Befriended Stranger

As I was listening to the volunteer curator at the Corcoran Gallery of Art today explain the process Chuck Close uses to create his prints, I was wondering what is art? Where does the line between art and manufacturing process lies…

Chuck Close Prints: Process and Collaboration from Corcoran Gallery of Art on Vimeo.

What is it that makes a piece of creativity more valuable than another? How do we select which moments to capture, store, and recycle in our collective memory? Indeed, Chuck Close recycles his own art, making each step, each iteration of the creative process original.

Maybe, art is when each glance we take at reality is unique.

Of course, words are labels; attempts to capture fleeting moments of life and put them into the box of something we think we can grasp. Then, how to label the repetition of painful experiences with no ability to see them in new light? Unart?

That is what I was wondering, later on, as I was watching Restrepo, the harrowing new documentary about a group of young U.S. Army soldiers in the Korangal Valley of Afghanistan. The camera takes you as close to the faces, and hearts, of these young man, as one could imagine. The loss of a friend, a brother in arms, is felt through words, images, silence, and sounds.

The movie starts with the beautiful Bulgarian folk song, “Izlel e Delyo Haidutin”, a choice which both delights and puzzles:

The memories of the soldiers, recycling the moments of fear, bravery, loss, and even fun, are art as well — painful art, reminding me of the precious fragility of life, making me appreciate the message of hope Shoghi Effendi conveys when writing about the unfolding new world order of Baha’u'llah:

National rivalries, hatreds, and intrigues will cease, and racial animosity and prejudice will be replaced by racial amity, understanding and cooperation. The causes of religious strife will be permanently removed, economic barriers and restrictions will be completely abolished, and the inordinate distinction between classes will be obliterated. Destitution on the one hand, and gross accumulation of ownership on the other, will disappear. The enormous energy dissipated and wasted on war, whether economic or political, will be consecrated to such ends as will extend the range of human inventions and technical development, to the increase of the productivity of mankind, to the extermination of disease, to the extension of scientific research, to the raising of the standard of physical health, to the sharpening and refinement of the human brain, to the exploitation of the unused and unsuspected resources of the planet, to the prolongation of human life, and to the furtherance of any other agency that can stimulate the intellectual, the moral, and spiritual life of the entire human race.

A world federal system, ruling the whole earth and exercising unchallengeable authority over its unimaginably vast resources, blending and embodying the ideals of both the East and the West, liberated from the curse of war and its miseries, and bent on the exploitation of all the available sources of energy on the surface of the planet, a system in which Force is made the servant of Justice, whose life is sustained by its universal recognition of one God and by its allegiance to one common Revelation — such is the goal towards which humanity, impelled by the unifying forces of life, is moving.
(Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha’u'llah, p. 204)

And Baha’u'llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Faith said:

We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations; yet they deem Us a stirrer up of strife and sedition worthy of bondage and banishment…. That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled — what harm is there in this?… Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the ‘Most Great Peace’ shall come…. Yet do We see your kings and rulers lavishing their treasures more freely on means for the destruction of the human race than on that which would conduce to the happiness of mankind…. These strifes and this bloodshed and discord must cease, and all men be as one kindred and one family…. Let not a man glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind….
(Baha’u'llah, The Proclamation of Baha’u'llah, p. viii)

When I was in the 7th grade, I dreamed of being a journalist and covering major events for the Bulgarian National TV. I would follow on a map the war between Iran and Iraq and “cover” it, in a brief summary, for my classmates. The way I perceived the world then, very much shaped by what I saw on TV and in my classroom, was about the nonsense of wars and the desire for peace. I could not have imagined then being part of the answer to humanity’s desperate call for peace.

For reasons that are of no consequence today, that same year I decided to switch my field of study from English language to… mathematics and computers. That was of course the end of my journalistic pursuits.

Today something I had always thought to be cool but impossible became a reality with practically no effort and a little help from Facebook. Last night I was asked for permission to use in an article by the Baha’i News Service the photos I had taken during the Atlanta Baha’i Conference. I gladly provided the high resolution version of the photos and the news editors chose to use eight of them for the article!

So, there you have it: I helped to cover a major historic event (and that conference was exactly that) for a major news organization (Baha’i News Service)!

A dream has come true — and all simply because I was obedient to the Universal House of Justice!

God is kind and glorious and His confirmations are pouring in. Thank you, Baha’u'llah, and thank you, dear Baha’i brothers and sisters!

Last night I hosted the commemoration of the Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha. Since getting people to come at 1am after Thanksgiving is probably unrealistic, I decided to host a Baha’i movie marathon.

