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June 4, 2009

Music and Spiritual Practice: Four Excerpts via Poligraf.

Music and Spiritual Practice: Excerpt #1 via Poligraf

Music has been an essential part of my life since the end of the 80s.

The adventure began during the second of my four years of studying electrical engineering at Université Laval in Québec City.  Through various friends and contacts I reconnected with progressive rock, a form of music to which I had already been exposed to in my youth thanks to my older brothers and sisters.  Hearing the music of bands such as Yes, Rush, Genesis, and King Crimson felt like meeting old friends, and quickly I knew I just had to do as those musicians did, although my prior experience with music had been minimal at that time.

The feeling was so strong that not only did it led me to buy various instruments so I could learn how to play, but it was also the main force that made me decide to change direction after my first semester as a graduate student in computer vision and systems so I could build my life around music.  And perhaps more importantly, when it became clear that I would compose music of my own, it spawned the question “what should the songs be about ?” which powered me into many years of exploring a multitude of domains of knowledge including science, philosophy, psychology, art, mysticism, and the occult.

Music for me is also spiritual practice.  The inspiration and elevation it provides is undeniable, and the many insights I have had while practicing an instrument or rehearsing a part are too numerous to recount…click here to read the article in it’s entirety.  Excerpted with permission by Poligraf.

 

Music and Spiritual Practice: Excerpt #2 via Poligraf

Buddhism has been an essential part of my life since the mid-90s.

The adventure began when I stumbled upon a feature in an encyclopedic dictionary that highlighted the Four Noble Truths.  That finding immediately sparked my curiosity and a few days later I was buying a copy of The Dhammapada at a local bookstore.  While slowly digesting the aphorisms in the weeks that followed, I found that its teachings were in continuity with a process of introspection that had begun during an introductory course on neural networks (i.e. systems designed to emulate some of the capabilities of the human brain, such as pattern recognition and associative memory), the study of which had triggered the question “what does this tell me about my own inner workings ?”

From then on I pursued my explorations and plunged into the Tibetan Book Of The Dead, which was quickly followed by various Mahayana sutras.  I also bought a guide to learn how to meditate and started experimenting with the practice…click here to read the article in it’s entirety.  Excerpted with permission by Poligraf.

 

Music and Spiritual Practice: Excerpt #3 via Poligraf

Poligraf has been an essential part of my life since its inception at the beginning of February 1998.

The adventure began after the collapse of a band that probably never really existed as it only had a handful of rehearsals, but for which I had already written a lot of material.  Left alone at the helm, I connected with a group of experienced musicians via a co-worker friend and after agreeing on a general aim and formula, we raised sail and headed to the terra incognita of progressive rock.

Over its eleven years of activity in various incarnations, Poligraf has yielded enough music for three full-length albums and two conceptual EPs, but never really had a chance to officially record any of them, although some of the material has been performed on stage on various occasions.

Most of the music documents my own spiritual path and presents some of the lessons that life has taught me on the way.  Some pieces are directly inspired by Buddhist texts or teachings.  For instance, “Between Worlds” is directly inspired by the Tibetan Book Of The Dead, and “The Idler” and “Creeper” have been inspired by aphorisms of The Dhammapada.  “Void” illustrates the Buddhist concept of emptiness, and “SubjeKctiv” serves as a reminder of the subjectivity of experience and the coextensivity of worlds.  “Entering the Stream” is a suite in three chapters that depicts the trajectory of an individual fed up with the mundane who decides to retreat into an ashram for some heavy introspection before returning to the ordinary with a renewed perspective on life…click here to read the article in it’s entirety.  Excerpted with permission by Poligraf.

 

Music and Spiritual Practice: Excerpt #4 via Poligraf

Poligraf’s first album is entitled “Samsara.” Traditionally, the term refers to the Buddhist concept of the cycle of birth and death in which all beings in the universe take part and which can be escaped only through enlightenment.  Personally, I agree with the view that it is rather that very same process of enlightenment, in which ups and downs are in fact the appearance of constant motion towards spiritual growth.

In accordance with that perspective, the album presents a collection of pieces that depicts the journey of an individual who faces a series of challenges through which they will experience various transcendences, on their way to a better version of themselves.

Poligraf is very much eager to spread its wings and record that first album.  The boys in the band would be grateful if you would be kind enough to learn more about “Samsara” and listen to the demos. You’re also invited to extend your support and pre-order one of the packages we have put together to that intent…click here to read the article in it’s entirety.  Excerpted with permission by Poligraf.

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