Unconsciously Conscious

bakedwaffle — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:22:11 +0000

If you unconsciously live a conscious life, you can never be poor. We tend to measure ourselves against conditioned references connected to past experiences and judgments. These experiences determine what we think about ourselves and how we view the world around us. This constant measuring distracts us from the present moment.

This moment should be our entire reference point. Everything that is subject to arising is subject to cessation and it is in this moment that everything changes and transpires. Our minds can never be rich with life if we continue to unconsciously walk away from the now. We are always walking towards something.

How much concern do we place on our internal world? If our external world is full of chaos and stress, how can we also live an inwardly peaceful and rich life? How do we find a balance between the two? It is in our careful choices and conscious experience that we can find balance. Our experience of the external world may be a slight reflection of our internal state of mind. Whether that be with exercise, inward reflection, writing, painting… we must strive to live more present and fully awakened inward lives. All the wealth is in the willingness.

How can we unconsciously transition into living a conscious life? It’s a question of surrender rather than transition – an adjustment in our perception of the world around us. By surrendering selfishness we cultivate generosity. By surrendering all of the conditioned references from our external world, we cultivate consciousness. Start by consciously enjoying today – you are on your way to living an inward life full of wealth and abundance.

Figures Taking Action

bakedwaffle — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:33:24 +0000

As adults, we tend to develop habits that limit the range of what we think is possible in our lives. In order to combat this tendency- we must boost creativity by doing something spontaneous, ideally every day. I’m not supporting reckless behavior, but rather encouraging the development of an almost “childlike” state of mind. Embrace the non-ego threatening but creative boosting quirks and items that add to your personality and cover your desk – whether that be riding a bike outside, hanging an abstract painting, or keeping action figurines on the shelf.

Seth Godin, a nationally renowned successful entrepreneur and recent featured Behance speaker argues that in order to survive today, you “must be an artist, investing emotionally in what you do.” He attributes success to the quieting of what he calls the ‘lizard brain.’ The lizard brain is the voice inside our heads that says something won’t work – it is the anxiety and fear of failure that keeps most of us from fulfilling our goals, taking risks, or starting something new. Godin argues that in order to be successful and follow through with our ideas, we must come up with a way to quiet this lizard brain and take action. As children, this part of our brain is very quiet and grows louder with age.

With a childlike state of mind, you have a better chance at succeeding in your endeavors because you won’t be focusing solely on potential failures or monetary recognition. So take a chance with your idea, act on your creative thoughts, and most importantly – whatever you do, do it without first asking for a raise or focusing on a profit. Over time, you will become a better artist and person, quieting your fears and making a difference.

After all, if you’re not failing at something, you’re just not taking enough action. If you’re not taking action, you won’t allow yourself the chance to succeed either.

Whales in Cubicles

bakedwaffle — Sat, 29 May 2010 16:43:01 +0000

What are you paying for when you pay for an education? …that depends on what you expect to gain from receiving one. Of course when you are the parent paying for the education- you rightly want to see that money translate into a high paying career for your student- perhaps leading into something traditionally promising such as medicine or law. But what if you paid for something that transcends money- that cannot be measured in dimes?

A liberal arts education gives you a priceless gift – teaching you to become a student of life – a purchase that pays back for a lifetime. You don’t have to pursue a traditional career or write a Times bestseller. You must simply make a decision to keep your eyes open and mind expanded in whatever you do.

If you do not see an opportunity lying around, make one. If you have gone unnoticed, make yourself noticeable and noteworthy. An education gives you the knowledge to think on your feet, explore areas beyond what is in front of you, and venture into uncharted territory previously unknown to you before – living your life as a constant learner- a forever student.

When we find ourselves not changing the aspects of our lives that we do not like, we are usually spending too much time focusing on what we cannot change, rather than focusing on what we can change. Change what you can and always be on watch for new ideas and adventures to write in the pages of your life book. In the words of singer/songwriter Andrew Bird, a liberal arts education – (if used wisely) might rescue you from spending your long life as just another whale in a cubicle.

