Theos-Talk Archives (October 1996 Message tl00151)

theos-l@vnet.net wrote:

>
> Date: Tue, 8 Oct 1996 13:09:45 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Maxim Osinovsky <mosinovs@library.berkeley.edu>
> To: theos-l@vnet.net
> Subject: Re: THEOS-L digest 683
> Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.90.961008123330.27079D-100000@library.berkeley.edu>
>
> On Tue, 8 Oct 1996, Robert Word wrote:
>
> > The power of the Spoken Word, and the power of Thought, are aspects of
> > experience more intensely within the purvue of those who have received
> > degrees and training in the eastern  system, the western system, or any
> > valid trainings system or tradition; the profane normally do not
> > experience these levels in an intense way.
> >
> > But as we practice in a controlled way, and create by thought or speech,
> > then how can we fully follow artistic or literary interests in a
> > completely free fashion.  This is a way of expressing the difficulty,
> > and we must take account of Maxim's statements regarding karma.  But one
> > possible approach may be to rely on the great provenance of the universe
> > itself, leading to the all good.  There are, of course, in some
> > traditions, certain potent practices which are intended to benefit all
> > sentient beings.
>
> Robert,
>
> The source of the problem here is the word "controlled." Controlled by
> what--one's own desires? the mind? or the higher self?
>
> For someone controlled by his/her higher self there is nothing like
> creating "in a completely free fashion." His/her freedom is freedom from
> desires, mental patterns, ignorance, and illusion. As regards the sources
> of artistic inspiration, his/her task (or duty) is to make contact with
> the spiritual planes and to bring glimpses of spiritual
> beauty down to the earth to help merge Spirit and Matter in general and
> induce catharsis in listeners/viewers in particular. (Catharsis: the
> purging of an audience's emotions through a work of art.--The Random
> House Dictionary.) To this end, the artist may need to go through some
> preparation like purification of the heart and the mind, maybe some
> fasting, isolation from the chaotic impressions of the outer world, some
> meditation (concentrated thinking about the seed idea of the future
> artwork).
>
> This is a standard view based on Plato's and Plotinus' ideas, and also
> the way having followed (more or less) by such people as Beethoven,
> Wagner, Nicholas Roerich, and so forth.
>
> Maxim

Maxim, you are undoubtedly correct on all of these points, and I thank
you for once again enlightening our hearts and minds with theosophical
virtue.

Robert


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