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Music, Art-Making, and Allowing Full Expression
Hello friends,
As a new meditator, I've come into some interesting complexities concerning my art (which is my job and life, essentially), and my budding practice.
I sometimes write songs that are filled with spite, ego, and a desire to explosively emote and express whatever comes to mind. Sometimes this is aggressive and intense. I don't want to put out bad vibes or hurt anyone, but sometimes we feel bad vibes and need to express them. I also tour in a rock group, and often find myself in less than easy situations for meditation. In fact, alot of casual alcohol. I partake as well.
Also, I'm really into hard hip-hop like Wu-Tang Clan, Lil' Wayne, and heavy metal. I realize it's not all coming from a place of kindness and warm-heartedness, or enlightened perspectives (who's to say actually?), and yet I love it, I see beauty and truth in it, and feel touched by it's power and desire to evoke, or to express something beyond the sound and words.
Can anyone out there relate to any dilemmas between meditation and needing to follow a creative and artistic path that is challenging, free, and open.... to ANYTHING?
Thank you, and may you all be happy, and may your minds and hearts be filled with uplifted, joyous, clear peace:)
Tim
As a new meditator, I've come into some interesting complexities concerning my art (which is my job and life, essentially), and my budding practice.
I sometimes write songs that are filled with spite, ego, and a desire to explosively emote and express whatever comes to mind. Sometimes this is aggressive and intense. I don't want to put out bad vibes or hurt anyone, but sometimes we feel bad vibes and need to express them. I also tour in a rock group, and often find myself in less than easy situations for meditation. In fact, alot of casual alcohol. I partake as well.
Also, I'm really into hard hip-hop like Wu-Tang Clan, Lil' Wayne, and heavy metal. I realize it's not all coming from a place of kindness and warm-heartedness, or enlightened perspectives (who's to say actually?), and yet I love it, I see beauty and truth in it, and feel touched by it's power and desire to evoke, or to express something beyond the sound and words.
Can anyone out there relate to any dilemmas between meditation and needing to follow a creative and artistic path that is challenging, free, and open.... to ANYTHING?
Thank you, and may you all be happy, and may your minds and hearts be filled with uplifted, joyous, clear peace:)
Tim
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Comments
> Can anyone out there relate to any dilemmas between meditation and needing to follow a creative and artistic path that is challenging, free, and open.... to ANYTHING?
as a composer of extreme abstract/noise/glitch and indulger in many less-than-monkly actions, yes ... i can relate. ;-)
as i see it: it's all good. if the Buddha lives in the teachings of the dharma, the Buddha lives in an insane "song" by Melt Banana and a good strong glass of Beaujolais, yes?
i draw the line (usually) at doing harm to myself, others, the world. though that line is not always so easy to recognize.
rachMiel
I think where the issue is with meditation is that all of what you do in your work and social life will come into your meditation. So that could be that you will question what you do! And that you will question meditation!
I think its a difficult problem. I don't see engaging in 'less than buddhist' things to be wrong, but I think you could say that when you are not using them for your awareness practice, then at that time you are not practicing.
Its hard to meditate when you have to lose your whole life and joy to do it. Why would anyone do that? Nonetheless I hope that you find ethics in some context meaningful. For example not harming is a good principle I have learned. If you can modify your alcohol consumption and socializing so it does not harm I think it would be for everyone's good. But like you say nonetheless there is beauty in emoting negativity. Have you noticed that you prefer some artists more than others? So its not as if you have no morality.
Anyway I don't want to write a book on this, just my thoughts
I see a lot of helpful perspectives in what you say, very encouraging!
These little bits of help are very important. Strengthening my bond with you, myself, the phenomenal world, meditation, everything.
Thank you:)
that's a very nice guiding principle, HM: pursue whatever strengthens the sense of connection with others/world. if listening to Wu-Tang's deliciously filthy lyrics makes you feel joyful/connected -- and doesn't make you want to go out and sow suffering in the world -- then it's a good thing, yes? :-)
If I were you I wouldn't worry too much about that.
Even though music is not meditation, there can be benefit via expression and feedback.
Guitar playing contributed to my coming in touch with and opening up in meditation.
But of course it only takes one this far.
Take care.