Urban Contemplation: 10 – Music for Entangled Thoughts – Lawrence English & Ai Yamamoto
The city series….
Music for Entangled Thoughts
http://youtu.be/gy1C5Jj6zNQ – Lawrence English & Ai Yamamoto – Plateau 2007
Detail of entangled thoughts and attached emotions
Where the Entanglement of Our Thoughts and Emotions Reside
The city series….
The ambiguity of a certain step
life and stolen moments….
where things are taken away
and given back with bated breath
while we intrepidly
hesitatingly
transcend the mundane
where things are like yesterday
and in every breath
life is given hope
like tomorrow’s dream….
the American dream
in the illusion of timelessness
where things are the same
on either side
of the entangled thought
and attached emotion
where the city sleeps
at the crossing of life and liberation
All I Ask Is That I Am Allowed To Have A Voice
The beauty of art in all its various disciplines is the formulation of ideas. At the core of those ideas is a social, historical, political, and creative construct that merges our identity with our life experience.
All I ask is that I am allowed to have a voice….
I have a voice ... I have hope ... I have you to listen
why do i have a voice
is it to liberate
illuminate
educate
or
bring together the gathering of
ideas
dreams
consciousness
do I dance to give voice
paint to give voice
act to give voice
react to give voice
how am i heard
listen
and tell me
for
your voice whispers to me….
Tell me what your voice means to you. How do you express and connect with the inner longing of your dreams; the ideas that keep you up at night; the need to share something, everything with everyone you meet?
This post is inspired by the voice of Bill T. Jones / Choreographer, Dancer and Artistic Director
Share your voice….
The Dreams We Seek Descend Like the Colors Purple Blue and White
A dream is like a palette of colors we sleep with every night….
Dreaming in purple and blue
Moments that follow you everywhere are like the dreams that wake you from sleep….
The Granite Wall of Thoughts Still Remain
I look out beyond my surroundings only to find the granite wall of thoughts … leaving me perplexed….
It is in my thoughts that I face myself
Standing at the edge of everything … my back against the wall….
A Granite Wall of Thoughts
Sometimes we want to see things, but the granite wall of thoughts obscure our desires….
It's a granite wall of thoughts with green dreams
Moments Descend On My Mind Like White Red and Yellow Colors
Often the thoughts in color are just shaded in white….
Moments in thought
The Silence in Transformation
Towards the transformation that your Mind can see….
The act or process of transforming somebody or something.
Transformation 01
Transformation 02
One powerful way to evoke compassion, and to transform is to think of others as exactly the same as you.
“All human beings are the same—made of human flesh, bones, and blood. We all want happiness and want to avoid suffering. Further, we have an equal right to be happy. In other words, it is important to realize our sameness as human beings.” – Dalai Lama
Transformation 03
Transformation 04
when the View is constant
the flow of Rigpa unfailing
and the merging of the two luminosities continuous and spontaneous
all possible delusion is liberated at its very root
and your entire perception arises, without a break, as Rigpa – Sogyal Rinpoche
Transformation 05
Transformation 06
Do not make the mistake of imagining that the nature of mind is exclusive only to our minds. It is in fact the nature of everything. It can never be said too often that to realize the nature of mind is to realize the nature of all things. – Sogyal Rinpoche
Transformation 07
Transformation 08
Moving through the transformation that the Heart can feel….
Transformation 09: Heart
A Thought About Meditation from Domo Geshe Rinpoche
meditation for love
It Only Takes a Moment to See the Things You Left Behind
Leave things to find happiness….
“Whatever you are feeling, leave it with the senses. Move from the senses to the mind. Then leave the mind. Go backward, not forward, go inward, not outward”. – Swami Parmanandji Maharaj
Leave the world with awareness
It Only Takes a Moment to Leave this Place
Contemplating the very thing that exist outside the corner of my eye….
There is no need to become free, for we are free already
It Only Takes a Moment to Find the Center
It only takes a moment to know that you always Exist….
Find the center of Awareness….
"Seeing nothing" is also an experience in which we can know we are present
It Only Takes a Moment
It only takes a moment to go beyond the noise…
Your experiences happen in you ... not in the world
You Can’t Undo What You have Never Done
How Can I Undo the Things I’ve Never Done….
