beginners mind

By Martin Leland Benson

I feel the distinct weight of the palette knife in my hand, the subtle vibrations of my own breath, and the vividness of color rushing toward my eyes. The nuances of texture and glare smear left and right as I peer deeply into the paint, seeking something unknown to my intellect and yet so clearly to some other part of my mind. Perhaps it's the omniscience of my heart, my soul, or my intuition. I like to view all three as different expressions of the same quality of awareness that rests beyond my ego. Through patience, calmness, and complete attention I find the ability to uncover some part of me that's stable, everlasting, and fully at ease. Yet, as fast as I can step into this quality of being, I can be taken out equally as fast by the onslaught of thoughts rushing back into my mind. My commitment to this awareness practice, which comes from Buddhist teaching, is a useful method which can help me cultivate a deeper and longer lasting connection with this essential ground of who I know myself to be. The more I practice, the deeper I connect and the longer I can remain immersed in the mystery of each moment. However, it is an ongoing battle for me to maintain such a practice, especially in the wake of our digital culture. I find myself consumed by glowing screens, enticed by social media, bombarded with text alerts, and a slave to my email. At a certain level I view my artwork as an expression of this struggle for balance between the natural and digital along with the internal and external worlds that I occupy

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1835202233
• ISBN13: 9781835202234
• Release Date: June 2023
• Publisher: Remod
• Length: 52 Pages
• Weight: 0.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"