How do you truly watch a movie?

[air]

Well, different people watch movies in different ways. Most people get so engrossed in the movie that they start thinking that the movie is real. They start relating to what is happening in the movie. Instead of enjoying the movie, what do people really end up doing? People start commenting on the production, the direction, the characters, and the actors – the actor should have done this or the actors should have worn such clothes. This scene would have been better if the villain had not performed the way he did. Why did they show this? It spoilt the movie. Why did they add this song? They should have played some special music when the two actors walk on the beach in that particular scene.



People forget that they are not the producer or the director or the actors of the movie. They are just the audience, and to enjoy watching the movie, the best thing to do is to sit back and enjoy what is being presented on the screen. You have paid for the ticket, and you are a part of the show. Criticizing, commenting, and passing judgments on the movie will not enhance the entertainment that the movie will give you. Rather than making comments, why not simply enjoy the movie?



So it is with life! We are not the producers or directors of life. There is a Master – a Creator we call God who has produced and directed what is called the theatre of life. Yes, life is a drama. It is a theatre, and we keep on commenting and questioning: Why did this happen? Why did this not happen? Could this not have happened that way? Why did this happen to me? Why did he do this? Why did she do this?



Now, how does it matter? Will your questioning change anything? Nothing is going to change. The only difference from the movies is here in life, we are the actors; we can do our part and then enjoy the rest of the show.



Enjoy this drama. Enjoy the movie. Enjoy the theatre called life!



AiR

[sparklekaz]

Hi Air,

An interesting post and a good vehicle as analogy for the 'play that is our life'. I hold my hand up. I am one of those people who gets totally involved with the story lines and the characters. I am a very empathetic person, so I truly can't help myself. lol

I do sit back though relax and allow myself to be entertained. Well, I relax as long as its not a really spooky, scarey story line. But, just like the books I enjoy reading, I also like movies that make me think! I believe that stories and films can give us a different perspective on life. A window into the world of someone else, who lives a life that is totally different to the one we have. This is particularly true with films and books that have 'a message'. True stories that highlight social injustice, atrocities, environmental issues to name but a few.

I can totally see where you are coming from. That we should not take life so seriously, or become too attached to superficial things. Or things we cannot change. But, when you say "So it is with life! We are not the producers or directors of life. There is a Master – a Creator we call God who has produced and directed what is called the theatre of life. Yes, life is a drama. It is a theatre, and we keep on commenting and questioning: Why did this happen? Why did this not happen? Could this not have happened that way? Why did this happen to me? Why did he do this? Why did she do this?" I want to ask, but where is 'free will'. People would not come to realize core spiritual truths if they did not question! Question the life they are living. Why am I living this way. I don't feel that I am focusing on what is important. Am I doing enough to help others. Is the work I do meaningful and of service? Do you see where I am going with this?

I personally think that questioning is a big part of spiritual growth. If we just accepted things blindly, without thinking for ourselves. Many people who were living a negative lifestyle, or involved in situations that were not ethically, morally right. Would simply continue to do so. When we don't question ourselves, I believe there is a danger, we will continue blindly following other people. Accepting other peoples viewpoints, beliefs without question. By questioning ourselves. Things can change. We can change direction. We can stop doing things that are wrong. We can start to use our time more productively, wisely, more lovingly.

I do believe there is a kind of inevitability about life. That ultimately, we will end up where we are meant too be. And all the worry in the world wont alter that. I try to be philosophical about life. Particularly painful, experiences. Or when I've made mistakes, errors of judgement. I try to look at what I've learnt from that situation. I still feel bad, but develop a renewed purpose, to do things better next time. I also think it is easier to be relaxed about something, be more 'what will be will be', when we are older. We have lived a life, and know the things that happened to us, good and bad were there for us to learn from. I think when your younger and live life so emotionally intensely. Where everything can feel like the 'end of the world'. Young people need support and guidance. And in a world where community is becoming fractured. Families ending up hundreds of miles apart, they do not always get that.