Sometimes we see ourselves as a reflection of our past,
present and future. The lenses in which we view our lives in all its complexity
are often distorted by the noise of our thoughts and the subsequent choices we’ve
made.
At times I ask myself, how I can undo the things I’ve never
done. Because in my mind, through those very lenses, I will with visceral
uncertainty see things not as they really are.
So in conclusion—living within the sphere of ambiguity—I’ve
come to realize that you have to bring something—something significant to the
table, and if you don’t, you may discover that your invitation and acceptance
speech has been rescinded.
But then that’s life—trying to undo the things, you’ve never
done.
How can you undo what you have never done
How Can I know If You Believe In Me (a short reprise)
on a sea of glass
a reflection of what you believe
is it me
or my imagination
that is dreaming
believing in
the beautiful times gone by
and forgotten moments
now and forever
— for us
Now and forever believe in me
Post Canvas and Paint 04: Structures, Verse and Abstracts
Sleeping by a distant sunset I touched the forming world.
9.1.2011.2:35.a.m.
Walking by a waking night I saw the dreams of things to come.
8.30.2011.1:45.a.m.
Standing by the quiet lake I thought of nothing else.
9.1.2011.3:50.a.m.
Sitting by my window I heard a purple flower bloom.
8.30.2011.4:17.a.m.
The Silence in Consciousness 02: a short reprise
Consciousness 10
Towards the Within, Consciousness has No Center
“Consciousness is everywhere, without a center. What appears to be a center is only a reflection in the mind”. … Swami Parmanandji Maharaj
Pure Consciousness, like sunlight is everywhere; however,
unlike sunlight it has no center.
As individuals, the I that we come to indentify ourselves
with comes into existence when Consciousness, manifesting itself as the
continuum of space, time and causations, mistakes
itself for its own reflection in the mind, identifies,
believes in, itself with its own reflection and limits itself to its own reflection.
Pure Consciousness has no center, it only just is.
Consciousness 11
The Silence in Consciousness
Towards the Consciousness within….
Consciousness
Consciousness 02
“We accept that we are, but we are not ready to accept that we are without anything—without
words, mind or body”. … Swami Parmanandji Maharaj
Consciousness 03
Consciousness 04
When attempting to understanding the concept or belief of our existence, we know the states of being awake, dreaming and deep sleep, but we may not be aware that our true Existence is independent of them. This is to say that our concept of existence and our actual Existence are two distinct things. At the base of all three states i.e. awake, dreaming and deep sleep is
the core foundation that alone makes their sense of being “real” possible. That foundation or substratum in which they originate from is Consciousness. At first glance, this may be difficult to understand, but we can transcend the three
states and realize the limited self as pure Consciousness.
Consciousness 05
Consciousness 06
Being without (the three states) means nothing but “I” exists. In truth, Consciousness Exist independently but we are not aware.
There is an interesting dichotomy that is at work here—how to understand that the three states are because of Me, but “I” am not because of the three states. At the core of this realization is the knowledge that my own Existence is free and not dependent on anything. The three states, our very existence, are transitory, only Consciousness is permanent.
Consciousness 07
Consciousness 08
By the very construct (the power to direct consciousness) in which our life is governed—being awake producing action, going from thought to thought, dreaming, and falling into sleep, we live life—we have the sensation of being “alive”. By this very same construct or shall we say capacity, we can return to pure Consciousness.
Consciousness 09
“If you remain continuously conscious, after some time the world will disappear and only pure Consciousness will remain”. … Swami Parmanandji Maharaj
What do you think? Do you question the knowledge of your existence (where does it come from), your purpose in life, what lies beyond what you see and feel? Does the awareness of your Consciousness play a role in knowing who you are and how you live your life? Please share.
Life on the Edge of Everything
Sometimes after the waking, life on the edge of everything is a beautiful place….
