The idea of becoming a Bodhisattva Artist was introduced by my teacher Sogyal Rinpoche. However it wasn't a call to artists alone to be Bodhisattvas, Rinpoche said the world needed Bodhisattva lawyers, doctors, and people in all professions integrating the principles of compassion and wisdom into everything they do. The previous articles on the principles of generosity, discipline, and patience have elicited responses from readers that this sort of platform for sharing of experience and strength helps to give us hope along the path and thus helps us to persevere.
Continuing forward, the forth principle (paramita) is diligence. Included within it are the previous principles where spirit of generosity, discipline to manage our objectives, patience, endurance and courage, all build our spiritual muscles for diligence. When we refer to Dilgo Khyenstse Rinpoche's writings he has divided diligence into three sections: Armor-like diligence, Diligence in action, and Diligence that cannot be stopped. These three aspects can readily be applied to the experience of most artists.
Firstly, the armor that Rinpoche is referring to is a protection or bolstering we can mentally don by remembering the difficulties that the masters (art or spiritual) have faced and overcome for their higher calling. We can feel encouraged to keep on going, following the path of those artists we wish to be like, knowing that they were like us, and that they created great art and developed great spirit. I am often inspired by the lives of artists like Georgia O'Keeffe, Judy Chicago, and Beatrix Potter who met adversity about being women and artists and yet went on to create their visions. It is often the artist's story that makes their art that much more meaningful. As mentioned in the article on patience, artists face fear head on with warrior-like spirit. This gives me great courage to do the same.
Artists have done and continue to stay on course through studying techniques, styles, and concepts that we want to incorporate and by practicing what we've learned (understanding and skillful method). This is diligence in action. Looking, seeing, being, integrating, painting, repeat – just like in our spiritual practice of study and application. And we know what happens when we procrastinate – time flies and we've created nothing. As Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche clearly reminds us:
"Death comes closer with every second.
If you unhurriedly put off today until tomorrow,
Beware of tears and regret upon your deathbed!"
(p. 246 Words of My Perfect Teacher)
Of course he is referring to setting aside worldly preoccupations and studying the dharma. Is art a worldly preoccupation? If so, than perhaps it is this principle that requires the most intention to create art that embodies greater heart and mind. If we can do this with a deep rooted determination, steadily, consistently, and with tenacity this would be diligence that cannot be stopped. To integrate goodness of heart and mind for all beings into your art may be the supreme mission of a Bodhisattva Artist.
What is the propellant for diligence? It is devotion. Sogyal Rinpoche writes in The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying that "Real devotion is an unbroken receptivity to the truth. Real devotion is rooted in an awed and reverent gratitude, but one that is lucid, grounded, and intelligent." (p.136) Vow to create art that comes from a place of devotion.*
The drawing above I created with gouache and prisma pencil. It is the feet of the Buddha with the wheel of dharma on the sole. This is about diligently following in the footsteps of the masters.
Susan
Next week is the principle of concentration.
*I'm sure we could have a whole discussion here about low brow and high brow art. Or even uni-brow art (Frieda would love that). Even if low brow art is a rejection of high brow art standards, it still has a mission. It's based on the artist's intention. Whatever brow the art is, if there is any delineation still, it can still be created with a desire to bring more understanding and compassion in the world.
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