All this madness started, a few years back, because a generous French artist named Elaine, stumbled across my blog and subsequent paintings. She described my work as “Zen paintings” and I didn’t know how to handle that moniker. I had run-away to Montana to create work without labels. I saw myself in a fight for my life against the parameters of realism, abstraction and other draconian concepts of defining art.
I immediately read everything I could find with “Zen” in the
title. The most popular choice was
obviously Robert Pirsig’s Zen and the Art
of Motorcycle Maintenance. I read
and reread that book at least four times over the course of two years. I initially saw him as the quick-answer to my
passion; however, over time I discarded more and more of his madman cathartic
theories until I was left with only a single passage to build a life:
“The only Zen you find on the tops of mountains is the
Zen you bring up there”
I systematically discarded every one of his half-cooked,
hair-brained thoughts to find the simplistic genius I was seeking. I realized, then, after forsaking 600 pages
of his rants, that the true Zen masters are lost to history. A legitimate guru, Zen master or even dharma bum
will not waste the effort of recording his thoughts, theories, or
passions.
If the meaning of life is to follow your passion to success;
then a dharma-stylized life is the antithesis of measurable success. Yet the meaning of life is exposed through
Zen?
I’d love to ask Richard Branson (Virgin) if he is happy
because he is a rich bugger that can do whatever he pleases or if he is happy
because of his work… or if he is happy.
What brings me joy? Well, obviously painting. But I am equally as content listening to
Robert B. Parker audiobooks, drinking gin, or watching British murder
mysteries. It is only the guilt that I
feel for practicing useless tasks (pretty much everything listed after
painting) that has me reflecting on this question. But isn’t that self-reproach at conflict with seeking
Zen? Living in the moment and basically
doing whatever one feels like (with regard for others, but complete disregard
for long-term personal consequences) is my idea of perfecting Zen.
-North
