Art and Culture | Community and Family | Food for the Mind (Yoga Philosophy, etc) | Meditation | Photos | Poetry
Some Things I Noticed During the Course of Another Busy Day
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- Art and Culture | Asana, Pranayama, and Yoga Practice | Community and Family | Food for the Mind (Yoga Philosophy, etc) | Meditation | Photos
About Money and Leisure and the Spiritual Quest (and the 99 percent)
Spiritual pursuit is, in a great sense, a luxury. Without enough time and money for leisure, when and how would we explore spirit? But where else would we find solace if not in spirit when we are suffering from deprivation?
This question becomes even more pointed when we consider it in terms of the curatorial note (Rubin Museum) below. Those who can afford to commission art to further their own spiritual ideals (including prayers for wealth and family) may not be the one percent, but most surely are the ten percent, or any money would all be for food and shelter at the survival level. I would certainly rather see money spent on making art than war, but what about food, education, and shelter for more in society in a way that nourishes the environment? Such a complicated web of questions about individual and collective desire and responsibility in our relationship to each other and the earth past and present when we think of having wealth sufficiently focused to allow individuals to use it to seek religious boons for themselves in the material world.
I say this as one who loves and makes art and engages in spiritual exploration with vacation time and budget, who regularly wonders if that is really for the good of others and not just another way of enjoying what life has to offer the fortunate.
What do you think?
Photo is of exhibit notes at the Rubin Museum in NYC.
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
Occupy DC–The Morning After
When I was on my way to do volunteer work this morning, I rode the bus past the dregs of Occupy DC-McPherson Square. The police presence was thick. I wasn’t sure why the heavy construction equipment was necessary. It is hard to know what will happen to the movement when it loses its physical location. It is clear that the idea of “occupy” has already entered popular culture, and the idea of the 99% will be part of this year’s Federal elections.
As things are created and dissolved, it is always hard to know what will stay and what will disappear from the fabric of our lives. Part of it depends on the strength of the ideas. Part depends on the commitment of those involved to transform and evolve to keep what is good moving forward even when beset with challenge and upheaval. As for the last photograph, which was taken just down the street (the cop cars were clearly related to those in the Square)–I couldn’t tell you what god or whose country; could you?
