harmony… as they should be in order to play an infinite variety of tunes. This is quite a metaphor for us to see, if we are looking WITHIN.
Not a coincidence.”
Click to Enjoy the Article on Emotional Intelligence and Lotuses
The piano is a very interesting instrument. Note the photograph at the beginning of this article… and notice the diagram containing the piano’s keys. There are groups of black keys surrounded by white keys. notice that any group of 5 black keys are surrounded 7 white keys. I think this grouping is called a chord. So there are 12 keys in total, each adjacent black and white key are a half tone apart. So at the opposing ends we find two white keys… with 5pairs of keys in between. The ends are the Mooladhara and Sahasrara… these are individual chakras… the others all exist as pairs a half tone apart… one in the front of the body and one behind, ie Nabhi, Anahat, etc. The keys of the piano are in tune… in harmony… as they should be in order to play an infinite variety of tunes. This is quite a metaphor for us to see, if we are looking WITHIN.
Not a coincidence.
Nothing to say… you have said it all… and so beautifully…
This idea of the piano keys… I believe I had come across this before… somewhere… so I was reminded of this when I read the original archive. To add to this idea further… one notices that the entire scale of piano keys is repeated and overlapping. This means that there is also an infinite array or scale of frequencies or vibrations that are capable of being produced by the piano… all posibilities exist… much like the knowledge or creative potential of a single entity such as a human BEING, or for that matter as the collective consciousness of the universe… hence all of the Beauty of the universe is possible from this simplistic idea of what I will call the Subtle repeating scale of the piano keyboard. It is interesting to speculate that the SPIRIT of the orignal person who conceived of creating the piano keyboard was being directed by the DIVINE… without actually understanding how, or why or what. Yet even that acknowledges the TRUST and RISK involved in going within… or simply our intuition at work.
Great message at a time when it is needed most. Do not quit – “The Universe doesn’t call the equipped, It equips the called.” I love this quote.
Lots of love always.
So, at that very moment when one is called… they do not have to think about whether they are equiped or not… one simply does… because one knows… so how do you know! You know because you are not in Fear… you know because you consciously understand that it is not about right or wrong… rather you are prepared to take responsibility for your knowing… that clearly puts you in the present. And each new moment presents another knowing for which you are equiped… so at that point the Universe does not have to call you because you realize that it is already embodied Within… as it always was and always will be… just allow.
“The Universe doesn’t call the equipped, It equips the called.”
That is exactly what happened last Sunday at Guru Puja.
Me, who always thought singing is not possible for me in this life, unknowingly opened the song book (I was at the book sale table) and started singing with the group and, for the first time, enjoyed the sweet meaning hidden in those songs!
Oh dear Ma… I could sing too!
Yes, the Universe doesn’t call the equipped, It equips the called. That day, Shri Mataji equipped me to sing.
-Chandra
Heartwarming and inspiring analogy about the piano maestro and the little boy. This relates so much to real life in any situation be at school or sports or in Sahaja yoga and reading it just reminds you how we are constantly going to learn until the end of our lives.
I am… grateful to be reminded,
of the simplicity…
To Be aware of,
Awareness within.
relates to Shri Mataji’s quote…
“from the folded loving arms around you”
Infinitely.
I consider Shri Mataji the best Teacher I have ever had.
Thanks Ioana for sharing ..Sahaj Nirmal Vidya.. thru wonderful stories. It is teaching me subtle coincidences and relations in nature and every activity around us. Never realised so much around us which if witnessed will bless me with remarkable subtle Yogi qualities . Thank you Shri Mataji for guiding us.
A very illuminating article explained with the help of simple stories and the very powerful quotes truly inspiring one .Thanks Ioana.