Meditation in Action: Contemplative Arts

Meditation in action, I always liked the sound of that but couldn’t quite envision what it meant. Does walking meditation count? After a bit I came to understand that certain activities have a natural predilection towards a meditative state due to the requirement of focus. Arts such as flower arranging, photography and writing all require the practitioner to attain a focused mind before, during and upon completion of the action.

The creative process is akin to the act of meditation, you start out by taking your seat, then as you meditate ideas arise and take shape, you can accept or reject these ideas until the moment when a crystallization takes place. In Shambhala Art there is a saying “First thought, best thought”, it refers to that process of creation, from the depths arises a concept then with a meditative mind the wispy concept becomes form and through the act of creation the final form radiates energy.

Here at Palm Beach Shambhala we offer an opportunity for members and nonmembers alike to practice meditation in action, every third Wednesday of the month after our evening open sit we have a Sogetzu Ikebana class. Ikebana is a Japanese form of flower arranging and Sogetzu is one type of style, it incorporates the meditative mind to create floral scenes by following a prescribed form, the results are often stunning, radiating energy. There is a twofold impact if successful, the arrangement adds ambiance to the room and it acts as a harbinger to awaken the viewer.

A recent addition to the Palm Beach Shambhala offerings is Nalanda Miksang: Contemplative Photography Club; a small group of photo enthusiasts meet at a new location every third Saturday of the month (weather permitting), each shoot has a theme and the participants utilize their meditative mind to identify and unfold a moment through the camera’s lens, filling the frame. The practice is fun and can be surprising, the camera captures the reality of the moment and not necessarily what is seen by the photographer.

If you have an inclination towards creativity and a desire to learn how to be more meditative in daily life then you may wish to explore these offering, you may find out more by visiting the Palm Beach Shambhala website at http://palmbeach.shambhala.org/ongoing-offerings/

Palm Beach Shambhala would like to thank Lenore Montalbano for her thoughts on Contemplative arts and the Miksang group for their beautiful images.