Buddhism - Blog Posts - Yoga Vidya International - Yoga, Meditation and Spirituality2024-03-28T10:45:20Zhttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/BuddhismDissolution & Dance Of The Archetypes (Between Worlds parts 2 & 3)https://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/dissolution-amp-dance-of-the2010-08-16T20:50:16.000Z2010-08-16T20:50:16.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="" alt="" /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">("<a href="http://flickr.com/photos/32856635@N00/2287971853">Dance of the Lord of Death</a>" by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/32856635@N00">Jean-Marie Hullot</a>)</span></p><br /><div align="center"><object height="100" width="400" data="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" ></param><param name="allowNetworking" value="internal" ></param><param name="movie" value="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" ></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque" ></param><param name="flashvars" value="song_label=poligraf.between.worlds.2006.part2.mp3&music_track=http://drop.io/download/public/yexsyiswj7cmc2m7qwpq/921d143a26bcd4135afda0ab6c7ff19aba01b75b/Asset/3666939/v3/web_preview&autoplay=false" ></param><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="song_label=poligraf.between.worlds.2006.part2.mp3&music_track=http://drop.io/download/public/yexsyiswj7cmc2m7qwpq/921d143a26bcd4135afda0ab6c7ff19aba01b75b/Asset/3666939/v3/web_preview&autoplay=false" height="100" width="400" allowscriptaccess="never" allownetworking="internal"></embed></object></div><br /><p>« Between Worlds » is a composition that started as a song entitled « Requiem » which was written in response to the deaths of my father and maternal grandmother, both due to cancer, at the beginning of the 1990s. Inspired by « <a href="http://www.near-death.com/experiences/buddhism01.html">The Tibetan Book of the Dead</a>, » the piece eventually turned into a suite in five movements intended to present the successive stages of the death process as described in Tibetan culture.</p><br /><p>« Dissolution » is a very short section which represents the moment of physical death itself. It corresponds to the first « between world, » or first bardo :</p><blockquote><em>The first bardo comes at the very moment of death, when there dawns the Clear Light of the Ultimate Reality. This is the very content and substance of the state of liberation, if only the soul can recognize it and act in a way to remain in that state.</em></blockquote><br /><p>If the dying person can recognize that their own mind and self is identical with the Clear Light, implying that they themselves are the Ultimate Reality, while in this supreme state at the moment of death, they will attain liberation – that is, they will remain in the Clear Light forever.</p><br /><p>The following section, « Dance Of The Archetypes, » is a longer instrumental that is intended to depict the potentially overwhelming experience of the second bardo.</p><br /><p>If the soul is still not liberated after the first intermediate state, it will descend into the second bardo, which is said to last for two weeks, and is divided into two parts :</p><blockquote><em>(...) in the first, the soul of the deceased encounters what are referred to as « the Peaceful Deities. » On each of the seven days, a particular Buddha-being will appear in radiance and glory, with a bevy of angelic attendants.</em></blockquote><blockquote><em>In the second week of the second bardo, the soul meets seven legions of Wrathful Deities: hideous, terrifying demons who advance upon him with flame and sword, drinking blood from human skulls, threatening to wreak unmerciful torture upon him, to maim, disembowel, decapitate and slay him.</em></blockquote><br /><p>If the person awakens to the fact that all these creatures are not real, but are merely illusions emanating from their own mind, the creatures will vanish and the dying will be liberated. If they can't, they eventually wanders down to the third bardo.</p></div>Between Worlds (Epilogue)https://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/between-worlds-epilogue2010-08-27T20:16:12.000Z2010-08-27T20:16:12.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="" alt="" /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">("<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maitreya_the_Conqueror.jpg">Maitreya the Conqueror</a>" by <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Nicholas_Roerich">Nicholas Roerich</a>)</span></p><br /><div align="center"><object height="100" width="400" data="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" ></param><param name="allowNetworking" value="internal" ></param><param name="movie" value="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" ></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque" ></param><param name="flashvars" value="song_label=poligraf.between.worlds.2006.finale.mp3&music_track=http://drop.io/download/public/3q3oirsgx3ueqhzv3p72/494a44b265b02e1bbae12d7a8ac5b3f1c47f6735/Asset/4650172/v3/web_preview&autoplay=false" ></param><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="song_label=poligraf.between.worlds.2006.finale.mp3&music_track=http://drop.io/download/public/3q3oirsgx3ueqhzv3p72/494a44b265b02e1bbae12d7a8ac5b3f1c47f6735/Asset/4650172/v3/web_preview&autoplay=false" height="100" width="400" allowscriptaccess="never" allownetworking="internal"></embed> </object></div><br /><p>I read the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bardo_Thodol" target="_blank">The Tibetan Book of the Dead</a> twice. I started with a French translation, and then read the <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208124.The_Tibetan_Book_of_the_Dead" target="_blank">Robert A. F. Thurman version</a>. My motivation at the time was to learn more about the death process and what comes after.</p><br /><p>At the time, I was agreeably surprised to discover that the text, which is traditionally read to the dead and is intended to guide them through the experiences that the consciousness has during the interval between death and the next rebirth in order to help them attain liberation, was also very rich in knowledge that could be applied to my own life, for instance in terms of understanding my own inner workings.</p><br /><p>Years later, I came to the realization that the text could also be interpreted as a metaphor for life, or more precisely, as a symbolized depiction of the process of moving from where one currently is to the next stage in their life. In that perspective, and in a way reminiscent of the death card in tarot, the death process can be seen as the transition from one's present self to one's future self, for instance in terms of changing careers, relocating, moving on to a new love relationship, or similar transformations, which are represented by transmigration and rebirth.</p><br /><p>As hinted in the text through numerous mentions of not giving into fear, and recognizing post-death experiences as one's own mental projections, the quality of this rebirth is determined by the degree to which one is able to recognize the extent of their power, their very nature and their true purpose, and to shed the elements of the past that are not compatible with this recognition.