Life is never really, constantly, harmonious. I think that there is really no way to completely have balance in our lives. We live in an imperfect world that seems to be constantly bashing with us and almost “trying” to make our lives more complicated. However, it is something that we all wish for and aspire to have. The word itself just sounds nice…harmony…a consistent, orderly, or pleasing arrangement of parts; congruity….can that really be achieved? It’s easy to get caught up in the disharmony of life, but when it totally takes you over and becomes your total focus, I think it can be dangerous.
Salmon Rushdie examines Eliot Crane’s madness in is short story called “The Harmony of the Spheres.” The narrator of the story is a friend of Eliot’s and is slowly watching Eliot go from complete genius to in my opinion, madness, which is a form of disharmony. Eliot was a genius, but also seemed be “suffering from what he called ‘brainstorms,’ of paranoid schizophrenia” (p 125). He even went as far as driving down the highway in the wrong direction…BLINDFOLDED (p 129-130)! It’s interesting to examine anyone with schizophrenia because they can seem so normal (harmonious) one second, but than all of a sudden see something or hear something that no one else does. “One night he woke up at three a.m., convinced of the presence downstairs of something absolutely evil” (p 135). Eliot also studied the dark arts, was an occultist. The narrator (Khan) still believes that there is some sense and brilliance in Eliot, even through the times of madness. “Eliot was no the hyper-rationalist he claimed to be. His immersion in the dark arts was more than scholarly. But because of his brilliance, I took him at his own estimation. ‘Just open-minded’ he’d say” (p 136). There seems to be the attempt to explain the madness that has taken over the want of harmony in the mind of Eliot.
Is it madness? Is it genius? Eliot Crane was known for his intelligence. He was an extremely bright man! He was Khan’s teacher, “Under my friend’ informal tutelage, I studied numerology and palmistry and memorized an Indian Spell for flying…” (p 138). Eliot had used his genius to help and teach Khan. “I never had much time for gurus back home where the word cam from, but that’s what Eliot was, I confess with a blush” (p 138). This man was smarter than his own good. I think that is what drove him too madness. He had so much going on in his mind that he couldn’t control it. He lost the harmony of knowing what was real and what was only in his head. Eliot Crane had lost a sense of balance in fantasy and actuality.
“Harmony? You never heard such a din as the ruckus in Eliot’s head. The songs of Swedenborg’s angles, the hymns, the mantras, the Tibetan overtone chants…just another voice in the cacodemnoic crowd. Bang! And, at last, silence. Requiescat in pace” (p 142). Sadly in the end, Eliot commits suicide after dealing with his discord for too long. It’s so true that what Khan describes as the many different voices, opinions, and ideas of other people, can really have an affect on how we live our lives. There is so much dis-harmony in this world and so many differing ideas and reasons to do things or not do certain things, that it could cause someone to go crazy. I think that that is where Rushdie tries to tell us to not allow ourselves to get too caught up in life or in something that causes us to disassociate from just everyday living. Eliot seemed to be completely enthralled with his occult stuff, “I’m on the mend, I’ve started work again…Works fine as long as I keep off the occult stuff” (p 130). That seems to be what drove him mad.
I think that in a way, Rushdie is trying to convince us that there can be a relatively close balance and harmony to life if we are able to “keep out the noise” and focus on things that are positive in our lives. Maybe not so much of the dark arts as Eliot seemed to enjoy. What we fill our minds with can truly take over without us even realizing it. If we are able to balance difference aspects of our lives with positive things, I think that harmony can be attained for a little while, and maybe not perfect harmony, but close. Like Khan said, we are constantly bombarded with so many different ideas, I think that we need to remember to take it all with a grain of salt and decide what is truly important to us. That way we can try to balance what we believe and what we are told or come across, and live life as it comes to us.
3 comments on Balance...Can it happen?
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Interesting argument.
dear tiffsiemens,
In 40 or so years I have yet to see any group or random order of humans in the natural sense, find what they so desparetly speak of as harmony? It seems always something out of some organizations grasp.However; I do believe that harmony or balance is something which can be obtainable but; only as an
individual,and it within the boundaries of mans "spirit".Working at one time with the criminally insane, or those affected with the label of "Paranoid Schizophrenia;and various other mental afflictions :I early on, came to the conclusion that just the title itself "paranoid schizophrenia" is very telling ?
Since I understand your premise that very few can attain this state of "non-mind" I just look at this terminology and can see the "Split between the make-up of man,both as an individual and a part of the herd mentality which is so prevalant today as it has been in the thousands of years in the past.Man has been described as Mind ,emotions ,and spirit.while composed of these elements in the worldly sense,man would have to change from being ruled by
natural laws ,and want with all his heart to strive towards achieving the attainment of becoming "Spiritual" in essence.this can be achieved ;but only in the sense of Introspection/or Self-Actualization: or Self-Awarness.The graduating to another plane of spiritual essence, not found in himself.Only God can assist man to rising above the self,to be dependent upon Him in order for man to not depend upon his own strength and to go beyond himself in becoming the individual that a creator destined him to be.I have been a Christian for some 35 years now, and the progression towards "Balance" and "harmony" can only be attained through the loving of ones God,and that only as the individual God and him work within through that love. It would be nice and a knowing thing , within a persons personal loving relationship with their God; if striving spiritually for the deeper things of Him: was as easy as it has been taught and written of. But; both in scripture and a desire to walk deeper with ones God,must be dedicated to loving your God beyond reason,even above and beyond many human loves ?There are many things we can attain as the individuals we are,which overrules the social stigma of just being human.Much is attainable in the growth of the individual spirit working with their loving God.Perhaps being accountable to just you and your God is less inhibiting than being under a magnifying glass in a group. I remember in one class in college,(I think a psych class) where the personality of the Group as a structure, (involved in civil unrest),were confronted with photographers with their cameras! They immediately dispersed in that unlawful endeavor,simply by knowing that they would be on Camera ,thus the fact of easily being recognised ,provided instant identification not as part of a group, but as a individual. Responsiblility,and accountability seem to impact a human heart with the ability to know right from wrong?
Sorry ,for the rambling;I think an early stage of dementia?
Loved the "Roo", a new friend I'm thinking?
In His love,
lampwicke xxx
Wow! Lampwicke sure has alot to say....
I do believe that human beings can attain harmony. For some it is attained by their faith in God, for others it can be attained through learning to "take what you feel is real and leave the rest". Still others think that harmony can only be attained after many lives lived on Earth and learning through those lives what it is that the creator of all wants us to be. I am personally open to many beliefs and ideas, but unlike Eliot I will discard those things that I think are harmful to my psyche and way of thinking. Psychologist and Psychiatrists would say that Eliot has a "chemical imbalance" that is causing his brain to deteriorate. But I think you may have something there about his mind being full of so much (some of it very dark and negative) that he could not continue to exist with so much chaos there. We all need to listen to that "still, small voice" that tells us when we have come into contact with something that will be harmful to us. Eliot did not seem to do that...he let it all in and paid the consequences.