Perhaps, the Art in Writing invents in soulful collaboration. For me, it does through my invaluable friend, John, who often asks, “What the hell, are you talking about?” That’s my best friend. He’s my social conscience, my rock.
John and I have been friends for over 40 years, going way back to 10th-grade homeroom. He is a great friend and even a greater man, whose insight is wise and priceless. Aside from being brilliant, funny, and of good character, John possesses a defining eloquence I admire, greatly.
John and I explored an idea of mine that underlies the concept of mastery: We aim to become the “empty vessel,” giving away all that we have been gifted. When we pass from this life, we would have given away all the knowledge and wisdom others have bestowed upon us, what we, ourselves, created as our own Art.
“Give it all away.” Really?
Sure, you can withhold the profound lessons you’ve learned in life. You can hold on to the wisdom you’ve acquired, as you breathe your last breath…but that’s not wisdom. Nor is that useful. Authentic wisdom provokes and fosters the “greater than” within others. Ultimately, by passing on your ‘gifts’, you help others become more than they know themselves to be.
John wrote:
“I like that concept of the empty vessel that remains after you give away what you’ve received and what you created. My take is that if we create Art, it is the product of us and all of those who came before us. They passed down their knowledge and passion so that the core Art lives on, while also staying relevant to each generation. Purists may not like it but that’s the only way for the Art to stay alive. It needs to connect to each new generation so that there will be new people to carry on. Otherwise, it dies. Dead Art is like a prehistoric cave painting—merely an artifact that tells us precious little of the practice and philosophy that made it possible and gave it meaning for its creators.”
John expresses the bigger picture. ‘Art’ is art, in its generational relevance, creating the context in which people live their lives and are inspired.
In my martial arts training over the years, I’ve experienced all kinds of Aikido. Some good. Some bad. And a lot in between. I distinctly viewed the different styles of Aikido through Sensei Dan’s discerning lens: It’s gotta work! In martial arts, Art must have utility: It must get the job done.
In the end, utility is purpose. Sensei would constantly remind me of that through his words and intentions, regardless of style or personality. “Making it work” is the invention in the journey.
I’d participate in Aikido seminars and do what that Sensei instructed. Doing so, I thought, “This crap isn’t going to work!” Often, I’d complain to Sensei Dan about the fact that everyone’s Aikido was so different. Frankly, in my opinion, some of it was plain BS.
As he usually did, Sensei smiled. He told me had Aikido Founder O-Sensei been alive today, his Aikido would look differently, too. It wouldn’t look like anything that existed back in his day. O-Sensei would have evolved and recreated his Aikido, his Art, over time. I gather he would have also recreated himself during that process, which is another purpose of Aikido training: the reinvention of self.
We create our lives as Art. Yet, for Art to be true to itself, it must also be relevant and accessible to others. Then, perhaps, they can take whatever they find of value and recreate it as their own, perpetuating it throughout the coming generations.
I recreate and reinvent my Art to be relevant, to “make it work.” Art in Life is constantly evolving, constantly transforming itself. Like John says, if we don’t evolve, we lose the value of those who came before us – what they intended. Art created without relevance becomes nothing more than a ‘relic’ like one of those ancient paintings on a cave wall.
The context of Art is relevance. It recreates value for those who will come after us, honoring those who came before us. Sensei would often say to me, “You don’t have to do it (technique) like I do. Make it work for you.” Only then can we give it all away.
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