My perception of God - The Creator, is that he created the world for us. That there are some things we can only learn here. My sense is not of a creator who has written a play and we are his cast who are meant to follow his script or directions. I see the creator as a father figure and we are his children. And just like any parent though he wants us to be safe, he knows for us to grow and become self reliant, we have to make our own decisions, make our own mistakes. For without life experiences, we would all be clones of each other with no sense of purpose, or any aspiration, to rise above our current consciousness and form. The evolution of our soul I'm sensing has to come about by our own efforts. We are our own architects! Just my thoughts on this.

Yes, life is a film, but it is also an education for us to learn from. Hopefully to become more sympathetic to the plight of others. To know what happens to a stranger, in a strange land matters. Because that person is no different to you and me. We all hurt, we all feel sadness, pain, joy and love. Films and books can do that. Make you realize. We are not different races, colour or creed. We are a family of humanity.

Great post Air. You really made me think.

Love and light
Kaz

[gruntal]

I love watching the old silent movies if for no other reason a lot of them were produced in Hollywood but filmed in downtown Los Angeles. I see the Los Angeles Railway streetcars going by and I wish I could step back in time and board them! What I find fascinating is that back then they couldn't afford much and they just used the streets of Los Angeles as a free backdrop. So maybe they painted on some phony lettering like Brooklyn Transit or Sholam's Bagels and sort of pretended is was some far off exotic locale like New York. But you knew it wasn't. It was just the neighborhood and the locals were acting as "stand ins". The same trolleys in the movie were the ones I rode on the J Line to South Gate so my parents could come get me and take me back home.

As above so below. I try to practice lucid dreaming but it rarely if ever works. You would think even in a dream it would be obvious it wasn't real but just an act. At any moment my protagonists will stop acting and sit down with me for lunch. The fake blood gets washed off. You never die in a dream ( at least I do not ) and don't feel any pain either. In an old silent movie the city stops moving for an instant and poses for a picture that gets made into a movie adventure. But real life goes on as soon as the filming stops.

Movies now are much more advanced in costumes and special effects and seem more real. You actually feel like you are there at some time and place. The illusion is so compelling you don't question it. Well some of us do. "It that the way things really are?". "Would a person really behave like that in real life?". "Is that really what the future is going to be?".

I can imagine being in Heaven and eventually having the same doubts. That has hidden meanings.

[aceofcups]

Thanks for post Air.. and the metaphor... have used it a number of times myself .... but I don't see it working out exactly how you play it out in your post.

I experience the Godhead as the Producer giving us the ultimate movie set to create a life or lives on multiple levels of consciousness- setting up the rules and means for us to create our lifetime movies.    Both in one personality life and also as evolving Souls (containing the Sum Total lessons and defeats over all our lives).  The Godhead is not there ultimately to be a judge and director....  but just as the overseer that gives us the space and laws in which to create.

We are the ones who are the Directors, and as in real life some directors are better then others and have done more movies and learned more over time.   The Director part of our being still has to want and should still align with the Producer or the production can go array or over budget ( cause new karma patterns which need to be balanced in this and future lives) etc   We as the Director must find out the Producer's Will in the play or movie. but we are not ultimately just to be blind puppets that is not the way to me.   We write an outline of a script before we incarnate into a life,,, sometimes we follow the script , sometimes we don't to a degree.,,,,, and re-write as we live it out within the energy parameters we have as our blueprint.

We are to evolve, grow, learn the laws set up and awaken to become Master Directors from and with our Higher Self.

To reach this mastery it takes many lives and lifetimes of experience. The Producer energy and the Director pick which actors we play out in a lifetime and the multiple roles they will play.   Also, giving us means to hook up with fellow actors we have acted together with in many previous lifetimes and productions.  The laws of Karma ( the laws and how those laws work are part of the Producer’s gift for us to learn). How they get worked out in any one production is up to the Director and the actors involved ( sometimes unconsciously, then eventually more and more consciously).

Have to go check my theater tickets....

peace,
ace