There's a world where I can go..."
As kid growing up in LA in the 60's close to the beach, I embraced the Beach Boys as a local surf-flavored pop band. Without much thought I just considered them as one of the waves in the tsunami of new music flooding the airwaves. Little did I know that across the pond, the Beatles considered the structure and harmonies of the Beach Boys as ground-breaking, and were inspired to be as creative, in their upcoming epic album "Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band".
In the same vein of appreciating extremely gifted young musicians - while listening to a recent podcast with Jahnavi Harrison and Willow Smith, I heard of their appreciation for Jacob Collier as an amazing new talent.
Wow! Were they ever right! Now 25, Jacob Collier was discovered at 18 and signed by Quincy Jones. He's a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, composer, arranger and all-around musical genius.
Wow! Were they ever right! Now 25, Jacob Collier was discovered at 18 and signed by Quincy Jones. He's a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, composer, arranger and all-around musical genius.
If not known to you already, here is short sample introduction to Jacob Collier, with a show-ending encore, performing Brian Wilson's / Beach Boy's "In My Room"
| | There's a world where I can go and tell my secrets to In my room, in my room In this world I lock out all my worries and my fears In my room, in my room Do my dreaming and my scheming Lie awake and pray Do my crying and my sighing Laugh at yesterday Now it's dark and I'm alone But I won't be afraid In my room, in my room In my room, in my room In my room, in my room |
I was totally unaware in the 1960's when this song was released, that Brian Wilson suffered from depression and emotional abuse while growing up and during his song-writing and performing days, which to me, make these lyrics and his harmonic offering all the more healing and amazing.
INSIDE AND OUTSIDE MY ROOM
Finding the personal time and space literally, or as meditational metaphor, to feel safe and reflect, to dream, scheme, sigh, pray, and laugh at yesterday, is a common need or value we could all share.
In my room.
I woke up today, proded to comtemplate the duality of matter and spirit, represented by darkness and light. I awoke feeling the sun shining on part of my body with warming rays, while the other half of my body was enjoying the cool shade, being out of the sunlight. I know - perhaps not super-profound on the surface, but it did occur to me how we are continuously experiencing light and dark, or spirit and matter in some form or another - continuously at the same time.
I woke up today, proded to comtemplate the duality of matter and spirit, represented by darkness and light. I awoke feeling the sun shining on part of my body with warming rays, while the other half of my body was enjoying the cool shade, being out of the sunlight. I know - perhaps not super-profound on the surface, but it did occur to me how we are continuously experiencing light and dark, or spirit and matter in some form or another - continuously at the same time.
Spirit, whose symptom is consciousness, is mixed with the grosser elements of matter which make up the material body - yet consciousness is distinct from the body that houses it. One may cut their hair or even have a body part removed, but the conscious self remains intact. You and me, are not the body we walk and run and sleep through life with.
We are not the black, white, young, old, German, Japanese or American cars we may drive.
We are not the black, white, young, old, German, Japanese or American cars we may drive.
Outside my room.
It is the subtle seed of consciousness that animates the body and makes it sing, dance and act.
I was thinking along similar lines - how the subtle energies move the grosser ones, when this example appeared outside my room yesterday.
The material elements feature earth, water, fire, air, and ether, with ether being the most subtle (where thoughts are present), down to the grosser level of the earth (where trees are present).
Like this image, we generally think of trees as fixed and immobile.
It is the subtle seed of consciousness that animates the body and makes it sing, dance and act.
I was thinking along similar lines - how the subtle energies move the grosser ones, when this example appeared outside my room yesterday.
The material elements feature earth, water, fire, air, and ether, with ether being the most subtle (where thoughts are present), down to the grosser level of the earth (where trees are present).
