Art as Spiritual Practice

This video explains and demonstrates how I create the Zen paintings. Each painting is created in under two seconds free of any thought or intention. What arises from this practice amazes me as much as it does you.
In this video I show you not only how I do it, but how you can too.
You can see examples of these paintings at the online art gallery Zen Art of Enlightenment. The Energy Painting Gallery includes the paintings featured in this video.
zenartofenlightenment.com

[@kevincage1641]

This Fellow is deep. He is by no means FOS. He speaks Truth. I'm a 65 year old man. This Fellow resonates.

[@safarimom]

I am an artist. I have never been able to create unless I had a reference to use. I have been trying to loosen up my art with at Journaling and acrylic paint pouring. Well, last night I was testing out a new fountain pen ink, I splattered some ink on a scrape page in my journal and ran my pentel water brush through it, and made radom strokes. I swear it was so beautiful. I was going to throw it away but decided to leave it until morning so I could see how the ink dried. It looks even better today. It is just a scribble on a ripped out page of paper but I can't throw it away. I think it is because I wasnt worried or nervous about "making a mistake" or what my marks were going to look like.

[@Decopainterandtea]

Put in in a frame and hang it up. ❤

[@petercutler2023]

Yes, beautiful. That's how it works.

[@ratnaroychoudhury1220]

It is.absolutely unique about how to go into your creativity. I paint in many different medium.But that feeling of trying to b perfect is always at the back of my mind. This will b really free flowing. Must try . Thank you Sir 🙏❤️🌺

[@dreamtyrex4629]

id say that’s the difference between an artist who has authentic creativity and an artist who draws or paints mechanically like an animal erudite

[@margaretmaguire3329]

Just throw black ink onto good paper then water randomly to get variation of shades, leave a bit of white paper for negative areas move the paper about let it dry then look into it and create from there.👍😀🌺

[@Austria88586]

“Stop when you want to ‘improve’ - it’s done.” Jack Kerouac on painting.

[@olgasamara2962]

THANK❤YOU

[@maryharris8939]

I paint like a child and was told I needed to learn to draw and paint like an adult. I ove to paint like a child still and I do it intuitively 😊

[@ailishniriain787]

While you were speaking I decided to just give this a try with a marker pen I had next to me. I was amazed at what was created. Over and over each one was different. Also, I am left handed but realised I was using my right hand whilst holding the marker. Thank you.

[@kathleenclarke828]

I watched Roshi Fukushima paint MU-He knelt on the floor, paused, picked up the brush and not fast-not slow made the most extraordinary MU- so naturally.....I wept-much to my surprise.

[@petercutler2023]

include a link. I would like to see it.

[@anitamaier6055]

Oh my Goodness! I have searched for this sense of Freedon in my artwork for all my life! I tried Sumi-e and that helped but was still structured. I wanted abandon but not crazy modern art! This is truly abondoned yet elegant in it's simplicity . I now see how to join my Spiritual self with my artistic self and become One with ! Namaste!

[@janowens2212]

Definitely spiritual.❤️🌹🥹Your soul is being released.

[@fringemania8367]

"true creativity" "pure energy" ... creativity is creativity and energy is energy. Nothing more, nothing less. My creativity is no less than your creativity.

[@snjv9]

Beautiful..just beautiful. I did just a page and something came out of me, a release with tears welling up. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@margaretfarquhar5624]

Picasso also said “it took my whole life to paint like a child”

[@typeofhealing]

I draw or move my fingers or brush through the paint over a thin wooden board while connecting with pain in the body --and during other times of the day these random drawings will show some hidden shapes like a woman gathering materials from forest with a basket attached to her body etc. It will show a possibility and I just have to move along that shape. :) Listening to your voice or the way you speak itself has a fresh energy feel to it. Thank You.

[@sundus928]

One thing that also improved my art was keeping my "bad" drawings in the same sketchbook as the ones that were pretty. Those bad drawings are a part of me , they are a part of the process, a story that I put on pages. It's freeing from my own expectations and experiencing art in my own circle, undisturbed from others' view on beauty and life.