</p><br /><p>The audio clip above presents the finale of the whole suite. Below is an excerpt taken from the first ever live performance given by Poligraf, playing an early version of « Between Worlds » back in April 2002 :</p><br /><div align="center"><object height="364" width="445" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/0IE_oPL8XVM?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" ></param><param name="allowNetworking" value="internal" ></param><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0IE_oPL8XVM?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" ></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="false" ></param><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0IE_oPL8XVM?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="never" height="364" width="445" allownetworking="internal"></embed> </object></div><br /><blockquote><em>Hey! Now when the life between dawns upon me,<br /> I will abandon laziness, as life has no more time,<br />Unwavering, enter the path of learning, thinking, and meditating,<br />And taking perceptions and mind as path,<br />I will realize the Three Bodies of enlightenment!<br />This once that I have obtained the human body<br />Is not the time to stay on the path of distractions.<br /></em></blockquote><p>(Taken from "<a href="http://glenavalon.com/bardothotrol.html">The root verses of the six betweens</a>" - see near the bottom of the page)</p></div>Departure (Between Worlds part 1)https://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/departure-between-worlds-part2010-08-10T20:49:20.000Z2010-08-10T20:49:20.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="" alt="" /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">("<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buddha_painted_on_a_rock_wall_in_Tibet.jpg">Buddha painted on a rock wall in Tibet</a>" by Unknown Artist - photography by onwardtibet.org)</span></p><br /><br /><div align="center"><object height="100" width="400" data="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" ></param><param name="allowNetworking" value="internal" ></param><param name="movie" value="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" ></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque" ></param><param name="flashvars" value="song_label=poligraf.between.worlds.2006.part1.mp3&music_track=http://drop.io/download/public/5fubseykaoqxarxsnykk/73eccd7d2d0134ea0bed73a7ad86e6adb41be65a/Asset/3579083/v3/web_preview&autoplay=false" ></param><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="song_label=poligraf.between.worlds.2006.part1.mp3&music_track=http://drop.io/download/public/5fubseykaoqxarxsnykk/73eccd7d2d0134ea0bed73a7ad86e6adb41be65a/Asset/3579083/v3/web_preview&autoplay=false" height="100" width="400" allowscriptaccess="never" allownetworking="internal"></embed></object></div><br /><p>« Between Worlds » is a suite in five movements that started as a song entitled « Requiem » which was written in response to the deaths of my father and maternal grandmother, both due to cancer, at the beginning of the 1990s. The original draft eventually became what now constitutes « Departure, » the introductory section of the whole composition.</p><br /><p>A few years later, after discovering Buddhism, I acquired an edition of « <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bardo_Thodol" target="_blank">The Tibetan Book of the Dead</a> » (« Bardo Thodol » in Tibetan) which I read with great interest, and wholeheartedly recommend. At that point, I had already toyed with the idea of extending the song to include a hint at after-death, and the book gave both the inspiration and substance needed to turn the piece into a suite intended to present the successive stages of the death process as described in Tibetan culture.</p><br /><p>The composition begins with an illustration of physical decay, presented as a plea for euthanasia coming from someone in the throes of a degenerative illness, which is followed by dissolution and passage into the successive « between worlds, » or intermediate states (« bardos » in Tibetan), finally leading to rebirth.</p><br /><p>The lyrics to « Departure » follow below. Although they work in their current form, I'm not totally convinced that telling this part of the story from the vantage point of the dying is the wisest way to proceed, so the words might go through a complete overhaul before they receive the « Definitive » stamp and get recorded.</p><br /><p><em>Talk to me, tell me it's you <br />Clear sight has gone astray<br />All is dark outside and in<br />I’m sure glad you made it today<br /><br />No word still of even a slight chance<br />It gets harder every day<br />I feel it won't be long before<br />It takes my mind away<br /><br />Is there a point in trying to find<br />Reasons to keep going ?<br />I’ve seen a lot through this lifetime of mine<br />No fear of death keeps me waiting<br /><br />What’s left for me but this life of dependence<br />And fading memories of freedom ?<br />I do accept that my time here is up<br />I want to know where we all go<br /><br />Don't be sad my friend<br />This life is all behind me<br />Stay on for a while<br />Listen to my plea<br /><br />Don’t be mad my friend<br />There’s not much that we can do<br />I’m reaching the end<br />Just help me through <br /><br />I trust you can understand what I'm going through<br />This body, numb, is a jail<br />I know it’s no easy task that I ask of you<br />Promise me that you won’t fail<br /><br />Don't be sad my friend<br />This life is all behind me<br />Take me to the end<br />With dignity<br /><br />Please be strong my friend<br />Give me the shot that’ll kill me<br />Save me all this pain<br />Do it for me</em></p></div>Determination (Between Worlds part 5)https://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/determination-between-worlds2010-08-24T20:48:27.000Z2010-08-24T20:48:27.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="" alt="" /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">("<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Akshobhjavadzra--Guhyasamad.jpg">Akshobhya Buddha</a>" by <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:VanemTao">VanemTao</a>)</span></p><br /><div align="center"><object width="400" height="100" data="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" ></param><param name="allowNetworking" value="internal" ></param><param name="movie" value="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" ></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque" ></param><param name="flashvars" value="song_label=poligraf.between.worlds.2006.part4.mp3&music_track=http://drop.io/download/public/l8ccbclm5dgnyifgtwjm/67c3ba4d16cfce3bce5d4aa5fa7353f04cdeb5b4/Asset/4414193/v3/web_preview&autoplay=false" ></param><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="100" flashvars="song_label=poligraf.between.worlds.2006.part4.mp3&music_track=http://drop.io/download/public/l8ccbclm5dgnyifgtwjm/67c3ba4d16cfce3bce5d4aa5fa7353f04cdeb5b4/Asset/4414193/v3/web_preview&autoplay=false" allowscriptaccess="never" allownetworking="internal"></embed> </object></div><br /><p>« Between Worlds » is a composition that started as a song entitled « Requiem » which was written in response to the deaths of my father and maternal grandmother, both due to cancer, at the beginning of the 1990s. Inspired by « <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bardo_Thodol">The Tibetan Book of the Dead</a>, » the piece eventually turned into a suite in five movements intended to present the successive stages of the death process as described in Tibetan culture.