I’ll start with the artistic portion of the post…
This painting was actually done back in December; my final project for my Advanced Oil Painting class. I’m only now able to varnish and hang it (oils can take several months to dry completely), so I consider it finished today. The subject also fits in nicely with the mindful little gem I’m including in this post, so the timing is great. The painting is entitled “The Grove of Twelve Hundred Tranquilities”, highlighting one of twelve hundred Rakan (disciples of Shaka, the founder of Buddhism) statues found at Otagi Nenbutsu-Ji, a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. Most of these figures were carved and donated by amateurs across the country as part of a temple renovation project in the 1980s. Do a web search for ‘Rakan Figures’ if you ever want to see just how plentiful and wonderful these little stone characters are. You can also thank Cheer for this painting. She begged me for a Rakan several months ago, a request I am just now fulfilling. And honestly, there are so many whimsically blissed out characters surrounding this Temple, and this painting was such a joy to create, I could probably dedicate all my artistic efforts to Rakans and never run out of source material. Like the old saying goes, ‘do what you love’. And what’s not to love about these mystical little figures. Which leads me to the thought provoking portion of today’s post… an idea that will prove either deeply meaningful to you, or will be complete gibberish. Among my favorite discoveries in life, this is one of the most liberating epiphanies I've had. Frankly, I'm surprised how frequently I encounter this concept now, considering I read some of these books when I was a teenager, and completely missed it. (Which makes me wonder if certain ideas are virtually invisible to you until you're ready for them.) I present to you sound reasoning for living your life in the present; recognizing there is only this moment. It goes like this: The past is already behind you, and therefore no longer impacts you. The future has not happened yet, and is therefore not worth worrying about. The present moment is the only one you can truly experience. It deserves your full attention. When I was first introduced to this concept, my initial thought was 'oh.. so I should just forget about being denied that raise last month… the guy who cut me off in traffic this morning… all the people who treat me disrespectfully? I shouldn't worry about having to go to work tomorrow… paying my bills… saving money for that car repair?' The simple truth is…no, you shouldn't fret over any of those things. All the experiences you've had, good or bad, are now nothing more than memories. They can't impact you now. The only reason they feel real is because of your ego's desire to relive them; to strengthen itself through them. The actual experience is now in the past, and no longer effects you. And all the events looming on the horizon are just that; events that will or will not happen. Some you can control, some you can't. Worrying about them does not change this fact. It just adds unnecessary (potentially toxic) emotion to a possible event. The only moment you can interact with is the present moment; each passing second, as it happens. It's a fundamental, undeniable truth. And it doesn't conflict with any philosophy or theology I've encountered, so it can be practiced by everyone. Something deep inside me tells me it's one of the foundations for living an enlightened life. The question then becomes, how do I practice this? What routines best stimulate awareness of the present moment? For me, the best method is by being aware of the senses. This can be tricky, because the ego wants to jump in and define things; it wants to apply words to the experience. You bite into an apple, and before awareness has a chance to enjoy it, the ego says ‘Been there, done that. Give me something new to try.' Awareness wants you to take a moment and admire the sunset during your commute. Your ego wants you to read the billboards. These are the steps I use to keep myself present (And I won’t lie. It can be very challenging at times): Step 1: Quiet the mind Step 2: Pay attention Repeat constantly I'll give an example. But be aware, the actual experience is more of a quiet observation, free from subjective thoughts and words. (The Buddhist saying, 'The finger that points to the moon, is not the moon,' aptly illustrates how my example should be taken.) In an effort to eliminate our natural inclination to micro-describe objects, Imagine you are blindfolded and handed a piece of fruit. You are now limited to touch, smell and taste, but that doesn't stop you from trying to identify clues as to what it is. Avoid that desire. The purpose of this practice is to use sensory depravation to enhance your remaining senses. Limiting one sense can train you to respect and fully apply your remaining senses. Without sight, you can better feel the flesh of the fruit; admire its texture. You are more in tune with its scent, how it grows stronger as you cut into it. You are able to fully experience the different tastes as the fruit passes over different parts of your tongue and into your throat. All three senses come together to form an experience far beyond anything you would have known had you simply seen the fruit, named it, and popped it in your mouth. You're now having an experience akin to that of a child, trying something for the first time. Imagine how exciting life would be if we felt that way about everything. I believe this is the level we were meant to experience life. This is the degree of observation we should be using while eating a meal, strolling in a park, watching storm clouds roll in, enjoying animals in their natural habitat. (Not that I'm suggesting you roll squirrels around on your tongue.) If you heighten your senses; if you become this intimately aware of everything around you, you begin to see the life behind the labels we've created for them. That is what I mean by living in the moment. Everything you have available to you lies in this moment. It is precious and deserves to be fully experienced. I can think of no greater practice for a meaningful life. I hope you enjoyed this post, and I hope you like my new painting. Best wishes, Justin
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AuthorHello everyone. I'm Justin Mackay. I'm a creative soul, an explorer of life's mysteries, and a big fan of all the beauty in the world. If you're just here for the paintings, then head on over to my Art tab. If you wish to delve deeper into the odd thoughts of a pondering mind, then this is the place for you. Archives
February 2018
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