Living to Feel Alive

bakedwaffle — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 12:29:26 +0000

We live to feel alive. Speeding to feel the risk of breaking a law, gambling to question stability, drinking to hinder our inhibitions, and building our finances to gain control. Greed and lust are two of the most prominent sensations that drive us as a society and contribute significantly to this nation’s economic stability. Sensations are what we live for. We live for heightened emotions, intense feelings, pleasurable moments, and self gratification. But are these sensations what we live for? Or are our sensations controlling how we live- almost taking over our lives?

The expression “I want to feel alive again” usually precedes the act of some extreme sensational, adrenaline driven activity. So much of the sensations that drive our day are empty, dragging us into our own suffering. The factor of sensation will always be in the equation of human consciousness- however, we can work toward obtaining consciousness that transcends the realm of sole sensation. When we cling to the existence of things, the gratification of actions- this gives rise to an endless chain of clinging, clinging that is bound to transparent satisfaction- branded together by our own self inflicted affliction. We are never satisfied.

We cannot remove ourselves from this human equation and it is difficult to break the links that make up this chain- but we should reevaluate what types of sensations are driving us to live. Run to feel your legs move beneath you, climb to stretch the muscles in your back, scream to feel the veins in your neck tighten, and stand in the sun to feel the heat open your every pore.

Commitment to Win

bakedwaffle — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:59:44 +0000

What nearly kills us – might make us substantially stronger. Three years after his diagnosis with testicular cancer, Lance Armstrong was back on his bike to win the ’99 Tour de France. A whopping ten years later, he is still competing in the Tour. So- why are some of us fixed with a longer-lasting durability than others & a greater sense of self-efficacy? Most modern day psychologists would attribute these qualities to a stressful childhood- requiring the person to activate the switch to self-reliance long before reaching adulthood. Or perhaps the opposite could be true- something more basic as maintaining the mindset of a child and demonstrating a basic, pure awareness helps the person stay ‘young at heart’.

Dancing between the fine lines of jealousy can also aid us in our courageous endeavors- maintaining a dimly lit fire of wanting something deeply is good to keep us moving- but too much distraction can ignite the flames that burn us- almost to the point of giving up. Either way, as your own bike tires crunch atop a gravel trail moving beneath you- pulling intrigue from all aspects of life helps to maintain motivation for any single activity.

Although I have never owned the continuously popular “Live Strong” yellow bracelet – there are few times I go for a run or ride without my less popular “Commit to Win” blue bracelet- to remind myself with most simple fashion to always commit to any action, whether I win or lose. The old Chinese military proverb – “the more we sweat in training, the less we bleed in battle” is a lesson we can take from any survivor. We must strive to view the adversity we experience as an opportunity for new growth- for commitment- for triumph in our own Tour de Life. •

© Baked Waffle •

Intoxicating Air

bakedwaffle — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 01:18:48 +0000

Life activates from breath. Our bodies rely on tiny unconscious respirations of air for survival. Just a few moments of conscious breathing can set the mind at ease, release built tension in the muscle, and generate strength to ascend from the core. Vocal lessons and teachings of Zen Masters such as Ven Gunaratana have inspired the breath inside the body to be likened to a bagpipe. Air- drawn into the nasal pipes, pinching the throat to expand the lungs, swelling the diaphragm- and finally clenching the abdomen until uplifting release. Proper breathing sets the mind at ease and spawns a strength that glides the body through any activity.

For some, music has called us into existence since our earliest memory and has always been our first love. If likened to psychological romantic love, popular music might be argued to encompass a similar cognitive ignorance- however; neither can be calculated as correct nor incorrect-there are no rules. A chord so radiant can almost deceive the ear with its alluring beauty, leaving the senses with a lingering insatiable craving for more.

A classic 80’s rock ballad is popular for an early morning energetic jog…but for some- the symphonic magnificence of Handel’s Coronation Anthem Zadok the Priest can drive motivation to greater depths than any popular rock tune. I am reminded of my first days of undergraduate- the beginning audition into the college choir requiring a brief solo reading of this anthem. I was faced with a choice- practice alone in the music hall or attend most tempting sorority rush events. Now this quiet balancing act has passed- my vocal chords have taken a great rest as the piano collects dust. And although my dreamy days of personifying Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Christine’ on stage are far behind me- my awareness of the breath and admiration for music will know no end.