</p><br /><p>The last section of « Between Worlds » is entitled « Determination » and is intended to depict the intermediate state of rebirth, known as the « sidpa bardo, » the bardo of karmic becoming or transmigration.</p><br /><p>According to Wikipedia, this bardo features karmically impelled hallucinations, typically imagery of men and women passionately entwined, which eventually result in rebirth.</p><br /><p>The title of the section was chosen to reflect the main characteristic of this state, which is the determination of the dead's next incarnation. Basically, the person will experience the rebirth that corresponds to the hallucinations to which they feels drawn to while in this state of consciousness. Thus, one who has learned to distinguish between what is truly beneficial and what is not in this present life will be able to enjoy a most beneficial embodiment in the next.</p><br /><p>The clip presents the end of « Deliberation » followed by the beginning of « Determination. »</p></div>Into The Ashram (revisited - with poetry)https://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/into-the-ashram-revisited2010-08-23T19:00:00.000Z2010-08-23T19:00:00.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p>« Into The Ashram » is the first chapter of the « Entering The Stream » trilogy, which also comprises « The Chrome Lake » and « Leaving The Ashram. »</p><br /><p>The composition is intended to depict the progress of an individual getting fed up with their day to day life to the point of taking an extended time off for reflection and introspection.</p><br /><p>The piece is an instrumental which counts the following four movements :</p><ul><li>The Ordinary</li><li>Running Out Of Breath</li><li>Dweller On The Threshold</li><li>Jambudvipa</li></ul><br /><p>In the cosmology of Buddhism, Jambudvipa is the name of the continent of the terrestrial world where ordinary human beings live, and this is also where one may receive the gift of Dharma and come to understand the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path and ultimately realize the liberation from the cycle of life and death.</p><br /><p>In a way, both the ordinary and Jambudvipa can be taken to be coextensive, or sharing the same spatial extension if you prefer, as it is the mindset or attitude of the individual that determines in which they abide. In other words, the ashram that is referred to isn't necessarily a physical location, for instance some building located in India, but can also mean a mental construct, or a way of approaching things. In that sense, the piece depicts an inner journey beginning from over-activity and ending in temporary seclusion, where reflection and healing can take place.</p><br /><p>In an effort to convey more clearly the intent that gave rise to the piece, I've written the following verses, even though at the moment I have no plans of upgrading the music with vocal melodies :</p><br /><p><em>Always on the verge of spinning out of control<br /> Going through the motions better than down the hole<br />Today I will not scream I am unsatisfied<br />Isn't this the mantra to become ossified<br /><br />The things I bowed down to have me under their weight<br />I'm not sure I recall how it feels to stand straight<br />So many things I crave I think I'll never get<br />I may be warm and fed but my needs are not met<br /><br />There must be something else I have been here before <br />But this time I'm fed up I won't take anymore<br />Others have stopped stooping and even learned to dance <br />When will it be my turn if I don't take the chance<br /><br />I dream of India and of sabbatical<br />Simplifying my life to the canonical<br />Shed the superficial and leave it all behind<br />So I may figure out how I messed up my mind<br /><br />I can't keep silencing that impulse forever<br />And let aspiration fade away to wither<br />That's no way to progress I need to introspect<br />And away from it all on my life to reflect<br /></em></p><br /><blockquote>It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.” – Buddha</blockquote></div>Deliberation (Between Worlds part 4)https://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/deliberation-between-worlds2010-08-20T20:50:52.000Z2010-08-20T20:50:52.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="" alt="" /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">("<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%27The_Dhyani_Buddha_Akshobhya%27,_Tibetan_thangka,_late_13th_century,_Honolulu_Academy_of_Arts.jpg">The Dhyani Buddha Akshobhya</a>" - Unknown Artist)</span></p><br /><div align="center"><object height="100" width="400" data="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" ></param><param name="allowNetworking" value="internal" ></param><param name="movie" value="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" ></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque" ></param><param name="flashvars" value="song_label=poligraf.between.worlds.2006.part3.mp3&music_track=http://drop.io/download/public/goarrre6mxmckcr3twaj/eadbcb00a22146cb23bb9aae266b56a9cdd1c6c5/Asset/3787489/v3/web_preview&autoplay=false" ></param><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="song_label=poligraf.between.worlds.2006.part3.mp3&music_track=http://drop.io/download/public/goarrre6mxmckcr3twaj/eadbcb00a22146cb23bb9aae266b56a9cdd1c6c5/Asset/3787489/v3/web_preview&autoplay=false" height="100" width="400" allowscriptaccess="never" allownetworking="internal"></embed></object></div><br /><p>« Between Worlds » is a composition that started as a song entitled « Requiem » which was written in response to the deaths of my father and maternal grandmother, both due to cancer, at the beginning of the 1990s. Inspired by « <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bardo_Thodol">The Tibetan Book of the Dead</a>, » the piece eventually turned into a suite in five movements intended to present the successive stages of the death process as described in Tibetan culture.</p><br /><p>« The Dance Of The Archetypes » culminates with an encounter with the Lord Of Death, a fearsome demonic deity appearing in smoke and fire, who subjects the dead to a judgment based on the karma accumulated during their lifetime. If the person is still not liberated after this judgment, they proceed to the next bardo.</p><br /><p>« Deliberation » refers to this subsequent experience and depicts a fluid state wherein the dead hovers about the world, observing the surroundings and other beings, but without committing to any specific course of action. Eventually, the soul will recognize and be drawn to something in the environment, perhaps a being, or what looks like a feature of the landscape. The object of this attraction will in fact become the entrance toward their next rebirth.