My study of Zen and appreciation for jazz have always coincided. There's something about jazz music, especially the wildly unpredictable free jazz of the 50's and 60's, that reflects Zen philosophy in many ways:
-Finding beauty and rhythm in seemingly unharmonious sounds.
-Embracing chaos as natural rather than trying to force it away or control it.
-Free, unbridled expression.
Listen to some of this stuff and you'll start to get what I mean:
Charlie Parker- Koko
Miles Davis and John Coltrane- So What
John Coltrane- Acknowledgement
“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent”
The instrument becomes a way for these musicians to express what they can't speak. Some thoughts and feelings are too abstract, and come from too deep a spot within us to say or write down. Jazz is a great reminder of this, and it's also really fun to listen to. I have friends who only listen to Top 40 pop and hip-hop songs, and even they'll appreciate a good jazz song occasionally if I send it to them. Something about jazz hits you at your core, making it wonderfully complimentary to Zen.
Listening to jazz is difficult sometimes, because, like meditation, it requires your utmost attention. The sounds and notes just fly by. Divert your attention for even just a few seconds, and you're bound to miss something. Just like counting breaths and drinking tea, jazz (for both the musician and the audience) becomes an exercise in mindfulness.
I bring up the topic of jazz for two reasons. The first is to introduce you to some great classic songs if you haven't heard them yet. The second is to remind you that any activity can become a reflection of Zen. The great thing about Zen, and why I never get bored with it, is its vast applicability. Anything you can do, you can do with a Zen mind.
Listening to jazz mindfully will increase your enjoyment of it. Watching films mindfully will reveal things you would've never seen before. Reading a book with your full, utmost attention will provide you with a far different experience than speed-reading or skimming. I've only written about jazz because I love it personally; if you don't, apply some Zen mindfulness to something you do enjoy. Or maybe even to something you think you don't enjoy; you'll be surprised how your outlook changes.