The tree and the path in quiet meditation
During a transitional period in the early turn of this century, I found
myself leaving behind the shackles of a difficult life and moving down the path
to a better tomorrow. I was rediscovering the pleasures of being one with
nature; my perception of it, its physical beauty and why there was a need for
it in my life. I also continued the process of self renewal through sobriety,
art, meditation and the teachings of Buddhism. It seems that I discovered how
to quiet the idea of living life on the
edge of nothingness i.e. being caught up in distraction, attachment,
endless thought and ego.
“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we
used when we created them”. …Albert Einstein
Part of this process was realized when I was awarded an artist
residency with the South Carolina State Parks. It was a week-long residency at
Barnwell State Park in which I was commissioned to document the park visually in
exchange of having the pleasure of residing in one of the cabins on the
grounds. It is a small wildlife park with a beautiful lake and an alligator
(which I unfortunately never did get the chance to see). The nights were quiet and peaceful, and very
beautiful—as I was surrounded with darkness, tranquility, and solitude.
“Those things that nature denied to human sight, she revealed to
the eyes of the soul”. …Ovid (43 BC-AD 17)
On one of my early morning walks, I found a lovely path that
meandered along-side a slow moving creek. There was a tree that had fallen,
slightly blocking the path, and I was fascinated with its natural abstract design.
I sat there quietly for a while thinking about my life, my art, my purpose and the beauty of the moment.
…”Nature. Whose sweet rains fall on just and unjust alike, will
have clefts in the rocks where I may hide, and secret valleys in whose silence
I may weep undetected. She will hang the night with stars so that I may walk
abroad in darkness without stumbling, and send the wind over my footprints so
that none may track me to my hurt: she will cleanse me in great waters, and
with bitter herbs make me whole”. …Oscar Wilde
Life on the edge of everything is a beautiful and safe place indeed…
The Silence of Creativity
Towards the love within….
Creativity
Creativity 02
Where does the impetus for creativity come from? Is it a latent form of suppressed
experiences and / or emotions? When is creativity realized, and how is it manifested into what we call art?
As artists it is hard to imagine a world without art and the forces of creativity that fuel it. It is also at times difficult to understand the sensibilities that emerge from the soul when an idea comes into being i.e. its origin and purpose. Perhaps we can conclude with some ambiguity that creativity is indeed either individualistic, universal, or both—governed by the life one has lived or hope to live.
Creativity 03
Creativity 04
“The imagination imitates. It is the critical spirit that creates”. … Oscar Wilde 1854-1900
“Sometimes you’ve got to let everything go – purge
yourself. If you are unhappy with anything…whatever is bringing you down, get
rid of it. Because you’ll find that when you’re free, your true creativity,
your true self comes out”. … Tina Turner b. 1939
Creativity 05
Creativity 06
“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You
imagine what you desire you will what you imagine and at last you create what
you will”. … George Bernard Shaw 1856 – 1950
Creativity 07
Creativity 08
“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep”. … Scott Adams b. 1957
Sometimes I see things around me that are in part a glimpse of reality. The many “realities” that surround my life often become vehicles for abstraction through the creative process. They are like a multitude of intersections—full of possibilities. As artists we must always ask the question is this the direction I want to go? Will this convey the message I desire to express? But in the end we can only trust in the mystery of what is and what it means to create art and call oneself an artist.
Creativity 09
The Silence of Creativity and the Creative Journey Within
What are your thoughts? As an artist or writer or master of any creative discipline where do you believe creativity arises from? Please share your ideas and what inspires you to follow your imagination.
As We Live Our Lives Moments In a Day Stand Apart
Whitewater and chakra flowers for meditation, journey and insight (detail)
June 18th 2009, a day that stands apart.
On the Nantahala river in Western North Carolina in celebration of
my 53rd birthday the following day on the 19th of June.
A contemplative day full of energy and colors….
A view of the Nantahala river
We can never have enough of nature. We must be refreshed by the
sight of inexhaustible vigor, vast and titanic features, the sea-coast with its
wrecks, the wilderness with its living and its decaying trees, the
thunder-cloud, and the rain. …Henry David Thoreau
I love this quote because during our 3 hour trek rafting down the river,
it began to rain hard with severe thunderstorms. What an incredible experience battling the
elements as we faced the challenge of the rapids.
