Are you paying attention?

[ornoth]

Just a brief synchronicity…

I’ve had Marc Ian Barasch’s “Field Notes on the Compassionate Life—A Search for the Soul of Kindness” on order at the BPL since I read an excerpt of it in Shambala Sun, which I mentioned in this LJ posting. After a 16-day wait, it finally was available and I checked the book out yesterday, immediately digesting the first 50 pages at the BPL while waiting for Milton Glaser’s lecture. After the lecture, I read the second chapter before going to bed. Chapter 2 is titled “Empathy: You in Me, Me in You”, and deals with whether there’s a biological basis for our human faculty of empathy. A major theme is the discovery of what are called “mirror neurons” in both humans and the great apes, something I hadn’t heard anything about before.

Less than 12 hours later, I wake up and perform my morning Web ritual. One of my select few news feed is from Space.com, and there’s a new article entitled “Scientists Say Everyone Can Read Minds”. Sounds kind of similar, no? Well, if you go to the article, it’s all about the discovery of what are called “mirror neurons” in both humans and the great apes.

Sure, synchronicity happens, and probably even moreso in today’s world of specialized syndicated news feeds and “knowledge of the moment”. Even so, that seems to be a particularly noteworthy juxtaposition.

A full report on “Field Notes” will be forthcoming. I’m still very hopeful that it’ll live up to the high expectations I’ve formed for it, but we’ll just have to see about that.

Comments

[f-l-i-r-t.livejournal.com]

Synchronicity indeed! I am always amazed, even though I know I shouldn't be, when those types of syncratic things do happen. It is more likely that we are just more aware of the issue at hand so notice these things more, no? I do love it though, it just makes me feel and think, there is more to this world, my knowing, my understanding my sight then is obvious. I didn't say that very well, as I often don't, the clarity of my choice of words don't always come as quickly as the clarity of the thought I am trying to share. *sigh*

Also, empathy, I see the lack of empathy in the youth, and well, many people as the single most deadliest disease of the human race. Interested in hearing more about this book, thanks for sharing, really enjoy your entries here. *friendly smile* Have a nice day. *cheeky grin*

[angelovernh.livejournal.com]

That's a very interesting case of synchronicity indeed. I haven't heard of Mirror Neurons before, either, and I counsel about empathy a lot. Hrm. Will look it up. Thanks for the info.

[imperator-mei.livejournal.com]

I knew you were going to say that.

[lothie.livejournal.com]

That's fascinating! Thank you.

[ornoth.livejournal.com]

Re synchronicity... I think there is a portion of the equation that's due to one being increasingly sensitive to a subject, particularly in a case like this, where I probably would not have investigated that particular article based on the headline alone.

I think another is just the fact that the global news media is increasingly drawn to short-term trends. One interesting research report might generate several article about it, as well as back-pointers to related studies and previous stories. It's all the zeitgeist/gestalt/other Germanic words.

I'm not a big believer that synchronicity happens due to anything but random chance, but that doesn't mean that it's not worth noting what it means when something like that happens. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio...

Re empathy: agreed, wholeheartedly. But it's difficult to instill empathy until one achieves some degree of maturity, the ability to see and respect needs beyond mechanistically responding to one's own shortsighted ego.

Good luck with the client thing. Don't give him the power to make your life miserable.