Viz., #009

Apr 30, 2019

Buffing my own graffiti

From the Editor

Greetings.

Life for me has been
extraordinary,
relatively serene
and progressive.
Extraordinary because
I'm not feeling depressed as before,
relatively serene because
I'm relatively surrendered to God and
progressive because
I'm not depressed as before
and am practicing surrendering to God.

Muchukunda Das

Events

Every Saturday Street art Jam
RSVP only

Brisbane visit: 7th of May to 12th of May

Ratha Yatra festival live painting: 11th of May
Fed Square in the CBD

My Birthday and Art Auction: 13th of May

Surrender
Solo exhibition and auction of paintings by Muchu
6pm 13th of May
Kea Studio 74 Ridderford street Newtown
RSVP here

Artist statement:
This is my first solo show in NZ
The works in this show are the cream of my art making since arriving here 3 years ago.
Through humorous imagery I hope to highlight the insanity of materialism and through stylized interpretations of traditional indian painting I hope to give new relevance to the positive spiritual values that have informed my life and art for the last 10 years.
I have a strong urge to create art that makes a difference in the quality of life as a human being. I sometimes refer to my paintings as painted possibilities because I believe an image can inspire the viewer in a possibility.

Youth Week
18th to 25th of May

Journal

Some people think I am really strong for being happy despite living separate from my wife and close friend for a year with divorce on the table.
The truth is I am strong because of anti depressants, therapy, daily chanting, a group, because they said so and because I talked my way into feeling strong.
Language is powerful. I can be terribly depressed but after I talk about it positively with a friend I feel genuinely positive.

Divorce has forced me to grow up, love and accept my self for who I am and who I'm not and make intimate male friends. Close friends have been like heart surgeons for me stitching me up and nurturing me to healthy self esteem and vitality.

I know the best way to reciprocate the service of more advanced bhakti friends is to follow their advice for becoming Krsna conscious.
This month I will be challenging myself to a daily morning routine of reading Srimad Bhagavatam and chanting the maha mantra for 1.5 hours solid.

For most bhakti practitioners this is basic and normal. I am OK admitting that for me that is the next level in my practice. Owning where I am and starting from there are key for me to feel comfortable in my own skin.

There is no gap between where I really am and where others think I am. I am not pretentious or proud in my community because I know their love and support is unconditional like family. There is no pretension in a good family. Pretension is fear of rejection which is self seeking *maya
as Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur sings:

"O wicked mind! What kind of Vaisnava do you think you are? Your pretentious show of chanting Lord Hari's holy name in a solitary place is only for the sake of attaining the false prestige of a worldly reputation — it is nothing but pure hypocrisy."

Being me (being self expressed) usually means being vulnerable to bullying and rejection, but if the people I surround myself with are good natured I am only vulnerable to good things.

Thank God for the good natured devotees of God for without them I live in fear, self conscious about everything I say like someone walking in a mine field.
People without knowledge are often so scared of being associated with someone like me who doesnt follow the rules of vogue that they will turn against me for the smallest transgression, leaving me self doubtful, guarded and conforming so that happens again.
Thank God for the good natured devotees of God for with them I feel welcome with all my weirdness.
We are all in this hospital together.

*maya: that which is not, Illusion, material, a trick, non truth.