[@Brock_273]

As a psychic artist I can totally relate to this ,I work the same way. Thank you for this ❤

[@avocadojoy8191]

I’m so happy I found this channel ❤

[@annpettersson1920]

Thankyou! I can´t describe what this means to me. ❤

[@christinegirardartiste8022]

You are describing exactly what I have discovered in my years of experimenting with intuitive art and it is only when I began practicing zen meditation that I found a way to enter this type of art making at will. My entire art practice is automatic in that way and animals are appearing all over ! It is amazing to be such a creative vessel of life. I am really glad to hear of other people experiencing this as well. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@annetteschuetze]

Thank you very much. I’m an artist and I started like painting like a child and then I found out so many great things with paint and wanted to learn all these gorgeous techniques. But I lost the ability to paint like a child because of that. So I still remember how to let go and I will do it again. It is awesome. Thank you for this reminder. I needed it right now. 🙏

[@MakesPaintings]

Thank you so much for this talk!

[@jumpingship3001]

I felt like running out to my paints and brushes but its a little late. Tomorrow i will, thanks.

[@Narasatina]

Thank you for opening me up. I am a professional artist but this is something I always wanted to do. Often when I make my initial marks on a canvas, I feel they look good and I should stop. I did a dozen in 5 minutes this morning following your advice. I like them. Painting without intention. Beautiful. And therapeutic.

[@gayesekula]

I love this video so much. You have spoken to my soul and inspired me deeply. Thank you!

[@sesamfan8850]

Das ist wunderbar. Ich unterrichte intuitives Malen in Deutschland und bin so fasziniert davon, welche Wege das Unmmanifeste geht um sich durch uns auszudrücken - wenn wir es lassen. Namaste and much love to All ❤❤❤

[@Zelig_G]

Thank you my friend. I knew/sensed this in the way I write, but I’ve not heard it out loud. Nor have I made it an intentional discipline. But I did today. It brought with it more play. 🙏

[@michaelreadnower4424]

I do very small ones with ball point pens =)! It is I think the best practice to show you how you are holding on to things/ ideas / beliefs

[@meagan416]

Thank you so much 🙏 Expression not perfection. So much feeling and life.

[@bluebirdrelics8580]

I love this. I do this every morning after meditation in my journal. I didn’t think anyone else did it.

[@ruu2404]

Wow, so deep and so lovely.

[@cathihargaden1608]

Thanks for sharing your precious gold insights it’s been amazing to listen to ❤

[@lisengel2498]

Beautifull and both you and your paintings radiate life in a very beautifull Way - and I love to do that with colors - and with movement #dancinglife #thevoiceoflife # #beingnature #beingalive #rawenergy #innocense #beingpresent #expressiveline #somaticpainting #uniquemoment #totalpresence #pureenergy 🎶🖤🎵

[@priyacibi1104]

So grateful that I came across this ❤ It has moved me in so many ways... Thank you for sharing this incredible way of being and making art 🙏

[@IsisColby]

100 sheets should do it …. You are awesome! You explained this with such clarity and joy. What you’re expressing - this being truly successful. Happiness in the process, appreciation of its aspects and outcomes in the mining portion. I’m eager to allow this flow for more than 2 or 3 pictures. Why did I hold back when it was so easy and simple to let my energy flow like water down the mountain.

[@11asleep]

Thank you for this! It so resonates with me as a painter. I paint without intensions of out come it just evolves. I want to investigate this further inspiring!

