A Call to Arms for Musicians of Light

I grew up in Pittsburgh. Yesterday’s attack hit me hard. My weekly cello lessons with Michael Lipman took place just blocks away from the synagogue.

Again the question arises: what can I do in response?

Last night at the Oregon Symphony, Scott Showalter shared Leonard Bernstein’s words after President Kennedy’s assassination:

We musicians, like everyone else, are numb with sorrow at this murder, and with rage at the senselessness of the crime. But this sorrow and rage will not inflame us to seek retribution; rather they will inflame our art. Our music will never again be quite the same. This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.

We need to make more music to heal hearts and in this world torn by dissension, hate, and fear.

And into our music, bring Light.

I believe Light is the best word we can use to represent universal, unconditional Love, Positivity, Joy, Compassion, and Hope.

Whether you are spiritual or atheist, we know the power of music to change the hearts of listeners. But what we might not realize is how vital it is that we consciously infuse our sound with Light.

Where do we find that Light? At the core of our being.

As a meditator of 22 years, I’ve experienced that Light is our true nature, discovered when we become still, open our hearts and focus our minds. It’s that simple. Meditation gives a glimpse into our highest potential. It connects us to a greater reality, giving us power in the battle with darkness that confronts us. You can’t fight darkness with a stick. But you can bring in the Light and change the hearts of those in our sphere of influence.

My sphere of influence is larger than I realized! I have the honor of teaching and directing 200 musicians every week. My first responsibility is to make sure that I’m sharing the best of who I am: my knowledge, my inspiration. But I also try to infuse every word and note with the best of my meditation: Peace, Love, Joy. I often hear from people that they notice a deep calmness when I’m around, so something must be coming through.

What we don’t yet know how to measure is the effect of the quality of our thoughts and feelings. But as I’ve written earlier, sound carries much more than we realize.

To be a musician of Light:

1. Play, sing and teach great music that opens the heart, expands our sympathies, and takes us into higher states of consciousness.
2. Deepen your own transformational experience of music by increasing receptivity through meditation.
3. Infuse your notes with the genuine experience of Light, no matter how small an experience you might have.

You may need to take these techniques on faith until you’ve had enough experience to know their power directly. But the good news is that no effort is ever wasted! Just by practicing these techniques you will experience growing transformation in yourself: less constriction, more peace, and the deepening power of your own heart.

This is the campaign I’m living for. Will you join me?