The day is delightful.  I am sitting in an outdoors café in my T-shirt. Blinded by the sun, which is already quite low even in the early afternoon, I start listening. By and by, I become all ears. The sounds of people swarming around me turn out to be surprisingly soothing: the faint squeal of baby-carriage wheels, the snippets of conversation, the rustle of leaves, the thud of high heels… Out of the blue, I start reprimanding myself for missing all this most of the time. I am too visual, too sensitive to my eyes. That is, too oblivious to the audible world around me. And then I solemnly promise myself to start paying more attention to my ears. As well as my skin, my tongue, and my nose. So as to make sure that I will stick with my decision, I couch it in terms of yoga. Well, tantra yoga, to be exact. The world must be embraced entire. And with the entire body, too.

Addendum (January 23, 2016)

Yes, the animal. No sense must be left out. And I am not alone among humans in being too visual, too sensitive to my eyes. It is a common failing, no doubt. Which reminds me of Zen master Ikkyu once again (“Attention,” May 24, 2008). But pay attention to your ears, skin, tongue, and nose, as well. Learn from the animal in you, that is. If there is no Zen or yoga master around, abandon all thought and let your body lead you back to your roots. Soon enough, the world will embrace you entire. The animal in your flesh and bones has been longing for you since the beginning of time.