</p><br /><p>Currently the section is instrumental only, but lyrics will possibly be added to better describe this particular intermediate state.</p><br /><p>The clip presents the culmination of the « Dance Of The Archetypes, » followed by the first half of « Deliberation. »</p></div>The Music Of Poligraf : Void part 2https://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/the-music-of-poligraf-void2009-07-29T02:35:04.000Z2009-07-29T02:35:04.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="" alt="" width="444" height="333" /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">("<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/poligraf/128344004/in/set-72157615758966918/">Primeval Center</a>" )</span></p><div align="center"><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="100" flashvars="song_label=converted-poligraf.void.bridge_converted.mp3&music_track=http://drop.io/download/public/ovq5p8rseymaj8g6sooj/033705017d4797b4501495e85423fbe3127eb101/16681fb0-98e0-012b-b3c6-f9d9d1d41d46/51aa0b90-98e6-012b-f0a1-f1f3cb64d5e6/v2/content&autoplay=false" allowscriptaccess="never" allownetworking="internal"></embed></div><p>On a background of Wall Street Bailout and the Large Hadron Collider, “Void” paints the Buddhist concept of emptiness.</p><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emptiness#Buddhism">From Wikipedia</a> :</p><p style="margin-left:32px;font-style:italic;">In Buddhism, the realization of emptiness of inherent existence is a “state of pure consciousness” in which the practitioner realizes all particular objects and images to be appearances of the subjective mind.</p><p>The song is made up of twelve short verses, one longer vocal interlude, and no chorus. The vocal sections are tied together with short instrumental passages and one longer instrumental bridge, the latter being featured in the present post.</p><p>To give you a taste of the style, here are some of the verses :</p><p style="text-align:center;">Null ! Nobody-zero<br />Fundamentally<br />Materialism fails<br />To set people free</p><p style="text-align:center;">Universe of words<br />Walls of mentation<br />Discriminating<br />Occult liberation</p><p style="text-align:center;">Stop and recognize<br />Objects are mirrors<br />Subject realize<br />Self-actualize</p><p style="text-align:center;">No cause nor effect<br />Coming and going<br />This world I project<br />Is enlightening</p><p style="border-width:1px 0px 0px 0px;border-style:solid;border-color:#AAAAAA;font-size:x-small;">The Music Of Poligraf series are reposts of writings and demo audio clips that have been originally published on The Goal Was So Near from November 2008 to April 2009, made available for those who missed the original Clip Of The Day series.</p></div>The Music Of Poligraf : Leaving The Ashram part 3 & 4https://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/the-music-of-poligraf-leaving-12009-07-26T22:52:39.000Z2009-07-26T22:52:39.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="" alt="" width="444" height="498" /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">("Enigma" by <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Mat%C3%ADas_Argud%C3%ADn">Matías Argudín</a>)</span></p><div align="center"><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="100" flashvars="song_label=converted-poligraf.leaving.the.ashram.pt3pt4_converted.mp3&music_track=http://drop.io/download/public/xadkuewess33dy8jphsc/a5fb252aa696dbebd1e4cc5c908051c09f070d17/c19288e0-975a-012b-75ca-f422761eb17d/f2457cc0-975c-012b-4945-fdd3b3cfc479/v2/content&autoplay=false" allowscriptaccess="never" allownetworking="internal"></embed></div><p>The third and fourth parts of “Leaving The Ashram” are respectively entitled “The Tabla Master’s Enigma” and “The Ordinary II.” Our unidentified introspective hero has completed his retreat and is going back to ordinary life.</p><p style="text-align:center;">As I now leave behind the echoes of complaints<br />The struggles of ego in the hall of constraints<br />I recall my time here one of introspection<br />Of intense pondering and of liberation</p><p style="text-align:center;">Long I sat by myself in silence and darkness<br />One by one noticing the causes of distress<br />Observing unmoving ever firm in my oath<br />Persistence consistent is rewarded by growth</p><p style="text-align:center;">On the way there's a man playing on the tabla<br />The master gatekeeper singing his enigma<br />The question is no test but rather a message<br />Telling me the ordeal was a rite of passage</p><p style="text-align:center;">Just a few steps away from the ordinary<br />I pause for one last glimpse of my sanctuary<br />The shelter dissolving having served its function<br />The master and the gate fading to oblivion</p><p style="text-align:center;">Different from the rest eccentric by nature<br />I had spent my whole life avoiding the matter<br />Once to burn sensitive of the whirl centrifuge<br />I return to the world may it be my refuge</p><p>"<em>If you live the sacred and despise the ordinary, you are still bobbing in the ocean of delusion.</em>" – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linji">Lin-Chi</a></p><p style="border-width:1px 0px 0px 0px;border-style:solid;border-color:#AAAAAA;font-size:x-small;">The Music Of Poligraf series are reposts of writings and demo audio clips that have been originally published on The Goal Was So Near from November 2008 to April 2009, made available for those who missed the original Clip Of The Day series.</p></div>The Music Of Poligraf : Into The Ashramhttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/the-music-of-poligraf-into2009-06-12T17:00:20.000Z2009-06-12T17:00:20.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="" alt="" width="444" height="710" /> <br /> <span style="font-size:x-small;">(<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ashram.jpg">Ashram by Nicholas Roerich</a>)</span></p><div align="center"><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="100" flashvars="song_label=converted-poligraf.into.the.ashram.v26_converted.mp3&music_track=http://drop.io/download/public/lxjoptveimk7vubk7cfl/208513d56a906167f1f4c7b29cbf642156041ad3/f3aea480-8b7a-012b-4e2e-f2f36ed268df/a9900e00-8b7c-012b-2609-ff09aa7e3608/v2/content&autoplay=false" allowscriptaccess="never" allownetworking="internal"></embed></div><p>An instrumental in 4 movements (The Ordinary, Running Out Of Breath, Dweller On The Threshold, Jambudvipa), the composition aims to evoke the progress of an individual getting fed up with their day to day life to the point of taking an extended time off for reflection and introspection.<br /><br />In the cosmology of Buddhism, Jambudvipa is the name of the continent of the terrestrial world where ordinary human beings live. From <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jambudvipa" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> :</p><blockquote>It is in Jambudvipa that one may receive the gift of Dharma and come to understand the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path and ultimately realize the liberation from the cycle of life and death.