After the Strike

What to expect

Eyes open on the room, you notice how you brace for what may come. Four sudden, loud sounds come from close by, each from a different side. After each one, you look into the half-second that follows, and watch the first thought form. Once, you wait and nothing comes. After the fourth, nothing is said. We made this experiment for ourselves first, to see what the mind does in the half-second after a shock.

How to listen:

• Sitting or lying down, eyes open, awake the whole way through.
• Best on headphones. The sounds come from close by, each from a different side.
• Keep the volume where a door slamming nearby would be fine for you. The sounds are sudden and loud on purpose.
• Never while driving, and not where a startle could cause harm.

About

Safety and aftercare. This one startles you on purpose. If sudden loud sounds are hard for you, after trauma, with a heart condition, or during a panic, choose another meditation. You can stop whenever you like, even between the sounds. Afterwards, let your heartbeat settle before you stand.

Credits. Using a sudden jolt as a doorway to awareness is found in the Vijñāna Bhairava. The startled deer comes from Michael Singer.

Written by Lee and Lucas + Twins. Voice: Lucas.

Transcript

Coming in

You come in still moving.

The day’s speed is here.

It can stay.

Find one colour in the room.

A straight edge.

The nearest sound.

Now one long, slow breath out.

That is the pace from here.

Part One: The eyes stay open

Let the eyes stay open.

Rest them on one place.

Nothing to look for there.

Feel the weight going down.

The breath moves by itself.

The eyes blink by themselves.

Hear the quiet of the room.

Its air, low and even.

Quiet, but never empty.

Part Two: The bracing

Let the eyes stay open.

Somewhere ahead, a sound will come.

A sudden crack, close by.

Some part may be getting ready.

Notice the bracing.

Look for it in the shoulders.

The hinge of the jaw.

Behind the eyes.

A held edge in the breath.

Leave it as it is.

A door slams down the hall.

You jump before you know why.

Then a first thought forms.

Between them, half a second.

When the crack comes, look there.

Keep the eyes on the room.

Part Three: The half-second after

Hear the quiet of the room.

Notice the bracing.

Look back into that half-second.

Before any word.

If you saw nothing, fine.

Let the eyes stay open.

This time, watch for the first thought.

Look back to the first thought that came.

The very first one.

It came by itself.

Let the eyes stay open.

Notice the bracing.

Nothing came.

Is the bracing still there?

Let the eyes stay open.

Watch for the jolt, then the thought.

Look back to the moment it hit.

Then the first thought after.

The gap between the two.

Let the eyes stay open.

Notice the bracing.

Part Four: Something will startle you today

The eyes are still open.

Let the whole room come in.

Breathe in a little fuller.

One thing to take with you.

Something will startle you today.

The half-second after is there.

Look into it.

Carry on at your own pace.