Flowing like the River
I’ve been exercising a new form of meditation being present and being in the now. I go for a walk and listen to a tape and then stop, and continue my walk. The aim of the game is to be in the present moment for as long as possible without thinking about the future or past. I got there for a full 15 minutes last week. It feels a lot liking being on drugs.
When I leave reality and return to the mind (end the meditation), things still seem clearer and more centered than the pre-meditative world.
Many people struggle hard to get to this state, however it seems to come naturally for me, I think its because for a long time I have been practicing it when I write. I generally have to be 100% focused and in the moment to perform well, and also to write new material.
It’s interesting being an artist because your ego, always wants to take credit for all your work. I think though all truly great art is devoid of an author, and that song writing is a state of mediation, much like what I have be practicing, the music flows though you and there is little you can do to interfere with the melody when it comes to you. The clearer the state of mind, and the more present you are the less editing is required post.
The theme song to “Late at Night” “Rhythm of Life” came to me entirely in one sitting with complete lyrics. “Fail with me” came in two sittings. I find if I need more than a few sessions to write a song its best abandoned. The more “pure” a song is, the more people like the song. I learnt this the hard way, for a long time I thought that songwriting was an intellectual process.
I am now starting to believe that all life is best served in a similar way “in the moment” and the less you involve your “mind” in the process the better the result. My mind is begging to take credit for the vast improvements in my life recently, but I think that is has more to do with my mindlessness. We will see if I am full of shit or not in a short time, but recently I’ve tried to make my life flow much like a song does, and its working very well!
