Pianodao

Pause • Reflect • Sundays on Pianodao
Written by ANDREW EALES

One thing is certain – everything changes. But sometimes things can take longer than we hoped for, in stark contrast to the general pace of our lives today. Is it any wonder that we often feel impatient?

Perhaps there are obstacles that won’t shift from your pathway. Wounds that won’t heal. Or simply a favourite piece of music that you would love to be able to play on the piano, but which somehow seems far out of your reach.

As qigong master Kam Chuen Lam explains, some things simply take time – and are all the better for it!

“All authentic growth takes time. So does healing and the process of deep strengthening. It is like giving birth.
In the more than thirty years that I have been teaching and treating people in the West, I have always had to tell people that nature takes time to form, nourish and give birth to new life.
I tell my students, ‘You can’t make a plant grow by tugging on it every day. You simply put it in good soil, give it just enough water and light, and let it grow. If you do that it will grow naturally. That is its nature’.”

Master Kam Chuen Lam: The Qigong Workbook for Anxiety

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Enjoy a long, healthy life!

Pause • Reflect • Sundays on Pianodao
Written by ANDREW EALES

An ancient Daoist text called “Principles of Nourishing Life and Cultivating Longevity (translated by Eva Wong, and included in her book “Being Taoist“) includes the following simple but profound advice:

“When you are young, don’t spend a lot of energy doing what everyone thinks is appropriate.
When you’ve reached maturity, don’t be too competitive.
When you’ve passed middle age, you should begin to find contentment.
When you are old, you should minimise desires.
Exercise the body gently to prevent it from stiffening, and entertain your mind leisurely to prevent it from deteriorating.
In this way you will enjoy a healthy and long life.”

There is no quick fix solution to avoid death, no elixir of life that will sustain us indefinitely, and we know that once our energy is gone, the end will come. Surely, our quality of life matters more than the inevitability of its passing.

The advice I have shared above is undoubtedly useful when thinking about our own approach and lifestyle. We could all do with questioning what steps we are taking to enjoy a healthier and longer life.

The Daoist sages suggest that we consider the different stages of life as seasons to be respected and embraced with deference.

Interestingly, though, there’s one striking consistency. Whatever our stage in life’s journey, we should reflect on our own pathway with self care, and not simply follow the crowd.

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Happiness

Pause • Reflect • Sundays on Pianodao
Written by ANDREW EALES

“Humanity grows more and more intelligent, yet there is clearly more trouble and less happiness daily.
How can this be so?
It is because intelligence is not the same thing as wisdom.”

Lao Tzu: Hua Hu Ching (translated Brian Walker)

The big question for us all is this: what do we do with our knowledge?

Do we accumulate knowledge simply to “fight back”, to be “better” and more “successful” than the next person?

Or does our own self-improvement and development go hand in hand with generosity towards other people?

There are many possible responses, but it’s important to recognise the priority of wisdom over knowledge, because this leads to happiness and peace.

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Developing Gradually

Pause • Reflect • Sundays on Pianodao
Written by ANDREW EALES

This was the first post ever published on Pianodao when the site launched on August 1st, 2015.

Have you noticed that the pace of life isn’t slowing?

That social change and technological innovation are often adding to the stress of your daily life rather than alleviating it?

Sometimes we simply need to slow down. To find calm and purpose.

This is true for all of life – including our piano playing.

The image of a tree growing gradually on a mountainside sums up the natural wisdom of making secure progress, and reaching purposefully towards all the points one must in one’s individual journey.

This image of “Developing Gradually” (I Ching 53) is likely to recur here on the Pianodao site as core wisdom. It underpins the foundation and development of this site, and is the wisdom by which I proceed.

There is so much I would like to share here, but it will take time. The planning is done, and roots are shooting into the ground. Over the next few months and years I hope that many branches will grow.

And I hope that as you join me on this journey, you will be nourished by the fruits of the site.

Welcome to Pianodao.