</blockquote><p>In a way, both the ordinary and Jambudvipa can be taken to be coextensive, or sharing the same spatial extension if you prefer, as it is the mindset or attitude of the individual that determines in which they abide. In other words, the ashram that is referred to isn't necessarily a physical location, for instance some building located in India, but can also mean a mental construct, or a way of doing things. In that sense, the piece depicts an inner journey beginning from over-activity and ending in temporary seclusion, where reflection and healing can take place.</p><p style="border-width:1px 0px 0px 0px;border-style:solid;border-color:#AAAAAA;font-size:x-small;">The Music Of Poligraf series are reposts of writings and audio clips that have been originally published on <a href="http://poligraf.wordpress.com/">The Goal Was So Near</a> from November 2008 to April 2009, made available for those who missed the original Clip Of The Day series.<br /><br />If you enjoy what you hear, you are invited to visit the <a href="http://www.poligraf.net/en/music-index/">Music</a> section of our website and support our efforts by pre-ordering our first album entitled <a href="http://www.poligraf.net/en/music-album-samsara/">Samsara</a>.</p></div>Essay : On Desirehttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/essay-on-desire2011-08-17T14:13:21.000Z2011-08-17T14:13:21.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="http://poligraf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/444px-magnetic_field_of_bar_magnets_repelling.png?w=444" alt="444px-magnetic_field_of_bar_magnets_repelling.png?w=444" /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">(« <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Magnetic_field_of_bar_magnets_repelling.png">Photo of the magnetic field of two bar magnets with like poles close together</a> » by Alexander Wilmer Duff)</span></p><br /><br /><p>In Buddhist culture, there exists the core notion of the three poisons, which are considered to be the cause of all sufferings.</p><br /><p>In English, the poisons are generally translated as confusion, desire, and hatred, or variations of these terms.</p><br /><p>In my experience, while confusion and hatred are generally grasped correctly, the poison of desire is often misunderstood.</p><br /><p>In short, confusion refers to the mistaken notion that individuals exist in separation from one another and from everything else. In other words, it corresponds to identification to an « I » that is separate from everything else.</p><br /><p>From this confusion, hatred, or aversion, arises. It refers to the feeling that results from being confronted to a particular experience one doesn't appreciate, and to the activity of nurturing this feeling.</p><br /><p>Similarly, from this confusion, desire, or greed, arises. But what does it refer to ?</p><br /><p>One definition of desire is : « the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state. » So, in other words, desire refers to the feeling that results from being confronted to the absence of a particular experience one appreciates, and to the activity of nurturing this feeling.</p><br /><p align="center" style="text-align:center;">·</p><br /><p>In order to avoid the sufferings that stem from desire and aversion, it is tempting to simply eliminate what causes desire and aversion. In other words, just like, in the case of aversion, one might be tempted to sever all interactions with objects of aversion, in the case of desire, one might be tempted to relinquish all objects of desire.</p><br /><p>In my experience, this temptation to avoid, although quite common it would seem, is based in error. It stems from not recognizing the function of the arising of the objects of both desire and aversion.</p><br /><p>I believe it is important to recognize that objects of aversion arise in order to redirect the individual on their path. They are important clues that inform about something which has gone wrong, that the mark has been missed. And thus, trying to suppress them once they have arisen is like denying oneself of the lesson. Ultimately, it is choosing not to learn, and not to grow. So in this sense it is self-denial.</p><br /><p>Attempting to eradicate objects of aversion is the act of compounding error with additional error. It is creating more bad karma, instead of attempting to understand, and to create good karma. It only makes matters worse. A striking illustration of this course of action would be escalation of hostilities leading to war.</p><br /><p align="center" style="text-align:center;">·</p><br /><p>The next interrogation is then : why do objects of desire arise ?</p><br /><p>According to the <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/desire#Etymology" target="_blank">Wiktionary</a>, the word « desire » could come from <em>de</em> and <em>sidus</em>, the latter meaning « a star. »</p><br /><p>Thus, I believe it is essential to realize that objects of desire arise in order to confirm that the actions of the individual are on the mark. They are important beacons too. They inform about something which is going according to plan. They embody the next part of the path which is gradually coming into view.</p><br /><p>The function of such objects of desire is also to provide incentives for maintaining the forward motion on the rightful path. As such, they are essential to keep the growth process alive. They are stars pointing to the destination and the repentance-free path.</p><br /><p>So, similarly, attempting to relinquish objects of desire is basically self-denial. It is the act of not rewarding good practice. It creates bad karma, bad habit-energy, because of training oneself in such a fashion as to prevent the process from occurring properly.</p><br /><p align="center" style="text-align:center;">·</p><br /><p>In my view, the crucial distinction to make is that the problem is not the objects of desire, but desire itself. The problem is in the sustaining of that feeling that something is absent. In other words, it is focusing on missing instead of focusing on the process which leads to getting.</p><br /><p>It is a problem because it throws off the process. When energy is not invested in the process, the process doesn't yield fruits. And when the process doesn't yield fruits, then, eventually, it becomes tempting to abandon the process altogether.</p><br /><p>And then all sorts of doubts arise. Perhaps the process isn't worthwhile, or perhaps one isn't worthy, or perhaps it's not okay to want things, or perhaps it's not okay to have things, or perhaps one doesn't deserve anything and everything. Ultimately, if they are pursued, all such doubts become hurts which will have to be healed.</p><br /><p>It is important to observe that these doubts are objects of aversion themselves. Doubt is not a pleasant experience. When these doubts arise, they in fact inform us that something is going wrong, namely, that the process has been abandoned. And indeed, when one resumes focusing on process, these doubts vanish.</p><br /><p>Thus, all kind of problems arise when one stops addressing the process, and instead becomes obsessive about the fruits. That is desire. That is the poison.