In the book "The Tao of Pooh" by Benjamin Hoff, I read something that was really cool:
An Empty sort of mind is valuable for finding pearls and tails and things because it can see what's in front of it. An Overstuffed mind is unable to. While the Clear mind listens to a bird singing, the Stuffed-Full-of-Knowledge-and-Cleverness mind wonders what kind of bird is singing. The more Stuffed Up it is, the less it can hear through its own ears and see through its own eyes. Knowledge and Cleverness tend to concern themselves with wrong sorts of things, and a mind confused by Knowledge,Cleverness and Abstract Ideas tends to go chasing off after things that don't matter, or that don't even exist, instead of seeing, appreciating, and making use of what is right in front of it.
Let's consider Emptiness in general for a moment. What is it about a Taoist landscape painting that seems so refreshing to so many different kinds of people? The Emptiness, the space that's not filled in. What is it about fresh snow, clean air, pure water? Or good music? As Claude Debussy expressed it, "Music is the space between notes."
… Many people are afraid of Emptiness, however, because it reminds them of Loneliness. Everything has to be filled in, it seems – appointment books, hillsides, vacant lots – but when all the spaces are filled, the Loneliness really begins. Then the Groups are joined, the Classes are signed up for, and the Gift-to-Yourself items are bought. When the Loneliness starts creeping in the door, the Television Set is turned on to make it go away. But it doesn't go away. So some of us do instead, and after discarding the emptiness of the Big Congested Mess, we discover the fullness of Nothing (Hoff, 1982, p. 146-147).
I prefer Classical music over most "Lyrical" music because Classical music allows my mind to wander and take a break, whereas Lyrical music tells me where to wander. Sometimes being told where to go (don't go there Skald) is OK, but I'm too busy as is. My mind needs a break, let it roam with my imagination! Also, in my photographs I tend not to clutter my compositions, I try to express openness, freedom, area to travel, wonder...etc. Here is one of my favorite pictures to help express the meaning of "Both Sides of the Fence" Where some only see a fence, I see What is on both sides of the fence. What side of the fence would you rather be on? The right or the left? The congested side or the side with more room to maneuver? I jumped the fence (caught my pants on the barbs as it happens in life too when you choose a different side) and found a huge, new, vast countryside to roam, explore, and appreciate.
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