If the opposite of delusion is wisdom- the effective brilliance of music must remain outside of the illusory realm. As humans we pursue something real to stand the test of time – we are constantly partaking on a quest for such value. Escaping beyond speakers and outside vocal warm-ups- whether inside the dream realm or within an earthly reality- music is most effective when the visions and fantasies become real. •

Personal Samples Recorded in 2005;

© Baked Waffle •

Politicking Judicious Design

bakedwaffle — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 02:00:18 +0000

Design represents the interconnectedness of the universe; forms existing within a space that is indeterminate. The Constructivist art movement of the twentieth century gave rise to a united formal and ideological expression. This movement expanded the definition of an artist and what an artist could do.

In particular, the artist El Lissitzky helped initiate the movement when he broke away from traditional painting methods and began to experiment with typography and graphics. Exchanging ideas with Kazimir Malevich at the Vitebsk Popular Art School, Lissitzky began to form relationships between architecture and graphics. In the 1920’s Lissitzky gave up painting to favor the study of typography and design. According to practitioners, these forms held the purest non-objective abstraction. Modern design posters were originally used to express an idea or make a statement without the necessity of text. Initially, this concept was brilliant in reaching the most illiterate populations. The design movement aimed to link art with industry and technology. The artist was respected as not only a painter, but thought of as an engineer. For these emerging Russian artists, abstraction of forms was a way to convey utopian values. The art was an affirmation of human creativity not going to destruction. The movement also called for collage materials, the incorporation of drawings, paintings, and printmaking- a unification of artistic creativity. Criticism came from the argument that the art was more engineered rather than drawn.

I argue that Lissitzky and his counterparts expanded the definition of Art and what an artist can be. Art is about a response to surroundings and thoughts- therefore, it is necessary to expand on ideas and embrace technology in order to live within a modern world. In some sense, the thinking artist is able to legitimize his craft through the intellectual process of design.

The Hungarian artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy once spoke, “The technician has his machine at hand: satisfaction of the needs of the moment. But basically much more; he is the pioneer of the new social stratification; he paves the way for the future.”[1] •

[1] Margolin, Victor. The struggle for utopia : Rodchenko, Lissitzky, Moholy-Nagy. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago P, 1997.

Paying Dues to Attention

bakedwaffle — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:02:56 +0000

Out of practice, out of habit. We spend our days collecting pounds of trash to store inside our wandering minds. Passing the hours practicing habits- how many years of repetition will it take until we realize what we are doing? We are just getting by. Sure, our lives look great to the outsider- we’ve got it all figured out. We hide our mess wonderfully- perfecting our charming good looks & draping our bodies in expensive clothing – occasional nights out with friends and trips to the shrink keep things “in line.” But have you ever longed for a way to experience life more fully? We drive our minds around until we sense that something might be wrong…never checking if our parts need a good tune up until we find ourselves on the side of the road.

Imagine friends laughing at a party- the noise of each competing voice rising in volume. Envision a man taking a noisy subway to work- tuning into his cellular world for distraction. Does anyone really relax?

We have prepared verbal responses to every question- fixed emotional cues to cover every situation. We have built an entire culture around faking it- talking over the noise & not really grasping the change that is incessant. Sure you can allow your mind to ‘rest’- letting it slowly dissolve into a mindless television program or take it out to party where it won’t be of use. But what if we didn’t allow our minds to be controlled from the outside and instead let our mental grasping to release by controlling our minds from within? Most of our perceived ‘happiness’ is a direct result of a drive that has been satisfied and initially relieved- until the drive rises again in some other unsatisfied form. We are pursuing gratification rather than genuine happiness.

We polish our shoes, go to work and attend the occasional weekend party, but we don’t have to plan our “permanent” future around it. Our culture just might be shining our superficial shoes for us- and we never bother looking down to dismiss the offer. Of course we cannot abandon our place within society or our duties as part of the human race. We must keep working- but we can find rest within ourselves through the cultivation of a well-disciplined mind. A mind that is conscious, full of ‘Bhavana ‘- a mind that cultivates awareness and relaxation. Release voracious cravings and start a ‘Visuddhimagga’, a journey of purification worth taking. Mental awareness helps us prepare for this trip worth planning. ‘Vipassana’- or Insight Meditation- leads us into a cave of the nature of reality- and if we travel and dig long enough- a cave that opens into an endless waterfall of release and contentment.