We found our courage, our laughter, on the river
If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of
grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of
nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive. …Eleonora
Duse (1858-1924)
Nature always sets itself apart
Notes for chakra flowers
Our thoughts are like the waves of a whitewater river. They rise
and fall relentlessly. Our minds, like the lower depths of the river, become
increasingly more settled as we immerse ourselves in our meditation practice. …Walter W. Smith
In a new day that stands
apart, we remove ourselves from yesterday’s trials (the painful past and
uncertain future) and find insight in the quiet of the present moment. We are in
touch with our bodies—moving the energy through the chakras.
Our day ends as it began---finding meaning in the present moment
Today, hold the past in your
hands. Hold your two hands out in front of you and allow them to fill
with the past, your past, every moment of it. All that happened and did
not happen, all that was wonderful and all that simply was. Let it all
fill your hands.
And now, as you continue to hold
your past in your hands, turn your inner vision to your heart. See how
your heart is clean and clear, free of any regret or longing. Your heart
is beating in this moment and this moment only. …author unknown
As we live our lives we find ourselves standing apart---living in the moment
As the details of our lives become memories and the moments of
life stand apart, what brings joy, peace and happiness to you? What are some of
your experiences that you embrace with fondness and love? What are your
thoughts? Please do share a moment or two with us.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Broken
A broken world view
This week’s photo challenge is “broken”. The image I selected for this challenge is a
photographic still of my 1991 video installation presented at Highwire Gallery
entitled “The World Spins Black / White”. The 1991 installation was an
examination of—and condemnation of the forces of civil disobedience, war, and
social unrest that our society was struggling with at the time. The motivation
for choosing this photograph, at this specific point, is the state of our political
union here in the United States and abroad. At the core, I believe is a broken democracy.
The world is changing and it can be
argued not for the best. There is an ideology that threatens to disrupt, dismantle,
and delineate our democracy and freedom. That dismantling presents itself in many
different forms, with a variety of sponsors. Here in the United States, I
believe its greatest sponsor is right wing conservatism at its extreme,
supported by various proxy organizations, and funded by wealthy individuals
such as the Koch brothers. At the heart of the process with malice intent are
the reduction and perhaps even the elimination of our government i.e. the way
it functions and the services it provides. Hence there is the privatizing and
systematic assault on the public sector, with the goal being the transference
of wealth from the many to the few. In league with the machinations to
facilitate these insidious methods are corporate media moguls, right wing think
tanks and Tea Party legislators to name a few.
My image for this challenge “broken” is a world globe,
wrapped in barbed wire and decaying red roses.
“The vast possibilities of our great future will become realities
only if we make ourselves responsible for that future”. … Gifford Pinchot
The Silence of Liberation
Toward the love within….
Silence
Silence 02
It is after 12 a.m. and I have just read a wonderful post by
fellow blogger Elizabeth—the author of the blog Mirth and Motivation on
Wordpress.com. I was so inspired by her thoughts and comments on the recent
tragedies in Norway, China and the death of Amy Winehouse, that I felt compelled
to create a post on her theme i.e. the need for silence, for understanding,
compassion and healing.
Silence 03
Silence 04
I am not going to say much about the events that occurred here
in this post, (the struggles of mankind as a community and we as individuals
speak for themselves) however, I would like to express my feelings, my
compassion, and the love of healing through
silence via my art.
Silence 05
Silence 06
Silence is a powerful tool. When we cultivate our inward
journey through meditation, contemplative thought and positive action, we
harness the energy to change ourselves and the world around us. For me, these
moments tonight of creative insight and sharing, in connection with my art and
the desire to send forth compassionate energy is liberating in of itself. I can feel the hurt that so many in our
communities are experiencing and my desire for their liberation and the end of
suffering goes out to a world in need.
In Buddhism we learn the need for Nirvana: the cessation of
unsatisfactory conditions and their causes.
Silence 07
Silence 08
I hope the images I have created and the music I selected
for this post help to bring some peace and positive recollection to our hearts
and minds.
http://youtu.be/K8-iTakhFrs — The Disintegration Loops III — William Basinski — Video by Bodyheaven
We are of one Source Energy, and one Spirit.
The Silence of Liberation and the Silence Within
n e w d i g i t a l s c a p e s 