</p><br /><p align="center" style="text-align:center;">·</p><br /><p>And I guess the point is, that it's okay to want things and to have things. In fact, it is necessary if one is to live in the ordinary. It's part of the process. And it's okay to have a dream, or a vision in one's mind about where one wants to go or what one wants to experience. In fact, isn't it unavoidable ?</p><br /><p>But if one finds that when they pursue the vision, their efforts don't seem to bring them any closer to it, then making themselves feel bad about it by concentrating on the unsatisfied state is to be avoided. Because that is desire. That is the poison.</p><br /><p>One should instead resume concentrating on process.</p><br /><p>Why focus on denial and distance, instead of focusing on entitlement and the joy of the experience of advancing towards, and reaching the object of desire ? Why thus make distance and denial seem bigger, instead of emphasizing the positive aspects ?</p><br /><p>Isn't desire subtly masochistic ? Isn't it an addiction to self-denial, and suffering, and gloominess ?</p><br /><p>Instead, why not direct one's efforts towards what one can do, in the present moment, to keep going forward towards the fulfillment of the vision ?</p><br /><p align="center" style="text-align:center;">·</p><br /><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="http://poligraf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/444px-magnetic_field_of_bar_magnets_attracting.png?w=444" alt="444px-magnetic_field_of_bar_magnets_attracting.png?w=444" /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">(« <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Magnetic_field_of_bar_magnets_attracting.png">Photo of the magnetic field of two bar magnets with unlike poles close together</a> » by Alexander Wilmer Duff)</span></p><br /><br /><p>There are equivalents to this interpretation in other cultures. For instance :</p><br /><p>In « The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan » :</p><br /><blockquote><em>Many times a person in a pessimistic mood, in a kind of disturbed condition may wish for death, wish for failure, wish for anything. If he only knew what an effect it has, he would be frightened. Even in pain, if a person could refrain from saying: 'I am in pain', he would do a great deal of good to himself. If a person who has met with misfortune would even avoid saying: 'I am experiencing misfortune', it would be a great thing. For when a person acknowledges the existence of something he does not want, he only gives it a greater life. In the same way when a person acknowledges something that he wants, he gives that life too. But when a person says: 'Oh, I have waited and waited and waited; my ship will never come', he is keeping his ship back in the sea. His ship will never arrive in the port, while the one who does not even see the ship, but says: 'It is coming, it is coming' - he is calling it. It will come. <br />(source : The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Vol. Two - THE MYSTICISM OF SOUND AND MUSIC, CHAPTER I : <a href="http://www.sufimessage.com/power-of-the-word/poweroftheword.html" target="_blank">The Power of the Word</a>)</em></blockquote><br /><p>From <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%B8ren_Kierkegaard" target="_blank">Søren Kierkegaard</a> :</p><br /><blockquote><em>Our life always expresses the result of our dominant thoughts.</em></blockquote><br /><p>From <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_David_Thoreau" target="_blank">Henry David Thoreau</a> :</p><br /><blockquote><em>The world is but a canvas to the imagination.</em></blockquote><br /><p>From <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Wagner" target="_blank">Richard Wagner</a></p><br /><blockquote><em>One supreme fact which I have discovered is that it is not willpower, but fantasy-imagination that creates. Imagination is the creative force. Imagination creates reality.</em></blockquote><br /><p align="center" style="text-align:center;">·</p><br /><p>And in conclusion, as far as Buddhism is concerned, I believe it is important to realize that</p><p>Buddhism proposes vehicles (namely : Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana, wherein the -yana suffix translates as vehicle).</p><br /><p>Or, in other words, Buddhism does not propose destinations, apart perhaps from its core promise of leading to the end of suffering, which can be construed as a sort of destination.</p><br /><p>But from this, one shouldn't infer that there aren't any destinations, as, obviously, if there weren't any, then why would vehicles be needed ?</p><br /><p>Perhaps the point is not to systematically let go of everything, like the proverbial monk in the cave at the top of mountain, in the hopes of attaining an ultimate experience of complete enlightenment, from which there is no return.</p><br /><p>Perhaps what Buddhism proposes is a way of functioning in the cosmos, free of suffering, by virtue of having recognized the mechanisms of the cosmos, and of diligently remaining observant of these mechanisms so as to stay on the repentance-free path.</p><br /><p>Perhaps enlightenment is correctly understanding the vehicles, recognizing how and why they work, and extinguishing the tendencies, such as desire, that prevent the vehicles from functioning properly, so as to be able to use the vehicles to reach destinations one envisions, free of suffering, by virtue of having recognized the behaviors that ultimately cause suffering, and of abstaining from them.</p><br /><p>Perhaps this is the Magic City, from where everything that can be envisioned can be experienced.</p></div>On Individualistic Spiritualityhttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/on-individualistic2011-07-28T17:01:55.000Z2011-07-28T17:01:55.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div>In my opinion, on some social networks there appears to be a tendency to avoid challenges altogether in order to protect beliefs.The rationale seems to be that the intent of the challengers is merely to « make wrong, » and that those who challenge are just not « confident in their own beliefs. »But what then if the intent is not to « make wrong » ? What if the intent is to shed a different light ? What if the prompting comes from the heart and not the ego ? What if the ego tries to ignore the overwhelming need to challenge, but ultimately fails ? Should we abstain from challenging simply because we are confident in our own beliefs ? Should we simply let others cope on their own however they can ?To me, there's a major flaw in this abstention. In fact, it would be correct if we were not intrinsically related to one another. But we are...In my view, there is a form of individualistic spirituality that seems to be rampant these days. In the vocabulary of Buddhism (I use it because it's the one I know), this would be the equivalent of the Hinayana, which is the so-called « small vehicle » which leads to the so-called « small nirvana. » In my understanding, its hallmark is detachment, whereby one can free themselves, to a certain extent, by recognizing how their attachments cause numerous sufferings.But this detachment is also a form of attachment, and the detachment