[@wadeparker8695]

Just look around no matter where you are and say to yourself “now is happening right now “repeat it a few times until you force yourself to be so present that you see the futility of time as a mental construct. Thank you

[@michellerichert8225]

je vous découvre et suis en phase avec votre passionnante vidéo. Depuis la jeunesse il m'est arrivé cela en relation avec des arbres: mouvements spontanés, encre de Chine plume ou pinceau, sans connaître le lien avec les spiritualités d'Asie. Plus tard j'ai pensé, mais pas pratiqué, je pourrais faire ce qui pourrait s'appeler des callirythmies: pas de la vraie calligraphie car de simples formes, et le rythme de la vie...N'est-ce pas le moment, à 74 ans, de commencer une vraie pratique de ce qui a été esquissé ? La vitalité ne vient pas que du corps , peut-être est-ce quand le corps s'abandonne à la vie, à l'énergie universelle de vie comme " reiki" se traduit. Merci 🙏🌿

[@shirlmay5891]

I’m grateful that you shared this with us … it’s so beautiful and it’s so miraculous and I wanted to hear more from you and I’ve been listening to your sharing above over and over again 🙏🏻

[@michaelreadnower4424]

I actually do this every time before I draw anything. I also do a similar practice with a small intent at the beginning " face" to let original faces come into existence. I use to call them OB1's or original being ones thank you for reminding me of this. I also think of them as buddhas just like everyone else haha! perfect I will have to show you sometime. thank you!!!!

[@mardel420]

i always did this to warm up before i started a painting, nice to hear the philosophy behind it to back it up

[@marionnieves7611]

I found this to be therapeutic ❤Thank You!

[@Belikova78]

WOW THANK YOU NOW I KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN MY PAINTING PROSSESS

[@Auriasis]

This inspired me when I found it somewhere online: Life is like art without an eraser.

[@patbush6493]

Just finishing a drawing and listening to the Dhammapada on youtube when the thought springs up "art as practice!" and so found you. Thank you for posting this video. Hope we meet again :).

[@user-gk1kx3gx7t]

I love this message. Timing is everything. Thank you.

[@jimywebb23]

Go with the flow baby ✨

[@sublimeister9630]

This is also called asemic writing or mark-making. “Mining” is a form of critiquing spontaneity, by choosing the best. But don’t stop with the best, you can then cut them up to pieces and use them as catapult for further inspiration, like DaDa collage. From the chaos, you find Form, but from the Form, you find Shapes, then from the Shapes, you find Structure which slowly moves your “mining” into a spontaneous weaving of emptiness and intention. 🙏🏻😊

[@annevalimaki3966]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[@melissasibbald4617]

Brilliant. Thank you. 💚

[@MaudMargretheRex]

Today I was truly awakened in my new aspiration of art, spirituality and arttherapy.. Thanks 🙏🏼🙏🏼🖌️ I Will explore thát.. be thāt : just Thanks

[@valerieh315]

Thank you so much, it's exactly what I needed. A marvelous synchronicity. Thank you.

[@aishwaryan912]

Thanks for this video🤲🏻 ❤

[@scunnie]

Excellent video. Thankyou for sharing. Many blessings 🙏❤

[@leticiachavarria9965]

Love this!! Thanks for helping me to think differently !! Leticia

[@Caveatemptor144]

Honoured to have YT send you to me 🙏. I trained as a yoga teacher in India but now practise a yoga which is without asanas or sequence. Just listening to what the body wants to say and how it expresses that in movement. Profound gratitude 🙏

[@jhinton129]

Thanks for the great presentation.

[@joleenanance1214]

Thank you for sharing ❤❤❤❤❤!

[@sara2010M]

Thank you ❤

[@christinegalysh7433]

Thank you and all the best.

[@paigewheeler2983]

Thank you. Explained so clearly and lovingly. Thank you

[@juanpabloacosta9282]

Amazing video my friend, thanks ❤

[@tawandacole1621]

You are a beautiful soul thank you❤

[@secretshaman189]

Thanks for sharing! I'm going to try this!

[@OrigamiCalm]

Thank you for sharing this. I have found something similar with suminagashi. No control and the same sort of flow and energy🙏

[@breyerdenmw]

Amazing. Just want I needed to let go as an artist, to paint as a child. Thank you.

