Here is an opening statement from:

Lecture On Zen

by

Alan Watts

Once upon a time, there was a Zen student who quoted an old Buddhist poem to his teacher, which says:

The voices of torrents are from one great tongue,
the lions of the hills are the pure body of Buddha.

‘Isn’t that right?’ he said to the teacher.
‘It is,’ said the teacher, ‘but it’s a pity to say so.’

It would be, of course, much better, if this occasion were celebrated with no talk at all, and if I addressed you in the manner of the ancient teachers of Zen, I should hit the microphone with my fan and leave. But I somehow have the feeling that since you have contributed to the support of the Zen Center, in expectation of learning something, a few words should be said, even though I warn you that by explaining these things to you, I shall subject you to a very serious hoax.

Because if I allow you to leave here this evening, under the impression that you understand something about Zen, you will have missed the point entirely. Because Zen is a way of life, a state of being that is not possible to embrace in any concept whatsoever, so that any concepts, any ideas, any words that I shall put across to you this evening will have as their object, showing you the limitations of words and of thinking.

Eden speaking now: The same can be said for creating art from the soul, which is also in the Zen tradition of no thinking, no planning—only intuitive comprehension and creation.

From An Artist Empowered:

When I decided to write a book about kites in 1986, several authorities in the field and a half dozen literary agents told me that I was wasting my time.

I was informed that everything important about the subject had already been covered, the market was too small, and no mainstream publisher would be interested. After listening to this consensus concerto of advice, I felt opportunity calling and went with my intuition—which is the soul singing the divine song of the Creator.

I did find a mainstream publisher.

Nearly two decades later, my book continues to sell both here and abroad, and a new, updated edition was published in 1998. What did I learn? The experts, who may even have been earnest with their doomsday advice, couldn’t grasp the vision I had.

Don’t be deceived: sincerity is often totally wrong. 

An excerpt from a letter from Vincent van Gogh to his brother, Theo van Gogh, February, 13, 1882. Vincent counted on financial support from his brother.

I do not care so much about that “taking my part,” but I must say that sometimes I cannot bear Tersteeg’s (he initially encouraged Vincent’s life as an artist, but later on did not think much of Vincent’s eccentric attitude to life) saying to me over and over again, “You must begin to think about earning your own living.” I think it is such a dreadful expression, and then it is all I can do to keep calm. I work as hard as I can and do not spare myself, so I deserve my bread, and they ought not to reproach me with not having been able to sell anything up to now.

While Vincent felt he deserved his bread, we can finesse his thought to this: he “earned” his bread—which is more likely what he had in mind.

All art isn’t from the soul. This isn’t a point of separation or a comparison; it is a distinction that each artist must make for her own self. If you don’t know where you stand, then you can be assured others will make that choice for you. The artist who creates art for art’s sake paints an indelible line in the sand. She remains steadfast and unadulterated by the temperamental winds of taste, social conditioning, or cultural pressures to conform.

While this artist may be politically active, or not, she is never complacent. Her art can’t be co-opted or unsettled by the nonsense or agenda concocted by others. She uses her work for whatever reasons she desires; as long as it is her decision, her work remains pure—and that is the mission, which includes earning a living and staying healthy.

She is the vanguard. 

Here’s a snippet from the pr release for An Artist Empowered:

From the Mean Streets to Self-Realization
Find Your Walking Shoes

A sage from India sets the stage: “Wanting to reform the world without discovering your true self is like trying to cover the whole world with leather to avoid the pain of walking on stones and thorns. It is simpler to wear shoes.” If the artist doesnt understand the mission parameters, then anxiety and fear reign, or worse—the artist abandons the dream.

Eden Maxwell (painter, writer, and kiteflier of some note) grew up in the hood of the inner city and fought his way out of the projects to find his walking shoes; he recalls:

“Many years ago, with no net, guarantees, or a rich uncle, I gave up the ‘security’ of a promising Fortune 500 fast track position, health insurance, stock option plans, weekend brunches, and a doorman for an unpredictable life of what seemed at the time insurmountable obstacles. My intuition, not a muse, had been whispering the mantra: go for it some day something of value will come. Like the main character in the book Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella (adapted into the film Field of Dreams), I had also bet the ‘farm’ on a disembodied voice only I could hear. Those close to me thought I was making a huge career mistake. If you don’t have faith in your own dream, then what’s the point?”