Cut habits by first sharpening your mind to the point of a chiseled sword. The Eastern Dhammapada meditative text teaches, “What you are now is the result of what you were were. What you will be tomorrow will be the result of what you are now.” Abandoning compulsiveness, you will be able to observe every action. Observing within the participatory realm, transcending the egotistical dimension and investigating the reality.

No ‘thing’ endures- but if you begin early, the richness of discovery may linger throughout the remainder of your splendid and humbling life. A new and very real gusto for living will arise- bringing a sense of completeness with every awing or petty action. Taking out the trash is a vexing task- but a habitual chore that can lead to an ultimate transformation. Keep just one sheet of paper in the bin- your own investigative manual, a manual to a life worth paying attention to- a manual to live by for a life worth living. •

Don’t take my word for it- practice the experience for yourself.

Scaling Mountains

bakedwaffle — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:04:14 +0000

We do the most growing when we are busy shrinking. Although I am thinking this while slipped into a Nanette Lepore dress & Kate Spades, sipping crisp champagne inside the luxury district of Vancouver… I would most eagerly strap on my Tenba & Tevas- to set foot up a mountain trail. As our ego dissolves, shrinks- abandons pricey labels and job titles – soaking in criticisms of the past and re-bandaging old wounds- we are able to shrink the self. Even at our lowest points, we can crawl out to experience new growth of understanding.

Time & miles traveled later- I find myself mid-way into the hike I had been daydreaming about days before. I sit to inhale the fresh air, pulling out my camera to do some conscious thinking. Just me & the Mountain- so I thought. Minutes later I observe a small shadow creeping up from below the curves of the mountains’ face- a man dragging his bike over the steep dirt. Once he reaches me, he turns to look down- dropping his bike for a much needed rest. Grinning while taking off his helmet- the biker looks to me and says -“I don’t recommend this to everyone.” I reply with a smile.

What might have been full of an awkward “silence” – resolves into a beautiful, understood quiet of appreciation for nature. Twenty minutes brushes away – he turns to shake my hand with the words “Aye, great to see ya up here- hope ya get some nice shots.” With equal nods- we part ways. Shrinking in view – with each step moving up a vast mountain.

As the sun begins to welcome dusk- I turn to observe the view on Blackcomb. No matter how far down the mountain we settle, we can always climb back up. •

Justice For All

bakedwaffle — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:09:01 +0000

“Sometimes people come into our lives and we are never ever the same.” The painted text drips over an old picture frame next to my uncle’s bed. Inside the frame holds a photograph of a past lover- a love that once thrived for a moment so brief but vanished from neglect and was slowly lost.

In his early twenties, my uncle suffered from a brain tumor that has left him handicap for the majority of his life- and of course, unable to wed. Now forty-eight, two photos remain upon his nightstand- the photo of his true love and another photograph of myself, age 5. Throughout his years of suffering, my grandparents have vowed an unconditional love to care for him. Unable to complete most mundane tasks with independence, he requires constant care. His body has failed him and his speech decreases with the days passing. Often fighting with gravity- he is constantly falling to the ground. My father’s younger days of bench pressing short over five hundred pounds has been put to a greater use beyond the growth of his ego. When I visit home, the tears that swell in his eyes and the muttered words he speaks to me voice years of entrapment and love. A connection has remained between us that is not based upon the physical or simple- but a connection that requires little effort and grasps an unspoken bond.

Entrapment inside the body- inside the mind. Fortunately not everyone suffers from illness in this particular form, but the lesson to be learned is invaluable. If you have a voice, speak it. If you have a mind, free it. If you have a body, move it. Fill your house with a sweltering love that cannot be extinguished by the bonds of guilt and questions of injustice. The above words come alive to me more than ever before. Uncle Bryan has come into my life and I have never, ever been the same. •