Music and a movie

We went to the 2nd concert at Viva la Música yesterday. It was a couple who play the guiter and flute. Both teach at the Univ. of Guadalajara Music Department as well as other things. Again, it was very enjoyable. Today we went to a showing of the 1987 movie, “The Mission”, starring Jeremy Irons and Robert de Niro. It was held in the disco lounge behind the Plaza Garden Restaurant on the town square. Apparently, the space used to be a movie theatre, but was converted to a disco dance hall during the last year. This event (the first as a trial) was organized by the writers’ group. There was a discussion of various aspects of the movie afterwards. Because the hall is associated and directly behind the restaurant (you enter by going through the latter), one can order drinks and even food. It started at 11:30 a.m. although the movie did not get under way until about 12. It went until after 2. It was shown from a DVD so that when blown up for a large screen, the quality was not terrific. It was all filmed in various parts of South America with stunning scenery. Also, because of so many echoes, it was difficult at times to understand the dialogue. I enjoyed the movie, but others wanted to show what great critics they are by ‘dising’ it. The writers’ group raises money for scholarships for budding Mexican writers and all the money raised is to go for that purpose. Admission was only 50 pesos/person. They’ll probably do another one.

The Open Circle talk yesterday was about the experience of a retreat in Buddhist monestaries. I had expected not to like it very much. However, it was interesting and the lecturer was very good and funny. He has been a teacher of yoga and meditation for many years, but he was not super serious. He said that he had never been interested in being a monk; monks were crazy people. He in fact had a very interesting career as writer and producer for TV. He was very firm about not reading more into meditation than was really there. When asked about chanting, he said that it was useful in clearing the mind of distracting thoughts, but not to do it for too long. Chanting for too long could make you crazy. About mantras, he said that the root words meant simply ‘controlling the mind’. He said not to read any more into it than that; it was not a kind of abracadabra or magic. Reading all the Buddhist scriptures did not help you in a retreat because there it was just you alone with yourself. Coming to terms with that was something you had to do on your own. Anyway, it was refreshing not to have someone gushing and breathless; I am usually convinced that there is a lot less than meets the eye with people who are dewy eyed.

Yesterday, we went to a different restaurant, Ninette. It is a bit more expensive than many other restaurants in Ajijic, but the food was absolutely delicious. There are still so many restaurants we have not yet visited.