Pieces of the ordinary

After reading Robert Genn's article on Miksang http://www.painterskeys.com/ I decided to take my camera with me today.

I did not paint, instead I dealt with chores I had been putting off, oil change, getting my mom some more pants and some paints that I needed for the mural.

Taking my camera to my mom's, I found it very grounding, centering and it increased my awareness of textures and composition. As I then traveled to do some other errands, simple things were standing out, that which would have been overlooked at another time.

A laundry basket on the side of the road, the different shades of blue grouped together at the gas station, patterns of the everyday that we rarely take notice of.

Robert Genn says in the article:

"The art of Miksang was begun as a meditational tool by Shambhala Buddhists, but it has implications for painters and other creative people. The idea is to find joy and awareness by attending to the minor and seemingly insignificant--the colours, patterns and textures that exist in the close-up world. Miksang is a Tibetan word that means "good eye." Shambhalas think widespread use might lead to more compassionate and enlightened societies."

It is a way of becoming intimate with that which surrounds you.

Zen master, John Daido Loori has a book of images called Hearing with the Eye of similar type images.

These are images that take something ordinary and make it holy or sacred.

One sees with new eyes with this practice. It grounds you. It brings joy to see with a new attitude, a fresh perspective.