cycle must culminate in detachment, not only of attachments, but of detachment itself, and even from the notion of attachment-detachment. This is necessary in order for true engagement to take place, wherein one can truly invest themselves in worthy objectives without egoistic concerns for their own sake.In Buddhist terminology, this is equivalent to the mission of the Bodhisattva who vows to free not only themselves, but the whole world. This lofty undertaking is not merely an apparently noble but ultimately rhetorical gesture. The Bodhisattva makes the vow because there's no other choice. When one truly realizes how they are indeed their whole world, then individualistic liberation becomes nonsensical. Why do you think the original Buddha kept on preaching and teaching and setting up schools after enlightenment ? How can one seriously claim to be in any way enlightened while parts of themselves are left utterly in the dark ?In other words, the so-called small nirvana is all well and good in theory, but in practice, exactly because we are one, exactly because I am you and you are me, exactly because there is no outside, exactly because there's only this one infinite consciousness that we all partake in, large parts of the world crumble around the Hinayanist while they revel in their navel.If it were not true, who would need to seek enlightenment ? People would have learned detachment a long while ago and the matter would have been settled for all eternity. But obviously, it is not the case. Small nirvana is actually child's play. It's not even one tenth of the battle. « *eff* you » is not the ultimate spiritual way, it's the way of those whose understanding doesn't reach beyond their own ego.In doubt, try it for yourself. It doesn't take much effort to sever one's outflows. Anybody with sufficient determination can achieve this in a matter of a few years, and probably even quicker than that if they really mean it. Then, try to remain silent if you can, try to remain aloof. And when occasions for repentance keep arising despite your sainthood, then you'll know that you cannot let your brothers and sisters in the dark without suffering the sorry consequences.But thankfully, such a thing cannot happen, exactly because we are all one, we are irresistibly attracted to each other, we are overwhelmingly compelled to interact so as to dispel the utterly dark parts of ourselves.I exhort you, do not be mistaken, this has never been a « I'm-okay-never-mind-the-others » kind of thing. There's only one mind. Either all of it is enlightened, or none of us truly is. Either we all go, or nobody goes.Obviously, there is still work to do. And here is my challenge to you : stop resting on your laurels and start fighting for real !</div>Why « Samsara » ?https://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/why-samsara2010-10-23T19:52:54.000Z2010-10-23T19:52:54.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="http://poligraf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/poligraf-samsara-01-320.png" alt="" /> <br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">(<a href="http://poligraf.wordpress.com/the-plan/#samsara">Album Cover for « Samsara »</a> by Christopher Stewart)</span></p><br /><p>Poligraf’s first album will be entitled « Samsara » in reference to the cycle of reincarnation in Buddhist culture.</p><br /><p>Samsara is a Sanskrit and Pali term derived from to « flow together, » « to go or pass through states, » « to wander, » and which translates as « continuous movement » or « continuous flowing. »</p><br /><p>In Buddhism, it refers to the concept of a cycle of birth and consequent decay and death, in which all beings in the universe participate and which can only be escaped through enlightenment. Samsara is traditionally associated with suffering and is generally considered the antithesis of nirvana.</p><br /><p>An alternative interpretation proposes that Samsara is rather the process one must undergo in order to achieve enlightenment. Proponents of this view believe that individuals create their own worlds on their way to enlightenment. When their current world is starting to decay, they will create a new world and move into it.</p><br /><p>As an illustration of this principle, one can consider the many « lives » individuals go through over the course of their physical lives, as they evolve through schools, jobs, relationships, activities, and so forth.</p><br /><p>In this perspective, the many ups and downs, joys and pains, successes and failures, achievements and setbacks one experiences on their journey can be seen as metaphors for constant spiritual growth.</p><br /><p>In accordance with the latter interpretation, the album presents a collection of compositions that depict the journey of an individual facing a series of challenges through which they will experience various forms of transcendence, on their way to a better version of themselves.</p><br /><p style="text-align:center;font-size:large;">·</p><br /><p>In its early years, Poligraf went through numerous changes as non-core members would often come and go for whatever reason. By the time of the dissolution of its original core in February 2003, five years after its inception, the band had already existed in over ten different incarnations. And every time a member joined us or left, a new phase of adaptation would begin as not only did each of us have to adjust to the new group dynamics, but the music would often also change. So, as you can imagine, the band’s general trajectory was pretty much similar to the white line depicted on the album’s artwork, all in ups and downs, although always progressing.</p><br /><p>Thus, the album title seems very appropriate to describe this first effort given a band’s history characterized by its many cycles of reincarnations, and which in itself can be regarded as an instance of samsara.</p></div>Music and Spiritual Practice - An Overview of Poligraf (part 4)https://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/music-and-spiritual-practice-32009-05-22T19:01:24.000Z2009-05-22T19:01:24.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="" alt="" width="444" height="444" /></p><p style="text-align:center;font-size:x-small;">(The Wheel of Becoming - Symbolic Representation of Saṃsāra in Tibetan Buddhism)</p>Poligraf's first album is entitled "Samsara." Traditionally, the term refers to the Buddhist concept of the cycle of birth and death in which all beings in the universe take part and which can be escaped only through enlightenment. Personally, I agree with the view that it is rather that very same process of enlightenment, in which ups and downs are in fact the appearance of constant motion towards spiritual growth.<br />In accordance with that perspective, the album presents a collection of pieces that depicts the journey of an individual who faces a series of challenges through which they will experience various transcendences, on their way to a better version of themselves.<br />Poligraf is very much eager to spread its wings and record that first album. The boys in the band would be grateful if you would be kind enough to <a href="http://www.poligraf.net/en/music-index/music-album-samsara/">learn more about "Samsara"</a> and listen to the demos. You're also invited to extend your support and pre-order one of the packages we have put together to that intent.