Work as Meditation
Meditation is code for focus.
Focus is code for flow.
That means all creative work is a meditation.
In order to do this work we have to tap into the same skills that a monk works to cultivate. This involves training the mind to cooperate with the body.
The word yoga refers to this union, connection or bonding.
Because when everything is in sync you are connected back to the life force that pooped you out into the world.
“Pay attention to the quality of the breath”, is a phrase I’ve heard before in classes. But it only made sense to me when I heard Eckhart Tolle talk about how he doesn’t sit down to meditate every day like you would expect him to.
He is more interested in going about his business like everyone else does, and then taking three mindful breaths every now and then to re-establish a connection back to the router.
By this token, it’s not about sitting at your instrument for exactly 30 minutes each day to tick off the box that you played.
It’s about the quality of your focus when you sit at the instrument.
I would rather have five minutes of solid playing time, rather than one hour of panicked, jumbled rehearsal.