Tuesday 20 February 2007

The yoga of music

Feeling a tremendous rush of energy from the satisfaction of being able to do something that had seemed completely mysterious or impossible.
Have now finally got pretty well under my fingers the sthai of a gat in raga Bhairav. It's a complex dancing pattern of intricate movement. It's a fractal process. Now that I have (after much effort) the skeletal infrastructure of it, bends and slides, expressive movements around and between, are beginning to reveal themselves. The process of learning has a beginning but no end.

After a period of intense concentration when I get up for a loo break I examine the quality of mind in which I'm suffused. It is taught and sharp - like a steel string. And, like a string, it is a line with no breaks. If a space appears, of cloudiness or haziness, there is no string, no tightness. Just a flapping, flabby, floating meander.

Interesting that right concentration - samadhi - is often described as a laser. A string of light. Pointed, focused, sharp. And ordinary, untrained awareness is a generalised, diffuse, dim light. I wonder if there is a universality about this experience. And if so, does that imply some physiological structuring? Is there a material line being drawn somewhere in my body? Thinking in terms of neurons, what is the difference between the electrical activity in the body when it is in an ordinary lax state, and that when it is focussed, as in musical performance.

But I have played lots of kinds of music and this feeling is rare. There is something very particular about the quality of mind cultivated through this particular technology. The sarod requires a tremendous amount of concentration because of its fretlesness. There is a lot of rhythmic complexity in the right hand picking. And the gat I am learning, because it is a single melodic line within a raga, has a very clear structure but also tremendous openness to expansion and contraction. New twists and turns and weaves grow in response to this particular moment of perception. It combines structure and improvisation.

Yoga is to yoke. The spirit hitched to something fixed. Freedom by itself is amorphous, indistinct, ultimately without content. The structure of a technology gives a form to consciousness. The asana acts as a lens to focus the mind. The instrument is an asana.

So is the core use of technology. It's a yoke for the oxen of one's will. Not a means to an end but a hitching post, a marker, a medium. Of course ends inevitably result. They are indeed the catalyst. Eg, I want to practice yoga asanas in order to look fit on the beach, or to achieve immortality, or to feel comfortable. Of course a laser can be pointed in any direction - by a surgeon or a soldier. Technology is inherently dangerous. So it must have an ethical basis.

Even a musical instrument can be mastered with a view to winning applause or wealth. The long term viability, the sustainability of any technology rests on it's ethical foundation. WHY is it?

A sarod is relatively inactive in the world - in comparison with a plough, say, or a spear. So it has many of the benefits of a technology to which to yoke consciousness, while avoiding many of the dangers. But still the motivation behind it's mastery needs to be constantly examined. This is vipassana - the binding together of concentration and detachment, awareness and equanimity.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was
wondering if you knew where I could get a captcha plugin for my comment form?
I'm using the same blog platform as yours and I'm having trouble finding one?
Thanks a lot!

Here is my webpage :: Green tone pro review\ Green tone pro reviews

Anonymous said...

I've been surfing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be a lot more useful than ever before.

my website: Buy test force xtreme

Anonymous said...

My family members all the time say that I am wasting my time here
at web, except I know I am getting know-how daily by
reading thes pleasant posts.

Feel free to surf to my blog :: Buy Pure Raspberry ketone

Anonymous said...

Hi there, its fastidious paragraph on the topic of media print, we all be aware of media is a wonderful source
of information.

Feel free to surf to my site: AnatomyX5

Anonymous said...

Incredible story there. What happened after? Thanks!

my page :: Home Staging

Anonymous said...

It is appropriate time to make a few plans for the longer term and it's time to be happy. I have learn this put up and if I could I want to suggest you some interesting things or tips. Perhaps you could write subsequent articles regarding this article. I wish to read even more things approximately it!

My web-site; Asphalt Overlay Minnesota

Anonymous said...

Saved as a favorite, I really like your blog!


Here is my webpage: Slim Helper Diet Patches

Anonymous said...

Hello there! This blog post could not be written much better!

Going through this post reminds me of my previous roommate!

He continually kept talking about this. I'll forward this article to him. Fairly certain he will have a great read. Many thanks for sharing!

Feel free to surf to my website; power pump muscle builder

Anonymous said...

Hello would you mind stating which blog platform you're working with? I'm going
to start my own blog in the near future but I'm having a tough time selecting between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your layout seems different then most blogs and I'm looking for something
completely unique. P.S Sorry for getting off-topic but I had to ask!



Review my webpage ... free raspberry ketone

Anonymous said...

Everyone loves what you guys are usually up too. This sort of clever work and coverage!
Keep up the fantastic works guys I've added you guys to my personal blogroll.

Also visit my site ... garcinia cambogia review

Anonymous said...

Really no matter if someone doesn't be aware of after that its up to other viewers that they will assist, so here it occurs.

My blog post Burn fat quick

Anonymous said...

You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I to
find this topic to be actually something which I think I might never understand.

It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I am
taking a look forward to your subsequent post, I will try to get
the hang of it!

Also visit my page; Diet Patches

Anonymous said...

Hi! I'm at work browsing your blog from my new apple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the fantastic work!

Feel free to visit my blog; Tru Visage anti Aging

Anonymous said...

It's hard to find knowledgeable people for this subject, but you sound like you know what you're talking about!
Thanks

Feel free to surf to my website - garcinia cambogia review

Anonymous said...

Pretty! This was an incredibly wonderful post.
Many thanks for providing this info.

Also visit my web-site Revitalize Skin Care Product

Anonymous said...

Wow, this article is nice, my sister is analyzing these
things, therefore I am going to tell her.

Here is my homepage Best Wrinkle Creams

Unknown said...

I am so grateful for your article. Much thanks.
infohomed

Unknown said...

Really helpful article. Great share
iMessage on PC

Wiral Eyes said...

Really helpful article. Great share
BWM - WIRELESS MOUSE

Unknown said...

Thank you for your helpful post. nice article. packagingcompany

Ali Aziz said...

Really great information. I always love to read and spread this kind of information that is unique and really informative. Keep up the good work.





Move 4 Less
Move 4 Less
Move 4 Less
Move 4 Less
Move 4 Less
Move 4 Less
Move 4 Less

thomasjack said...

Great post I like it very much keep it up.
custom made mailer cases
custom made popcorn boxes

thomasjack said...

It is very informative post thanks for sharing the information.
customized cd jackets boxes wholesale
custom made cupcake packaging

Serina johson said...

Amazing product thanks for sharing with us It is very informative.
rigid boxes wholesale
Lingerie Boxes with lids

Serina johson said...

Great post I like it very much keep up the good work.
Holiday Party gift Boxes
Hotel Boxes with free shipping

Mary Davies said...

Beautifully designed custom printed pillow boxes are the best tool to market your product. So, using custom design boxes helps you in grabbing customer's attention.

Unkown said...

I love this blog. I will visit again for such tips. Visit my blog CBD packaging manufacturer.

Custom pacakging companies u said...

Thanks for sharing an interesting and very useful blog. I appreciate your efforts.

Anonymous Girl said...

Great post I like it very much keep up the good work. Read my blog https://ibexpackaging.com/