Make art as precise and technically correct as you want, but IT MUST MOVE OTHERS (well at least yourself).  

If it doesn’t, then that “art” is simply a monument to the picked over bones of “doctrine” and “tradition.”

The blinder among us tend to declare the Dreamers to be fools (and they’re right in some cases), but ironically, they can’t see that we Dreamers are simply looking for Truth in a place that scares them:  within our own minds.  

Trippy.  😉

Cliches aren’t meant to spoon-feed us knowledge; they’re meant to be dusted off, examined, and reiterated so we human mouthpieces can keep that wisdom fresh.  

THAT’S how we access timeless wisdom—not by adoring it, but by dancing and freestyling with it.  😀

Reality may actually be a hologram/simulation board game created by [the divine].  On bending it:  we’ve all heard of great enlightened masters who knead existence like putty, but that requires the ballsiness to whittle egoic impurities down to a shred.  As they become closer to divinity, they become more “restricted” to the three nondualistic activities:  loving/laughing/dreaming.  

The other way to bend reality is to play the board game of illusory dualities (society/anarchy, good/evil, honor/villainy).  The more dualities we introduce, the more “rules” we need to invent (etiquette/discipline/motive/etc.) to navigate the board.

 Anyways, I sure as hell am no saint.  I and most of you are on one of an infinity of board games and there’s nothing wrong with that—because we’re still loved by [the divine].  Lets enjoy the hell out of playing “The Game.”  😉

Pick whatever method you want—meditation/prayer/yogas and their preparatory physical exercises…and yes, if done right, even psychedelics—but IMHO, a real spiritual experience should infuse every tired religious/positive thinking cliches with undeniably vivid life (because we know they’re true, it’s just that sometimes the people who say them are super annoying).  It is also our responsibility to BRING SOMETHING BACK from that experience—to strive to find new ways to iterate and channel that ineffability.  But if you don’t, then it’s still TOTALLY OKAY.  

(Because a real spiritual experience assures you that in the end, it’s all good.  😉 )

While it’s uncomfortable as hell (literally, because you explore structures that can lead you into “hell”) it pays to investigate yourself as ruthlessly as possible.  From a purely functional perspective, this practice will build awareness of which cravings/aversions are traps laid by the ego.  

Once you’re aware of these traps, you’ll be able to enjoy existence more…without so much of the nagging from unexplored baggage.  

Motivation out of discomfort/necessity is an animalistic operating system.  Motivation through ideals /desires is a human operating system, and acting impeccably without any “motivation” whatsoever is approaching the realm of divinity.  

(As far as what’s beyond “motivation,” I leave that for the individual to decide) 😉

IMHO, art is about self-expression…BUT.  That’s not its true purpose.  Its true purpose is to deliver a ready-made reality into the audience’s mind with such clarity and power that their heart cannot help but lift, the mind cannot help but spark, and the blood cannot help but rush.  Do I feel nice after I write?  Yeah…but the reason I edit so much is because (ultimately) it’s not about me.  

Ultimately, I’m trying to make it an act of service.

In order to realize and transmit Truth, the artist must constantly—CONSTANTLY—be merciless with him/herself; s/he must hunt ignorance…butcher it swiftly and skillfully so that the choicest cuts of knowledge may be served to his/her audience…before time and culture make the meat go rancid.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking an external teacher or a great comrade.  But I have become convinced that over the course of our lives, we aren’t meant to depend on the indefinite presence of others.  In the end, we are meant to be our own harsh-as-hell taskmasters, as well as our own best friends.

(I also believe that when that happens, we ironically become the best possible teachers and companions to others…without even intending it.  😉  )