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Today's
quotation:
When
we create or appreciate art, we set free the spirit trapped
within. That is why art arouses such joy. Art--
whether skillfully
executed or not-- is the emotion, the pleasure of expressing life as it is.
Those who see art
are moved by its passion and strength, its intensity and
beauty. That is
why it is impossible to separate life from art. Political
and economic
developments may seem to dominate the news, but culture and
education
are the forces that actually shape an age, since they transform
the human heart.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Today's
Meditation:
I love
art. It doesn't all speak to me or move me, but the
art that does so is a very important part of my
life. Seeing or hearing great works of art is a
rejuvenating force, something that simply makes me feel
better than I felt before experiencing it. It opens
my eyes to new possibilities and helps me to see things I
already know in different ways.
Unfortunately,
many people use art to make themselves feel superior to
others-- they try to tell others what they should like and
why, and they put on airs of superiority if others don't
have the same tastes that they have. This is
ludicrous. Art appeals to each person in different
ways, and no two people have exactly the same taste.
When we look at art, we need to feel with our hearts-- do
we like it, or not? If not, we can just move on
without criticizing it, for someone else will like
it. If so, we can stop and enjoy it, perhaps even
buy some for ourselves so that it will continue to inspire
us.
I've
been to many museums, and I don't understand why many of
the works that I've seen are actually on display
there. But that's not for me to decide, I
suppose. It's important to keep in mind, though,
that just because a work is famous, that doesn't mean that
you have to like it. The fact that an artist is
famous doesn't mean that you have to like his or her
works. Like what you like, and it doesn't matter a
bit if others agree with you. Let the art that moves
you make you feel better about life, and the art will
become an important part of who you are.
I
believe that if art weren't necessary to us, then we
wouldn't have so many people who are inspired to be
artists. And we all are artists ourselves, whether
we're famous or not-- and it's important to find the art
that you're good at and practice it regularly, so as not
to let it go to waste, no matter how humble or
insignificant it may seem to be. Life is sometimes
very difficult, and art can provide us with an interior
sanctuary, if we allow it to do so, that can provide us
with moments of peace and awe and hope whenever we need
it.
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For further
thought:
It can happen anywhere, anytime. You do not have
to be in some setting
hallowed by greatness, or in the
presence of an artist honored around the
world.
Art can work its magic any time you are in the
presence of a work
created by someone who has gone
inside the act of creation to become
what they are
creating. When this takes place time stands
still and if our
hearts are open to the experience,
our spirits soar and
our imaginations fly unfettered.
You need these moments if you are ever to have a life
that is more than
the sum of the daily moments of
humdrum affairs.
Kent Nerburn
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