ART AS SELF-EXPRESSION

 

Art is a releasing from within!

---The release that is spoken of in the quote we read is the release of the energy within. The more that the release goes toward love…the more it is a true expression of the self. The more honest the expression is…the more it is a true expression of the self.

---Every expression is this. The more loving, the more a true expression. Also, the more self-conscious, fear-based and hateful the response…the response is then negative.

---We are able to see this in the sexual response. The ideal is two loving beings ‘’getting’’ together to increase the love that exists. Sex with love is positive and life-affirming. Sex without love is negative and NOT life-affirming.

---An expression of honesty and love from within is positive and life affirming, but an expression of the self based on anything beside love is lacking. One can tell something is missing. To those that can really see this are the beings that I feel can understand what a piece of art is ‘’saying’’ as a representation of the expression of he who made it.

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The above painting was done by a resident of Laguna Honda Hospital.

DALAI LAMA

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The STORY of BOB -

The STORY of BOB

---‘’I hate Bob.‘’ When we say that we hate someone…what (and who) is it that we are talking about? I would like to take a closer look at this. When we say this…I’d like to say that we are NOT accurate.
---’’I hate Bob.’’ Am I saying that I hate Bob OR, am I saying that I hate the way Bob acts. I hate the way Bob behaves. I may hate Bob’s attitude. But…when push comes to shove - I probably do NOT hate Bob.
---Actually, do I even know Bob, behind the ways he presents himself? I would say probably NOT. I would have to say that Bob is the being, the blank slate, that has these different attitudes and behaviors that I pin to him. I call this husk ‘’Bob’’ if you will.
---The funny thing about this is that Bob is different, dependent upon who you ask. Bob’s mother sees him different than his dad. His worst enemy sees him much different than his best friend. I asked his girl friend. I asked his preacher. Everyone I ask has a little different interpretation than each other…AND myself. Sometimes it gets so far out that I have to remind myself that it is the Bob that I know.

---If we look at attitudes and behaviors by themselves we see that they are like coats we put on and take off. We see that ALL of us are pretty much ‘’naked’’ dressed in different attitudes and behaviors that make up the personality of this thing we call Bob, Jim, Mary and Karin.
---Any good psychologist will tell you that we are like an ONION that peels away one layer at a time. Eventually, usually after much peeling…we get to the heart of the matter.
---Bob is peeling, as we both are…as we ALL are. Actually, Bob has some pretty neat attitudes and behaviors that I find ‘’fun’’ and ‘’enjoyable’’ when we talk about computers. He has a way of putting the coats on and interpreting them that happens to educate and entertain me. Hanging with him all-of-the-time would be a little much. But, as a ‘’dressed husk’’ in small doses…we laugh a lot. Take Care.

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KANGAROO'S CAN'T WALK BACKWARDS

A Kangaroo Can’t Walk Backwards

---In life, many of us seem to wish that we could have a do over, wish we could take that back or would wish we would be given a second chance. I’ve noticed that even though many may slip and simply have made a mistake…there are many who do the same thing (make the same mistake) again and again! They are aware that something is wrong about their answer, but they really can’t put their finger on the mistake.

---Unlike the kangaroo, we can walk backwards. We can cover our tracks, our mistakes or whatever it is that may need covering. But, not everyone does a real good job of it. It is usually because the mistake has left a gaping hole that needs covering, but the knowledge to know to properly treat the wound is not learned. That is why we see many folks putting bandages on cancers. They are ineffectual and out-and-out NOT the correct answer for the situation.

---This wrongness of treatment can be easily traced back to the ‘’need to be perfect’’ and inability to withstand ‘’looking badly’’ for a second longer than we have to. We put a bandage on it and hope the blame doesn’t get focused on us for any length of time.

---If we are/were MORE secure about ourselves, we would actually welcome these moments, because these are the ones that teach us. If we spend most of our time pretending that we are perfect…then THESE MOMENTS CAN BE DEVASTATING!

---Once, again…we are saving face instead of telling the truth. We wouldn’t have the need to backtrack if we methodically and deliberately took each and every step slowly and thoughtfully. We don’t. We tend to plow along until we can’t do that anymore.

---The answer to this is just to be aware of what you are doing. If you are down-in-the-dumps, listen to Mark Twain - ‘’to cheer yourself up, cheer someone else up.’’ Realize that, along with everyone else, you are, probably, NOT PERFECT…EITHER. It may take some of the burden off of you to know that. I guarantee that knowing that and embodying that is a huge step forward. With that knowledge…there is NO NEED to cover your tracks. At this point, we may find we have more in common with the kangaroo than we think. Be Well.

ENJOY LIFE!

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---I think many folks get confused by the term - LOVE YOURSELF. I think it is more understandable and less confusing when one relates it as - ACCEPT YOURSELF.

Enlightened or NOT? Amount of Self-Knowledge

How Does One Know if He is Enlightened?

 ---One is enlightened in accord to the amount of self-knowledge he possesses. We all know something to a certain degree. But,..when you meet that someone who basically has a clue to how things work. That includes himself, also. He sees that both work the same, for all intents and purposes. He will know. He can, basically, tell you that that is how love works, also. There is a very good chance that he is enlightened. He has total self-knowledge.