Conscious Art
Posted April 13th, 2009 by Daniel Doen Silberberg
The arts can be ways of expressing insights in a direct intuitive way. They can speak to the emotional intelligence as well as conveying understanding and realization. There is a history of this in Zen and in the Fourth Way. We intend to develop this aspect of practice as part of Lost Coin. As a first offering this is a short piece of music named Sun Buddha, Moon Buddha – a Koan in The Blue Cliff Record. It presents a reconciliation of the dualities of long and short time and the positive and negative of life experiences.
Many of us tend to favor our intellect in our quest for “knowing.” Conscious art can inform the emotions and body. We could call this fuller knowing “understanding.” Understanding has greater potency and is more likely to inform our being and actions.
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Photo by: lcloss
Tags: art, blue cliff record, conscious, conscious art, fourth way, lost coin, zen
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33 Responses to “Conscious Art”
April 13th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
This was electrifying and provocative and lovely. Thank you! Thank you!
April 13th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Thank you Sensei for this piece. It is a perfect example of what you describe in the blog entry about it. The emotional response that the music created for me is not able to be reduced to words. Thank you!
April 13th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
This felt like eating a complete whole. Please post more.
April 14th, 2009 at 5:34 am
thanks for this Daniel. i will carry this into my day.
April 14th, 2009 at 8:35 am
Thank you all for your great responses. I got few very positive remarks on Facebook as well. It is encouraging to me and I hope to all of Lost Coin.
Integrating practice into culture is, I think, so important.
April 14th, 2009 at 9:49 am
This is beautiful and moving. Thank you, Sensei.
April 14th, 2009 at 10:16 am
I don´t know what is responding inside of me, it´s absolutly touching. I love it.
April 14th, 2009 at 10:41 am
I found it simultaneously disturbing and soothing. That little girl’s laughter gives me the willies. I love the chords. Thanks for pushing me out of my comfort zone.
April 14th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Listen to this wonderful piece let comes up scenes from old Jim Jarmusch movies. Closed but not ending. I love this alternate mood. This is inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
April 14th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Hi Sensei,
I see your playing again
. Good to hear it. I like the juxtaposition between the major and minor 3rd on the C chord myself, a little sun, a little moon.
I still recall our diasan with this koan.
Hope all is well Sensei.
Love,
Troy.
April 14th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
@Jeff
Yes that is as it should be thanks. Sun and Moon. Glad you listened.
April 14th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
@TRoy
Yes I finished the first book. It comes out in the fall so I am working on some music. I hope all is well.
April 14th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
@Thank you too Volker. I am ver happy you liked it. BY the way Jarmusch has a new movie out. We saw a preview – it looked great.
April 14th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Zen koans are tools to prompt new levels of awakening. The intuition of every living being is shifting. What you consciously accept shapes the process.
April 15th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Enjoyed it…anymore of a specific date on the book?
April 16th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Thank you so much.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:58 am
@Clint
I’m glad you enjoyed it. My book will be out in the Fall.
It is called “Wonderland – The Zen of Alice.” Thabks for asking and for joining us on the blog.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:59 am
@Kim
Thank you too. It is always great to get support. We welcome your presence and comments.
April 16th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Thanks,it’s been ordered and I look forward to reading it.
April 16th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I’m the rain and I cry – I’m a child and I laugh. I’m a child and I cry, and I rain tears of joy.
Since I’m an artist, I don’t usually do words. So maybe it’s better if I just point out the picture that appears at the top of the blog. I’m amazed that nobody has commented on it. How it is so much the same as the music – beautiful.
April 17th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Sensei, this was a challenge for me. At first I was horrified, Thinking that I was listening to a tragic car crash or something like that. The laughing child echoing something foreboding emphasized by the background thunder storm, the piano durge-like and then melancholy. But then I heard a struggle for understanding. After the fourth listening (I guess I’m a slow learner) I realized that the resolution here was in the background storm becoming a foreground gentle cleansing rain bringing nepenthe, forgetfulness of sorrow. Very, very beautiful.
April 18th, 2009 at 9:08 am
I enjoyed your short creative post. Thanks for sharing some insight. Much appreciated
Jonathan
April 18th, 2009 at 9:17 am
@Jonathan
Thank you Jonathan. PLease continue to join us I enjoyed looking at Enlightenyourday as well.
April 18th, 2009 at 9:19 am
@John Greer
I am very glad you had the patience to keep listening. Aside from resolution there is also what is going on simultaneously – The Sun Buddha Moon Buddha – that manifests as one thing. Thank you.
April 19th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Hi Sensei!
Thanks a million for this beautiful piece of Art. I enjoy your unique expression here. I love how it is interactive and the multimedia allows one to experience other dimensions or layers to compliment the silent presence of the photograph.
For me, this image is very strong and incites a cathartic response in me.
From the audio, I felt the polarization or juxtaposition, if you will, of the girl’s laughter fused with the Emergency Services.I love the Sun Buddha Moon Buddha story. I think you illustrate it very well with your Art!
Thank you very much. I look forward to more of your creations.
Cheers,
Peedee
P.S. I think I side with Carol that the photograph is simply stunning!
April 21st, 2009 at 2:58 am
Your piece of music is like science for me, tending the positive as well as the negative, and leading to a new point of view on a vast and open field. Many thanks!
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:48 pm
zzzzzz ………
‘ABSOLUTE’
‘relative’
’same’ T I M E ….
…. zzzzzzz
miracle of conneXXion
This peace of Art is a wonderful pointer / reminder. I play it every day as a tool to sharpen my arrow
Gratitude
April 24th, 2009 at 11:11 am
@Maria ten Cate
Thank you Maria. I would love to hear some more from you.
April 24th, 2009 at 11:13 am
@Chris
Yes that is very observant and has allot to do with what I intended. Thank you.
April 24th, 2009 at 11:14 am
@Peedee
Hi Peedee,
I love your comments. You are one of the most spirited and original people I have ever met. They should mass produce you.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Hi Sensei.
I’m back to see if there’s anything new, here at Lost Coin. I’m amazed by the quality of these posts and I’m very thrilled to be a part of the artistic action.
The energy flowing here is impressive to say the least. I’m speechless sometimes. Thanks for your compliment.
I’m looking forward to reading more and engaging with the Art presented here.
The rain today reminded me of this wonderful piece of Art- your photo. I love it.
Tout de bon,
Peedee
June 11th, 2009 at 6:10 am
Hi Sensei..hahahahaha..hihihihihihihi…I love and support your vision of Zen and intuitive arts..I make a few drawings myself and somehow, can’t help it, they want to convey some of my (humble..) understanding.. Love your music, you mind my posted it on my blog..? Gassho, yours,
May 17th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Beautiful. Thank you.
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