Noise and Zen meditation don't mix in Bloomington

Insight on the News, April 1, 2002 by John Elvin

Stonehouse was a 13th century Zen monk and hermit who lived on Hsiamushan Mountain in China's Chekiang province. He liked his peace and quiet, and produced quite a bit of poetry along these lines: "Dense bamboo shades my windows, thick moss covers the steps in front, desires die in the quiet, cares disappear -- it's so still."

You have to wonder, in today's plugged-in, wired, revved-up world, if it would be at all possible to experience quiet as Stonehouse knew it. Well, certainly not in Bloomington, Ind., according to a group called Noise Free America (www.noisefree.org).

The group issues an "award" each month to a community that it believes subjects its citizens to "a daily barrage of boom cars, deafening exhaust systems, blaring store music, droning low-flying planes and thumping campus bars and fraternities." Bloomington is seen as being on the cutting edge of cacophony since its library system held a boom-car workshop for kids and its fairgrounds played host to a boom-car extravaganza.

In announcing the selection of Bloomington, the antinoise group included a quote from Jorgen Christensen, a visitor from Denmark: "This is my first time to America. But I tell you, I cannot wait to go back to Denmark. No one can make so much noise to bother people in Denmark. You pay a big fine or go to jail." Not quite the poetry of Stonehouse, but an indication that his appreciation of peace and quiet lives on.

I hear you: Those searching for peace and quiet might want to avoid Bloomington.