The Artist of Life
Posted by CharlesApr 12
“Experience is the artist’s most valuable canvas.”
“Knowledge is power; but power unrelenting if not guided by wisdom.”
“Wisdom is the currency of experience.”
I’ve come to find in this tantric life that knowledge isn’t everything. Building a vast library of information that can be used in most situations is nothing less than a well-equipped tool box. The carpenter in we all can appreciate the fact that he has this at his disposal. However, the problem exists when you consider the fact that knowledge and information alone are relatively useless. Consider how difficult it would be to convince someone to believe what you were saying about a particular subject if you were the resident expert, yet you didn’t have the required people skills to relate and relay to this person. Consider also the flipside – where you possess the ability to convey, yet don’t have the information or knowledge to actually inform. Neither of these situations are desirable. I believe somewhere in the middle ground, where a person possesses the knowledge and the social skills necessary, is the goal.
The rather successful author and private speaker, Stephen Covey said in his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” He lists this as one of said habits. These words speak to me because true communication is a method of extracting from the soil of experience the nutrient that is wisdom. In this way, wisdom is the currency of experience. Because there are such an infinite number of methods of gaining knowledge and wisdom from experience, there must also be varying degrees of one’s ability to do so. First, you have the majority, which remains content absorbing the necessary nutrients for survival, striving only for excellence periodically and at random. This large body also seems to dip down into a reticent, self-proclaimed purposelessness at times as well. It is because of this that the majority seem to encompass the largest cross-section of human abilities.
Next, you find a small group of individuals that do not seem to have the will to accomplish or to understand. Of course, there are varying reasons for this that are as individualistic as the snowflakes in winter. Their lack of this type of motivation is often extremely difficult to comprehend by anyone outside of the actual situation they face. Many of this type of people begin to gain experience and wisdom, as we all do, regardless of the lack of attempts made. This simple fact proves that the human mind and conscious is built for expansion.
Lastly, you have the zealous, ever-curious group that feels it is their purpose in life to understand everything possible. If you knew you could not fail, what would you do? This question drives a certain flight through the clouds, seeking the knowledge and wisdom that appears to be infinite there in the sky. This type of person usually knows how to be appreciative of past achievements, yet is never fully satisfied. Their insatiable appetite for these “nutrients from the soil of experience” pushes onward the bounds of human capability.
It is the understanding of the link between wisdom and experience that I seek. A person’s ability to take experience, which is a factor of time, and extract from it the necessary tools for survival. Then, after survival is at least partially quenched, to drive on for something more – the balance of such knowledge and wisdom that allows a person to be forever at home wherever he/she is, no matter what he/she is doing, and with whatever crowd or vastness of space he/she finds as company. This person becomes the artist of their own life, drawing the most breathtaking of pictures for the world to see. It is that artist’s experience that becomes his/her most valuable canvas.
6 comments
Comment by Nick on April 12, 2009 at 5:31 PM
You have the heart of a teacher. Your insights of human nature and your analogies bear this out. There are teachers that just read from a book. A good teacher uses their experience to convey a lesson. A great teacher will motivate you to experience life. You fall in that last category. Too many people sleep walk through life. They don’t have the eyes of a child to see the wonders that are around them. What would our world be like with out consciousness, human or non human. The act of creation, which to me is a mystery, is the pinnacle of experience. Truly something God-like. What talents are being wasted because people either won’t take the time or don’t take the time to develop them. Life is a canvas waiting for each of us to paint ourselves on it.
Comment by Charles on April 13, 2009 at 9:36 AM
Thank you, Nick. Your words are encouraging. I haven’t ever considered myself a teacher, but I do find myself wanting to encourage people to learn, which verifies what you’ve written. Very cool. Again, thanks. You write about wasted talents. I’m reminded of a saying which I believe a scientist (cannot remember whom) said, “If we all did what we were capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.” Really, the best thing possible for us to do, I believe, is to do everything WE can, then help the people around us to become everything THEY can. Life is a canvas. Life is a canvas.
Comment by ChayNichole on April 13, 2009 at 4:20 PM
I enjoy reading what you write Charles, it is exactly the way you speak on a daily basis. You genuinely are the encouraging teacher. Decidedly or not, you have the patience, the communication, the intellect, and the passion for others’ happiness that can create in you the characteristics of a great teacher; the kind of teacher that is remembered for his greatness and wise words.
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Comment by Charles on April 15, 2009 at 4:31 PM
All I can say to that, Chay, is, ‘Thank you very much’ with a big smile on my face. I am happy that my words have been/are helpful to someone. That is the ultimate goal. You also have very kind words that encourage writings like this. Again, thank you, and I can’t wait to read more of your writings.
Comment by ChayNichole on April 15, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Charles, anything I can do to put a smile on your face, even if only through the words I speak, gives me a smile as well. I more than look forward to sharing more of what I’ve written.
Ps, “If we all did what we were capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.”
This quote comes from Thomas Edison.
(Thank you iGoogle homepage =))
Comment by Mike on November 21, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Wow Charles…this is pretty deep man. It definitely made me think about the picture I’m painting on my canvas and the many experiences I’ve been through. We’re all unique for a reason, and we’re all artists in our own right. Awesome job.