<br />This completes the overview of the band. Stay tuned for "Endeavors Over The Years," a series on the development of Poligraf from the time of its creation in 1998 on through its eleven years of evolution. Coming soon to a blog near you !</div>Music and Spiritual Practice - An Overview of Poligraf (part 1)https://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/music-and-spiritual-practice2009-05-17T17:29:44.000Z2009-05-17T17:29:44.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v255/29/27/586866353/n586866353_1016495_5779.jpg" alt="n586866353_1016495_5779.jpg" /></p>Music has been an essential part of my life since the end of the 80s.<br />The adventure began during the second of my four years of studying electrical engineering at Université Laval in Québec City. Through various friends and contacts I reconnected with progressive rock, a form of music to which I had already been exposed to in my youth thanks to my older brothers and sisters. Hearing the music of bands such as Yes, Rush, Genesis, and King Crimson felt like meeting old friends, and quickly I knew I just had to do as those musicians did, although my prior experience with music had been minimal at that time.<br />The feeling was so strong that not only did it led me to buy various instruments so I could learn how to play, but it was also the main force that made me decide to change direction after my first semester as a graduate student in computer vision and systems so I could build my life around music. And perhaps more importantly, when it became clear that I would compose music of my own, it spawned the question "what should the songs be about ?" which powered me into many years of exploring a multitude of domains of knowledge including science, philosophy, psychology, art, mysticism, and the occult.<br />Music for me is also spiritual practice. The inspiration and elevation it provides is undeniable, and the many insights I have had while practicing an instrument or rehearsing a part are too numerous to recount. Music picks me up when I let reason bring me down, restores my energy levels when I feel tired, sustains me through lengthy work sessions, and generally brings me to a state of inner peace and deep joy.<br />My objective as a musician is to communicate that energy in the hopes that listeners will experience that very same elevation and inspiration. It is also my intention to share my experiences and discoveries and thus hopefully help others reach understandings that can they can use on their own journey.</div>Music and Spiritual Practice - An Overview of Poligraf (part 3)https://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/music-and-spiritual-practice-22009-05-20T22:00:00.000Z2009-05-20T22:00:00.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="" alt="" width="444" height="419" /></p>Poligraf has been an essential part of my life since its inception at the beginning of February 1998.<br />The adventure began after the collapse of a band that probably never really existed as it only had a handful of rehearsals, but for which I had already written a lot of material. Left alone at the helm, I connected with a group of experienced musicians via a co-worker friend and after agreeing on a general aim and formula, we raised sail and headed to the terra incognita of progressive rock.<br />Over its eleven years of activity in various incarnations, Poligraf has yielded enough music for three full-length albums and two conceptual EPs, but never really had a chance to officially record any of them, although some of the material has been performed on stage on various occasions.<br />Most of the music documents my own spiritual path and presents some of the lessons that life has taught me on the way. Some pieces are directly inspired by Buddhist texts or teachings. For instance, "Between Worlds" is directly inspired by the Tibetan Book Of The Dead, and "The Idler" and "Creeper" have been inspired by aphorisms of The Dhammapada. "Void" illustrates the Buddhist concept of emptiness, and "SubjeKctiv" serves as a reminder of the subjectivity of experience and the coextensivity of worlds. "Entering the Stream" is a suite in three chapters that depicts the trajectory of an individual fed up with the mundane who decides to retreat into an ashram for some heavy introspection before returning to the ordinary with a renewed perspective on life.<br />Throughout all these years, if the Mahayana has provided the vehicle, then Poligraf has certainly provided landscapes, path, and drive, while the buddhas have completed the picture with their timely, serendipitous, and often magical interventions.<br />I don't know why I feel so strongly about music, progressive rock, and Poligraf in particular, but I just know I do and I trust that feeling to the best of my ability. My connection to Poligraf runs so deep that whenever I let hardships or circumstances turn into reasons to believe that there's no viable future for the band, then I retreat into apathy. That is, until that unmistakable feeling breaks through the veil of confusion to drive me again. To the best of my present understanding, my own self-realization seems to be linked to that of the band, if not as the culmination of my spiritual practice, then at least as an essential stepping stone towards it.</div>Music and Spiritual Practice - An Overview of Poligraf (part 2)https://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/music-and-spiritual-practice-12009-05-19T23:51:42.000Z2009-05-19T23:51:42.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="" alt="" width="444" height="276" /> <br /> <span style="font-size:x-small;">(<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buddha_the_Conqueror.jpg">Buddha the Conqueror by Nicholas Roerich</a>)</span></p>Buddhism has been an essential part of my life since the mid-90s.<br />The adventure began when I stumbled upon a feature in an encyclopedic dictionary that highlighted the Four Noble Truths. That finding immediately sparked my curiosity and a few days later I was buying a copy of The Dhammapada at a local bookstore. While slowly digesting the aphorisms in the weeks that followed, I found that its teachings were in continuity with a process of introspection that had begun during an introductory course on neural networks (i.e. systems designed to emulate some of the capabilities of the human brain, such as pattern recognition and associative memory), the study of which had triggered the question "what does this tell me about my own inner workings ?"<br />From then on I pursued my explorations and plunged into the Tibetan Book Of The Dead, which was quickly followed by various Mahayana sutras. I also bought a guide to learn how to meditate and started experimenting with the practice.<br />During the years that followed, I plowed through most of the major Mahayana sutras, progressively adjusted my lifestyle and behaviour to accord with the precepts, refined my meditation practice, memorized mantras, and became a vegetarian.<br />Meditation and mantra recitation are now part of my daily practice.</div>