Consumer society is completely focused on getting. The idea is that if I have that thing or that experience I will feel better or be happy. At this time of year its obvious that many people are entirely focused on the silly misconception that stuff makes people happy. Folks give gifts but the gifts have come to represent love and to even be mistaken for love. But that sort of giving isnt love. That sort of giving is about building relationships based on obligation. A creative life is about giving as much as you can of your gifts, relentlessly, to the point of exhaustion- giving joyously and freely. Consumerism doesnt support this concept, so many artists such as myself find it hard to make sense of the world and difficult to feed themselves too. If one creates art for money within the rules and expectations of the consumer society one is simply mimicking what the herd has been told is good and avoiding that which the herd believes is bad. Copying doesnt offer a path to fulfillment. Copying what others are doing, conforming to the herd will not open ones heart. A truly creative life in which one is giving beauty to the world requires setting aside the herd mentality in order to open ones heart. In my travels I hear so many teachers speak about opening the heart but truly it doesnt involve long hours practicing yoga, meditation or singing mantras. Opening the heart is a very simple practice. It involves being creative- it involves relentlessly bringing beauty into the world with no expectation or requirement of reward or exchange. That will open the heart as surely as being addicted to stuff and experiences will close the heart and allow the ego to run things. When one accepts that one is a co-creator in this world one realises that one has a responsibility to create beauty, to bring joy, bliss and uplifting experiences in so to make the world a beautiful place. Being a consumer involves surrendering ones power and accepting other peoples ideas and ideals of beauty. And that can be soul destroying. This is why I believe we all have a deep responsibility to bring beauty into this world. Well thats my opinion anyway.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 01:32:37 +0000
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