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Guitar - Attachment?

normalnamenormalname
edited November 2010 in Buddhism Basics
Forgive me if this type of question is asked a million times. I'm sure we could search and replace "guitar" with any number of other things to get at the same point.

But that said, there may be some unique issues with this.

My question is this: is playing guitar an "attachment"? Is it "wasted" time? Is this one foot in samsara and one foot in Dharma - with a penalty paid for committing to neither?

I took up guitar later in life, and I love it. I truly do love it with a quiet type of love. I practice/learn/play 1-2 hours daily, trying to actually improve and learn as opposed to merely 'noodling' on it.

In some ways, learning guitar is the only focused thing I've done in years: learning about music, working on getting better, etc. In some ways, it's a template for studying anything (including Buddhism).

But my question is this: is it an "attachment"? is it a waste of time? I do it for "myself" - it feels/sounds good. I don't do it for fame or money or praise... but it is still part of "me", my ego, etc.

Jus' wondering...

Comments

  • nanadhajananadhaja Veteran
    edited November 2010
    If its not ruling your life I really don't see a problem.You are a lay person,not a monk and therefore you can have a few more things to do than we can.Remember that buddhism is not about making your life miserable.It is the middle way.If learning the guitar gives you some pleasure thats cool.Looking forward to your post that says you meditate for at least as long as you play the guitar each day.:om::rockon:
  • normalnamenormalname
    edited November 2010
    Thank you for your answer.

    I currently meditate for 30 minutes or so a day. I actually do not find meditation hugely difficult or a chore. But I am "apprehensive" about meditating for longer. I fear "losing myself" in the practice.

    And before anyone jumps on me, I get it. I understand that is the "point". And before anyone jumps on me again, I realize "losing myself" is a complex, probably poorly stated, not necessarily what enlightenment is all about kind of thing.

    But this is my fundamental "concern" or "fear" about this path. Pursuing kindness, generosity, compassion, etc for others and myself is certainly not easy, but for me, it is far easier than the other half of all this: entering the stream, or enlightenment, or nirvana, or Buddhahood or boddhicitta or whatever you call it.

    This causes me apprehension. And thus I worry that I will pay a huge penalty at the end, neither having samsaric achievement nor Dharmic "achievement", but a muddle of both.
  • nanadhajananadhaja Veteran
    edited November 2010
    Oh well,slowly,slowly.You will(hopefully)find these fears will ease with time.If you start feeling brave you can just try to increase it by 5 minutes occasionally.
    See, no jumping:D
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited November 2010
    It might interest you to know that HH the DL is a self-taught horologist and can - and does - repair clocks and watches.... a skill he picked up in the vast Potala Palace during his youth, and which has always stayed with him as a hobby (when he can find the time).

    He has been given many beautiful clocks and watches in his lifetime, and openly confesses he should rid himself of them....but....he likes them!
  • ParadoxParadox
    edited November 2010
    Everything is life comes with the risk of attachment. There's no getting away from that. Getting rid of something beautiful because you are afraid of getting attached to it is just another kind of attachement, and a much worse one IMHO. Playing guitar is as good an oppotunity to pactice mindfulness as any other. If you enjoy it, then there's a bonus.
  • tarikitariki
    edited November 2010
    The wrong time to ask me, having just purchased a brand new shiny electric guitar................:cool:

    (Must say, my attachment to my older acoustic model has lessened........You win some, you lose some)
  • normalnamenormalname
    edited November 2010
    tariki wrote: »
    The wrong time to ask me, having just purchased a brand new shiny electric guitar................:cool:

    (Must say, my attachment to my older acoustic model has lessened........You win some, you lose some)

    So, this is a weird thing... I actually have (sort of) transcended guitar lust.

    Don't get me wrong, I still walk by the guitar store every day and it's like Buddha facing Mara's daughters... but I actually know that the buzz of getting a new guitar WILL invariably wear off. I've pretty much gotten to this point with possessions. I see the end of the joy of a new toy ahead of time.

    That said, what'd you get?!
  • JoshuaJoshua Veteran
    edited November 2010
    Not good for me, I wasn't wondering the same thing but too prideful to ask. I've been playing guitar for ten years and spent the better part of my teenage years under the impression that I'd be chasing rockstardom only to have very recently ditched the idea. Take inspiration from me, don't be like me! :D
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    edited November 2010
    Isn't guitar attachment called a neck strap? :) Or maybe a capon?
  • normalnamenormalname
    edited November 2010
    Mountains wrote: »
    Isn't guitar attachment called a neck strap? :) Or maybe a capon?

    Heh... even if it IS a real attachment, I decided not to fret about it.
  • tarikitariki
    edited November 2010
    normalname wrote: »

    That said, what'd you get?!

    I'd like to say a Gibson, but it was a cheapy from a Hong Kong based company. But it IS nice and shiny!

    Valois mentioned rock stardom........I'm now a little bit long in the tooth for that, not so much X Factor as a novelty act on Britain's Got Talent....:buck:
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