Like this image, we generally think of trees as fixed and immobile.
| | But when adding the more subtle, invisible element of air flowing through the trees, the trees appear to be alive and able to dance independantly on their own volition. It is the same with one's subtle, invisible consciousness, which is the symptom of the spirit/soul. It is the conscious spirit which animates the gross physical body. Without the presence of soul-sustained consciousness, the body becomes incapable to move, and relatively quickly, desolves back to elemental energy. This is nicely described in the Bhagavd-Gita* |
This website and blog is dedicated to the how the joy of music and the joy of spirit, can be and are connected on so many levels. One can also understand how all life expressions are connected, if one is introduced to knowledge of the energetic web of spiritual presence which underlies all things. That underlying spiritual presence is like the non-visible thread, holding together a string of pearls.**
That presence as energy has one energetic source, which is not less than it's creation - meaning that the energetic Source of all energy, is also conscious individually, while being all-pervasive.
It may be difficult to initially comprehend, but understanding in microcosm how one can also individually experience many things simultaneously, may help. Consider feeling the firmness of sitting in a chair, while listening to music, while eating a snack, while watching the sunset, while thinking about work, while feeling tired and ready for bed.
Multiply that by infinity, and the fact that some aspects of divinity may be inconceivable to the human mind. This possibility leaves room for personal revelation to occur, as to understanding universal connectivity and consciousness.
The passageway to the safest, and most loving and secure room - leads to one's heart. It is in one's liberated heart-space where both the pure authentic self and God/Source, both reside and can be realized.
Fortunately for us in these challenging times, we can sing our way there, via sacred song and intention.
Props/Pranams to Jahnavi Harrison, for providing her inspirations online and in person.
Here is one of her offerings which started slowly, then ended up rocking the house.
That presence as energy has one energetic source, which is not less than it's creation - meaning that the energetic Source of all energy, is also conscious individually, while being all-pervasive.
It may be difficult to initially comprehend, but understanding in microcosm how one can also individually experience many things simultaneously, may help. Consider feeling the firmness of sitting in a chair, while listening to music, while eating a snack, while watching the sunset, while thinking about work, while feeling tired and ready for bed.
Multiply that by infinity, and the fact that some aspects of divinity may be inconceivable to the human mind. This possibility leaves room for personal revelation to occur, as to understanding universal connectivity and consciousness.
The passageway to the safest, and most loving and secure room - leads to one's heart. It is in one's liberated heart-space where both the pure authentic self and God/Source, both reside and can be realized.
Fortunately for us in these challenging times, we can sing our way there, via sacred song and intention.
Props/Pranams to Jahnavi Harrison, for providing her inspirations online and in person.
Here is one of her offerings which started slowly, then ended up rocking the house.
*
**
Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7, Verses 3-8. describes the approach of perfection, the connection of different universal energies, and the practice of seeing divine presence energetically integrated in the world.
Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.
Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego—altogether these eight comprise My separated material energies.
Besides this inferior nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is a superior energy of Mine, which are all living entities who are struggling with material nature and are sustaining the universe.
Of all that is material and all that is spiritual in this world, know for certain that I am both its origin and dissolution.
O conquerer of wealth [Arjuna], there is no Truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.
O son of Kuntī [Arjuna], I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man.
Also from the Brahma Samhita, prayers to Govinda, Krishna
8) He is an undifferentiated entity as there is no distinction between potency and the possessor thereof.
In His work of creation of millions of worlds, His potency remains inseparable. All the universes exist in
Him and He is present in His fullness in every one of the atoms that are scattered throughout the
universe, at one and the same time. Such is the primeval Lord whom I adore.
**
Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7, Verses 3-8. describes the approach of perfection, the connection of different universal energies, and the practice of seeing divine presence energetically integrated in the world.
Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.
Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego—altogether these eight comprise My separated material energies.
Besides this inferior nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is a superior energy of Mine, which are all living entities who are struggling with material nature and are sustaining the universe.
Of all that is material and all that is spiritual in this world, know for certain that I am both its origin and dissolution.
O conquerer of wealth [Arjuna], there is no Truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.
O son of Kuntī [Arjuna], I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man.
Also from the Brahma Samhita, prayers to Govinda, Krishna
8) He is an undifferentiated entity as there is no distinction between potency and the possessor thereof.
In His work of creation of millions of worlds, His potency remains inseparable. All the universes exist in
Him and He is present in His fullness in every one of the atoms that are scattered throughout the
universe, at one and the same time. Such is the primeval Lord whom I adore.
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