What happens when an artist becomes enlightened?

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Permalink Reply by John Rouse on March 31, 2010 at 8:48pm

For myself, angst drives my creative work. I feel that my discontent with something, someplace, someone (often myself) drives the art I produce and gives it a purpose to exist. So, on a personal level I am definitely scared of being content and do everything I can to drive it away. But, I don't fear enlightenment because not even I am arrogant enough to believe I can achieve this.

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Permalink Reply by sara jecko on April 2, 2010 at 5:12pm

totally know what you mean -- driving away contentment. that's where this question came out of. cuz i feel productive when i'm content - able to digest and make something out of all the angst from before...

so it's a puzzle...

and yeah, enlightenment, not trying for it, but cool when it feels like i'm there for a second.

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Permalink Reply by John Rouse on April 2, 2010 at 5:16pm

you are right, i missed that part in my response.....there is that moment where time stands still when i throw up unhappiness onto a canvas and i like the result (for like 10 seconds, before i hate it).

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Permalink Reply by Fako Berkers on April 2, 2010 at 2:19pm

Not an easy subject to discuss! I define enlightment as: "the tinkling feeling you sometimes get from very good music, felt over your entire body, 24/7"

For me this feeling occurs when I'm able to conquer my tears. With this I mean that when I'm about to explode in tears this feeling of power/enlightment occurs instead of crying. The feeling can also occur when, in my Pencak Silat practice, I'm defending myself succesfully against imaginary attackers who shouldn't have attacked me in the first place. Also in theatre I have experienced this feeling when characters were being hurt (emotionally) by circumstances or other characters.

So in my opinion there has to be pain of some sort, to become enlightened (to feel the feeling of enlightment). I at least don't know how to "call" this feeling without it. However the pain doesn't have to be a personal pain, but you should take on the pain of others if you don't have pains to work with yourself.

Do others reckognize this way of working?

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Permalink Reply by sara jecko on April 2, 2010 at 8:58pm

Hi Fako,

So, it's like, a self-control thing, almost? When that feeling of enlightenment comes?

It sounds like your work has a lot to do with self-control over pain, or as you put it, conquering your tears. SO you becoming what you define as enlightened, through your work, naturally, So it's like, an ongoing cycle it sounds like...

And i DO recognize that way of working. And i think others on this website do too, because we all make art of some sort. Art comes out of a deep place, whether we know it or not, even if we're joking with it ( i think). And, we (humans) seem to bury their pain down deep... so when we let it out, in an artistic way, we;re kind of ... conquering it... maybe? Which would mean we would have to feel pain, in order to conquer it, and in order to naturally get to your feeling of enlightenment.

phew :)

but what would happen if the cycle stopped? If we were always in zen? Comfortable? Feeling complete? Could the art still be creataed? from past pain maybe?

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Permalink Reply by amir zainorin on April 3, 2010 at 6:29am

dea sara,

i think when you said you are content with your life, it doesnt mean it is a bad thing for creativity as long as you still have the curiosity.

and everyone has ego but the question is where to place it so that it becomes healthy.

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Permalink Reply by sara jecko on April 5, 2010 at 10:23am

oh yeah!

Thanks Amir,

i like your mention of curiousity -- that is the driver isn't it?

sara

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Permalink Reply by marceau verdiere on May 4, 2010 at 12:11am

Interesting topic! well the question is how would you know? How could that be attained with awareness, meaning knowing that all the things that plague us daily are completely gone, yet still remember what these were? I am personally convinced that once you experience angst or variables of it, you cannot ever forget that it is in you: a part of you. I believe that enchantment is something you leave and loose, not gain. Do you remember a time in your life in which your were 'free"? and I agree with John, this is a great source of motivation and inspiration

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Permalink Reply by sara jecko on May 4, 2010 at 10:27am

Marceau!

I know, right??

When you're free - you're not analyzing. So, what got me interested in this, partly, is that i feel free when i'm composing, or playing music. Most free when i'm performing or composing. Totally in the moment, not having a moment to place words or judgements on myself - so no room for angst or other stuff that is a part of my being otherwise.

And yeah, all that stuff, life, how we experience it, that i think, IS what motivates us, and what makes our true art so unique - because it's us - in this world.

But... to be so true, you have to be in the moment -- which can easily give way to this clarity - if we call it spiritual clarity, whatever it is - zen, enlightenment, oneness... any of those.

Even if they're not lasting.

Sara

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Permalink Reply by Cindy Wang on May 15, 2010 at 12:21am

We call this living the moment, being NOW. Not in the past, not in the futur, but just now. Living fully the moment, opening your senses to the moment. Living now is fullfilling, as you said it is a king of oneness. Open your eyes, open your ears, open your nose, open your tongue, open your body, all your sensations, all your pores in a safe environmentt and open your heart.
It's Happiness.

But this doens't mean you reach enlightment!!!



Cindy

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Permalink Reply by sara jecko on May 15, 2010 at 7:51am

HI Cindy,

Yes, i hear you! I mean, there is no argument, that's just the truth.

And for your second comment- i agree that those are not even the words I'm looking for - so i like how you just use the word NOW instead.

So , maybe to rephrase - an artist lives in the now when they are producing art - what happens if they live in the now (happiness, bliss, openness )even when they are not producing? What happens to the production in any sense?

And in terms of using the word ego, i mean ego as in seeing oneself as seperate from the rest. Seeing oneself as separate from yourself even. Judging, holding back, etc.

Sara

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Permalink Reply by Cindy Wang on May 17, 2010 at 11:51am

dear Sara,
When I read what I wrote, I sound so affirmative. I really feel a person who can live in the now is really lucky. Even when you are not performing. You live in the Truth.
you don't have problem of ego or not you are an identity that is separate but melt with the world. You understand your environment, your surrounding. people. There's no judging or comparing, there's understanding, compassion.
Everybody has ego, this is what makes us human. But as human we can feel what other human feels. Isn't that the meaning of compassion.

Take care

Cindy

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