[@HPuew-eh3su]

Thank you 🙏, for that.

[@mitchditkoff6852]

lovely!

[@neophytosjuliana]

THANK YOU

[@donnamoongoddess927]

Beautiful. What an incredible addition to how I create my art. I need this. Thank you so very much for sharing! I’m going to go try this right now!!💖🌘

[@carolinag4229]

I am musician. I'm going to practice it❤

[@DeAzul7902]

Namaste... so glad I found you. And I wonder if yo found me?!? Either way, I'm so grateful for this beauty. Thank you. ❤🎉❤

[@marciaceciliabadkebadke2293]

Wonderful

[@rosafuentes2285]

❤️🙏

[@marynapetrova6550]

❤

[@acrookedpath4959]

Thank you

[@jigarshrimali165]

🙏💖

[@brentlesheim7084]

“There is nothing new under the sun”!

[@lin._.116]

美妙的禪繪畫~~ 一體性 同步性 多樣性的實踐者

[@marciasfriend]

Could you please share a link of where I can buy the medium size Asian brush? Thank you very much!

[@dffulmer1]

Hi Master Peter, I have a few questions. Currently I am using an A I app to generate art because I have Parkinson's disease which limits the use of my hands and my whole body. It does not limit my mind or my spirit. So I Use A I as a tool like you use a brush. In a way I am out of the way doing this. The results I get are like no other...as you said. I realize that many artists oppose the use of A I. But most of them are able bodied. Do you have any thoughts on this? I have been meditating since 1975. During the 1970s I had an art teacher who practiced what you speak about. And he taught Asian art. I do art because it brings me closer to God than anything else. Thank you for your time and this video. 🙏

[@petercutler2023]

I have seen some pretty cool things with AI. Whatever works, do it.

[@corqMcc]

This reminds me of automatic writing

[@elviralastra6464]

Bless you! I need to learn to be free to express myself. Is there another possibility to contact to you in other you to teach me? Infinite thanks

[@maielenasong]

This is amazing! Thank you for sharing :) I wonder where I can buy a brush like that?

[@NlightenmentForYou]

Some of the art supply houses sell large calligraphy brushes. Some of mine were given to me by other Zen painters and some I bought at Asian antique stores.

[@fusain-en-un-seul-souffle]

+ 1 like 🙏🙂🙏

[@richardjayasinghe7238]

Dear sir and Madam. When I am studying Positive Psychology I understood it's mind can Magnetic Medication. Using this method you can send massages to Universal through Sky Chart. Also your soul changes his color to Green. Please give me advice to improve meditation and Positive Psychology. Thanks.

[@sanserifgirl]

As you are a trained artist your marks are a result of this. I don't believe you can erase that although I appreciated the concept thank you.

[@Arateenteras]

Correct,yes

[@JorgeGonzalez-lp6jc]

I love ur work,i want to try ur Teck,but i need to say ,i flow different,when i do my Art its very flowing slow feeling my Soul completly,but i have scribble stremly fast,like something else its giving me drawing messages…this Art its very signature mode ,,i love it,i want to try

[@ri0t-bunny-art]

i also move slow during automatic painting. i find myself waiting for my hand to decide for itself where it wants to go. i'd still love to try this method of painting, but in the end, everyone is different! let your soul express itself in whatever way resonates most. always good to try new things though 😌🌟

[@dharmavarta]

It was pleasure listening to your insights. I have only one question. What if I want to choose two colors? Or Do I need to leave everything to divine inspiration?

[@NlightenmentForYou]

I would. I also find that red ink looks really good with black. Mostly I try to keep things as simple as I possibly can. That is why only black ink and white paper. Sometimes I mix in a little water which creates some shades of gray in addition to the black, but mostly just pure black ink and white paper. Then it is only the divine inspiration that does everything. I don't choose anything. I am just out of the way. That is how I work. It is exactly the opposite of what I did as a commercial artist.

[@dharmavarta]

@@NlightenmentForYou Thank you very much.