We started by watching a gem I had been totally unaware of, a one man performance called “The Noble Thief”. This is a very touching story of spiritual transformation; a wonderful showcase of the convincing power of the arts. Since for the movie marathon Alissa let me use her video tape of “The Noble Thief”, I ordered my own DVD copy of the performance. I highly recommend it! I can’t wait to show it to the next seekers whose presence will blessed my home.

All I need to know about any place is whether there are people who have not yet heard of Baha’u'llah!

Next was the full length documentary “The Promise of All Ages”. it has a totally different mood than “The Noble Thief” — also professionally made but in the fashion of a History Channel program. A very informative and respectful portrait of the life of Baha’u'llah and the diversity of the community of His followers.

Since we still had some time until the start of the devotional program, we also watched “Pilgrimage: A Sacred Experience”,  a DVD which beautifully illustrates what happens during a Baha’i pilgrimage to the Holy Land, as expressed through visually-stunning vistas and the response of the pilgrims to being at the Most Holy Spot on Earth. Very appropriate for the closing of a Thanksgiving night, showing a different kind of pilgrims, and a different kind of pilgrimage.

Even though a few of the group of seven had fallen asleep, everybody was fully awake for the devotional program which we started with “Let All Associate” by New Creation:

Let all associate, therefore, in this great human garden even as flowers grow and blend together side by side without discord or disagreement between them.
(Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 68)

Around that time the clock showed 1 am, so a beautiful Arabic prayer by Shoghi Effendi was chanted by Ramin, followed by a selection of readings from the The Book of the Covenant of Baha’u'llah, the Covenant of Abdu’l-Baha and several of His tables, including His farewell talk given at the time of His departure from the United States:

These are the days of my farewell to you… I must, therefore, give you my instructions and exhortations today, and these are none other than the teachings of Bahá’u'lláh.

You must manifest complete love and affection toward all mankind. Do not exalt yourselves above others, but consider all as your equals, recognizing them as the servants of one God. Know that God is compassionate toward all; therefore, love all from the depths of your hearts, prefer all religionists before yourselves, be filled with love for every race, and be kind toward the people of all nationalities. Never speak disparagingly of others, but praise without distinction. Pollute not your tongues by speaking evil of another. Recognize your enemies as friends, and consider those who wish you evil as the wishers of good. You must not see evil as evil and then compromise with your opinion, for to treat in a smooth, kindly way one whom you consider evil or an enemy is hypocrisy, and this is not worthy or allowable. You must consider your enemies as your friends, look upon your evil-wishers as your well-wishers and treat them accordingly. Act in such a way that your heart may be free from hatred. Let not your heart be offended with anyone. If some one commits an error and wrong toward you, you must instantly forgive him. Do not complain of others. Refrain from reprimanding them, and if you wish to give admonition or advice, let it be offered in such a way that it will not burden the bearer. Turn all your thoughts toward bringing joy to hearts. Beware! Beware! lest ye offend any heart. Assist the world of humanity as much as possible. Be the source of consolation to every sad one, assist every weak one, be helpful to every indigent one, care for every sick one, be the cause of glorification to every lowly one, and shelter those who are overshadowed by fear.

In brief, let each one of you be as a lamp shining forth with the light of the virtues of the world of humanity. Be trustworthy, sincere, affectionate and replete with chastity. Be illumined, be spiritual, be divine, be glorious, be quickened of God, be a Bahá’í.
(Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 452)

We concluded with a reading of Abdu’l-Baha’s Visitation Tablet (Whoso recitheth this prayer with lowliness and fervor will bring gladness and joy to the heart of this Servant; it will be even as meeting Him face to face) and a marvelous recording of the angelic vocal trio SKY (Shirin, Karen, Yasmin) set to these words of Abdu’l-Baha:

Love is the light that guideth in darkness, the living link that uniteth God with man, that assureth the progress of every illumined soul.
(Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 27)

SKY’s CD aptly named “A Cycle of Divine Love Songs” deserves a full review. Let me for now just briefly state that it is among the most beautiful Baha’i music I have ever heard! Buy it and enjoy it!

Ever since I went to Bulgaria I have been contemplating on the question of what is authentic in me. The question was inspired by the observation of how much I fluctuated depending on who I was around. That was particularly obvious when I was around old friends who were not fully familiar with the meaning of the Baha’i Faith in my life. But that was also obvious from contemplating the differences that sometimes occur in my thinking and behavior depending on whether I am among people or on my own. So, I feel, this question, of finding the authentic me, is of paramount importance for my healing and spiritual growth.

