Comments on: On Learning a Musical Instrument as a Metaphor for Contemplative Practice

By: On Learning a Musical Instrument as a Metaphor for Contemplative Practice | RockOm

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:59:01 +0000

[...] This article was originally posted on Anamchara.com HERE. [...]

By: Eldritch

Eldritch — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:57:55 +0000

Excellent entry, thanks for posting this.

By: Bruce Clark

Bruce Clark — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:30:45 +0000

Hi Carl
I have just started blogging and decided to take on the theme of spirituality and have come across your blog which seems to resonate with how I view things. Keep up with the bass. I play guitar in our worship group (and I am 56!) and Christian worship songs are the best learning ground as thay are (most times!) simple and since they involve worship they are enjoyable as well. Also accompanying your favorite songs is also a fun/brill way to learn.
I have been doing CP with Thomas Keatings book ‘Open Heart Open mind’ and conclude that we shouldn’t even ask ourselves whether we have been successful or not – the fact that we have been with Him is sufficient. Thoughts so often intrude but rather than resist them I allow them to ‘be’ thus creating space and a sense of detachment thus freeing the ‘True self’ to consent to love which transcends all thought and feeling.
I am reading a new book by Richard Rhor ‘The Naked Now’ – both he and TK look at thoughts above (like boats on the water) as we sink deeper within but my instinctive perception is one of ‘rising above’ the thoughts …I am wondering is that ever the experience of others …

By: Rhea

Rhea — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:52:38 +0000

I started violin lessons just a month ago, at age 51. I have always loved violin but played clarinet as a kid. I love my teacher and I am sooo motivated. I practice and I love it.

By: Yewtree

Yewtree — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:40:03 +0000

Thank you so much for this Carl, it made me feel better. I always assumed I was rubbish at meditation until I went to the Unitarian summer school at Great Hucklow in Derbyshire, UK and went to the meditation group, where the facilitator said, don’t worry if a thought comes up during your meditation, just don’t follow the thought, and begin again – it doesn’t matter. This was the key for me to overcoming all that beating myself up for having thoughts in the middle of a meditation. But I’m glad I am not the only person who has felt that way.

By: phil foster

phil foster — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:02:59 +0000

The story circulates that when Bill Bruford left Yes to join King Crimson in 1972 he had the most humbling experience with Jamie Muir, the percussionist from the same incarnation of Crimson. Bruford had a jazz background; he had all the chops. Muir, on the other hand, came from an improvisational background (mainly noise – see The Music Improvisation Company); he had lesser chops, but much more imagination. It was Muir who forged much of the direction for the ’72-’74KC, even though he left after just a few months and shows (we have his spirit in the band on the seminal Lark’s Tongue in Aspic of 1972). Muir joined a religious order (name eludes me) and now is a painter.

The joy of music is that it takes us into its confidence at all – which it has clearly done with you. EXACTLY like contemplation – we work at our practice and God MAY take us into His/Her confidence. Trust me – as someone who used to have fair chops and has now allowed them to erode with years of indifference – the joy is that the music still takes me into its presence even though I can’t execute it/make myself available to it at the level I would like (or used to do).

Shut up and play yer guitar, as the prophet Zappa used to say.