[@icekidlowkey2064]

Greetings to you sir , the universe sent me here ,today I created two beautiful pieces I don't know what they mean but they are so amazing , how can I reach you ?

[@NlightenmentForYou]

You have.

[@atho1374]

Just a question: after you find a figure in your signs, than you enlarge them in some way?

[@petercutler2023]

I scan them on a 4,000 dpi scanner and then send that digital file to my website and printer. Since the scans are all high resolution, the printer will print whatever size people order as prints up to five feet. If I want a print, I order it from the printer the same as the others do.

[@atho1374]

@@petercutler2023 thx a lot

[@sofilove...20]

Absolutely true....

[@renzo6490]

I’m not interested in being creative. When I paint or draw, my goal and my pleasure is to reproduce what I see. The result is less important to me than the process. I treasure the feeling of being totally focused on my task. Is this permitted?

[@petercutler2023]

Anything is permitted. Whatever brings you joy and is an expression of love. This is just another way of doing that.

[@9xipsdarrellrafiflaksana670]

thank you for uploading mr peter!!! can you please make a video about reincarnation please?? thank you!! your loyal viewer from indonesia.

[@NlightenmentForYou]

Yes, maybe. I don't choose the topics. Inspiration does. If inspiration comes, it will happen.

[@kalpanamajhi9708]

Who will buy my art? If I accept your talk

[@petercutler2023]

Lots of people buy prints of my paintings. But that is not why I do them. If we create art in order to make money or get paid, we will probably not be successful, either in getting paid, creating real art, or creative joy and fulfillment. Let money not be a concern where art is concerned. Instead, paint from love. Then you will always be successful.

[@bealreadyhappy]

The body mind becomes a vehicle for God. the whole body mind is gods vehicle. Please listen read about self contraction found in Adi Da Samraj’s teachings. It is the self contraction that prevents God. from living us. It is the disease of mankind.

[@ronamain8689]

Emotional mark making is the true creativity. Sometimes I'm surprised at my results. My essence is on that canvas!😮 P.S. I'd leave Jackson Pollock out of this video! He was too drunk to be conscious in any way!😅

[@sagecreek819]

"Drunks" have a beautiful spirit, amd a creative soul.

[@dillardparker7546]

This sounds a great deal like what the Zen Buddist and Chinese calligraphers have done for centuries before-- I don't see much of a difference between what you are doing and what they have explored and practiced for centuries before.

[@NlightenmentForYou]

There is no difference. Should there be? The essential and fundamental spiritual teachings have not changed in over ten thousand years. Truth is like that. In our dream of separation and a separate self, we are always seeking something new when truth has always been here and has never changed nor could change.

[@Belikova78]

WHAT PAINT TO YOU USE WITH THOSE BRUSHES?

[@petercutler2023]

Sumi ink.

[@franktigertheisen]

interesting...yr saying, as a trained artist it is difficult to let go. How you think is it for me , as not beeing trained for yrs and yrs as an artist? oh , beautiful he doesnt have a clue about painting and art. what an opportunity to let go....????

[@NlightenmentForYou]

Yes, it is easier to let go without all the training. There is less to let go of.

[@mozartwa1]

Don't mislead people - the Buddha wouldn't welcome that)) This is not art - this is a religious practice. When young Osho worked as a philosophy teacher at the university and wore a modern suit and hairstyle, he did not have a single follower, but when he grew a long beard and wore a turban and robe like a wizard, he had millions of fans and followers, although he was nothing new did not tell)) сan you believe in a buddha sitting in a regular chair in a suit and tie, and not in the lotus position with a naked torso and a characteristic hairstyle?)) therefore, drawing enso rings or tao traces is a pure religious practice that has nothing to do with art - except for the tools and materials used. and if this is not a religious practice, then most likely it is obsessive-compulsive disorder.

[@brucedunston625]

Nothing is funnier that Kung Fu wannabe's!! Right on Grasshopper!!