Last night I started reading a fabulous book, “Big Mind / Big Heart“, which talks about the disowned voices we have hidden deep in our subconscious because they talk of things we are not proud of — I sure have a lot of those voices. The ability to embrace them is a key to giving them voice in a healthy way. But the book talks also about other voices of which we might not be aware — the voices that speak of something bigger than we limit ourselves to be.

This morning I woke up from a series of dreams which spoke to me of being embraced in the love and grace of God; which gave examples of strength and courage — an austrian swimmer champion in the Olympics who had only one arm (?!), and which sent me a message that a friend who wants and wills to help me has arrived in Arlington. I can’t shake the feeling of joy that sense of being immersed in God’s mercy!

So, now I am getting ready to go back to the Arlington County Fair where I went last night to be at the Baha’i booth with another wonderful friend. At some point I wandered around checking other exhibitors and then saw the competition tables — of vegetables grown, of jams canned, and of photographs taken by Arlingtonians — and I realized that I too, could participate in these competitions. The zucchini I grew were at least as big as the winner; the sour cherry jam is probably not much worse than those shown on the winners’ table; as for my photography, who knows, I am new in it but surely willing to learn.

This all takes me back to the question of the authentic self. It seems to me I have limited my perception of who I am for such a long time that it has been disservice to both myself and my creator. Time to say hello to the world. World, say hello to Mitko

O God, Who art the Author of all Manifestations, the Source of all Sources, the Fountain-Head of all Revelations, and the Well-Spring of all Lights! I testify that by Thy Name the heaven of understanding hath been adorned, and the ocean of utterance hath surged, and the dispensations of Thy providence have been promulgated unto the followers of all religions.

I beseech Thee so to enrich me as to dispense with all save Thee, and be made independent of any one except Thyself. Rain down, then, upon me out of the clouds of Thy bounty that which shall profit me in every world of Thy worlds. Assist me, then, through Thy strengthening grace, so to serve Thy Cause amidst Thy servants that I may show forth what will cause me to be remembered as long as Thine own kingdom endureth and Thy dominion will last.

This is Thy servant, O my Lord, who with his whole being hath turned unto the horizon of Thy bounty, and the ocean of Thy grace, and the heaven of Thy gifts. Do with me then as becometh Thy majesty, and Thy glory, and Thy bounteousness, and Thy grace.

Thou, in truth, art the God of strength and power, Who art meet to answer them that pray Thee. There is no God save Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

(Baha’u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha’u'llah, p. 59)

Last night I attended a thought-provoking discussion on what hinders our ability to build capacity — spiritual, mental, intellectual. The brief answer was: a power struggle. I was reflecting on the self-prejudice we subconsciously impose on our inability to recognize our inner wisdom and inner value.

Today, I read a most intriguing interview with a very interesting and talented artist, Ivan Lloyd:

I read an interview with John McLaughlin, the jazz guitarist, where he said that when he got on stage before an audience he strove to achieve a mental state where he was in total communion with God before beginning the performance. He said success with such a mental state was rare but achievable. Is this the same thing as your “familiar space”?

I can’t say it’s like that for me, because improvising as a painter differs from the precision demanded of musicians. It’s more about warming up as I proceed to work. For the first half-hour I’m dealing with that conversation in my head, you know, that inner voice that brays like a parent. Instead of trying to suppress the dialogue I let it ramble on until I don’t listen anymore. About the same time, my brush strokes become automatic and there’s an inner peace. That state of being has little do with identity, let’s say, me the composer, or me the artist. On the contrary! The thought process is more of an intellectual hindrance to the creative process. Rather than impose my imagery on the canvas, I strive to be an instrument, or conduit, for images to manifest from another plane, in spite of my ego. It’s a fluid organic process and from that point of view it is that “familiar space,” that inner sanctum, if you will.

In that case you would advocate artists should practice some form of mental exercise or yoga as a way to silence the babbling that goes on in the mind; babbling which interferes with the creative process?
The creative process is so uniquely individual, each person approaches it differently. I don’t recommend yoga or mental exercises to quieten that babbling brook we call the thought process. You can’t silence or subdue this phenomena without concentrated breathing exercises, leading to deep meditation, which implies shutting down the senses to outside stimuli, in which case you’d be in no condition to paint. The painting process in itself is good enough therapy, and letting go of preconceived ideas is helpful in achieving the same results, without meditation.

So, I am reflecting on the power struggle between the mind and the heart… Indeed, the way to win this battle is to let go of the battle. Because, as the presenter last night paraphrased the Buddha, “The moment you thought you’ve got it, you’ve lost it”.