When Vedanta Philosophy Meets Jazz: A Syncopated Symphony
Exploring the link between jazz improvisation and the Vedanta concept of neti neti
When Vedanta Philosophy Meets Jazz: A Syncopated Symphony - AI Imag by Author (Bing).
For almost 4 years, the deep truths of Vedanta have become part of my core self. This old school of thought, rooted deep in Indian life, has changed how I see the world outside and the world inside me. Vedanta's wise words flow through my speech, mixing with all I learn in my mind's work. What draws me most to this old view is its wide reach. It does not fight other beliefs but gives a view that makes them richer and clearer. Firm in the deep words of the Upanishads, Vedanta shows a view of our true self and our true aim.
When I say I "study Vedanta," I mean more than just old books. It is a whole way to live, full of thought and calm, based on the truth that all is one. This wide view has soaked into all I do, from art to science, from bonds with others to how I work.
I lately saw a link between Vedanta's old truths and a love of mine: jazz. Though not a player, I take joy in jazz's rich sounds and quick new ideas. This link came to me quickly, like the thoughts I shared on this Substack till today.
"Give up identification with this mass of flesh as well as with what thinks it a mass. Both are intellectual imaginations. Recognise your true self as undifferentiated awareness, unaffected by time, past, present or future, and enter Peace."
(Adi Shankara)
neti neti
A core Vedanta view that grips me is "neti neti" - "not this, not this." This lets us strip back what we're not, to find what we truly are.
In jazz too, I see this. A jazz player in a solo goes to the unknown and drops all set views and fears. In a way, they too do "neti neti" - drop each note, each phrase, to make room for what is new. This bond of jazz and Vedanta shows how this old wisdom can light up our lives today. The key is a fine blend of form and freedom, learning and feel. In jazz, one must know the form but then go past it to make what's new. Just so, in Vedanta, we learn texts and ways, but must then know our true Self.
In my own life, I try to live these truths. I root down in the flow of now, let go of thoughts and moods, and see tough times as chances to grow. It's a hard path, but rich in rewards for those who keep on. There are days when I feel stuck or when the great truths of Vedanta seem distant and abstract. But then I remember to apply "neti neti": this block is not my true essence, this frustration is not who I really am.
I invite you to explore this connection in your life. Pay attention to the moments when you feel truly free, truly yourself. What happens if you let go of your expectations? What emerges when you stop trying to control everything? How do your relationships, your work, your creativity change when you're more present and open to the unknown?
And…so?
Both those who embrace the concept of "neti neti" and those who immerse themselves in listening to jazz embark on a journey of stripping away. Like an onion peeling away layer after layer, we let go of everything we truly are not, until we reach our essential core. In Vedanta, this core is what we call Atman, the individual soul, which is discovered to be identical to Brahman, the ultimate reality.
"If you go back to the roots of jazz, it was all about collective improvisation."
(Henry Threadgill)
"Improvisation is the ability to create something very spiritual, something of one's own. “
(Sonny Rollins)
Similarly, the jazz musician, through improvisation, strips away everything superfluous, all musical conventions, to return to the pure essence of music. It's interesting to note how this process brings jazz back to its true origins: the orally transmitted African American spirituals. These songs, born from suffering and hope, were a form of direct expression of the soul, without frills or artifice. When a jazz musician improvises, in a sense they are making the same journey back to the essential that their ancestors made through spirituals.
Life is a wonderful improvisation, and Vedanta can be your guide on this extraordinary journey towards discovering your true nature, that divine melody that plays in each of us. Continue to explore, ask questions, and seek connections. You might discover a melody all your own, unique and unrepeatable, that leads you to your true essence.
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