Robert Fripp's Diary

Bredonborough This morning carpeting at

20.39

Bredonborough.

This morning: carpeting at World HQ, various meetings. Organising Study No. 4 at HQ & carrying stuff from place to place.

20.51  The latest DGM portrait, of The Venal Raging Artist As A Heartless Young Man, is possibly the worst ever photo made available to public gaze of, arguably, the least photogenic man I have known.

This was taken in 1969 at a passport-photo booth in London, in the morning, just back from Scarborough or Redcar or Somewhere Very Far North for a Crimson gig. The long night-drive home began after the show with a search for a petrol station, before the proliferation of 24-hour service stations. The band were self-driving in EG ‘s VW Beetle & set off from London in the morning, with an 8 hour-drive to the gig, soundcheck & performance, and an 8 hour drive back, once petrol was found. It was clear to me that no-one was sufficiently awake to drive home safely: if you see the need, it’s waiting for you to address. Once back in town, off to the photo booth.

This is an authentic depiction of life on the road with Crimso 69…

21.18  The Arising Issue is now settled & a clear course of action has been decided.

From the DGM Guestbook…

The Anthropology of Music:: Posted by jimsabis on September 10, 2006

(This) is an open post and any constructive responses are encouraged and welcome…

… I have been studying the origins and nature of consciousness for several years now. This started as result of my strong personal curiosity and interest in the topic. My studies have expanded to include, by necessity, the anthropology of mind and consciousness. These studies continue to progress through the effects of man-made technology, such as writing. It seems our minds, through the progressive development of culture, rather than strictly genetics, have made cognitive leaps as a direct result of certain creative cultural developments. The creation of the spoken word and written language are two watermarks in this progression. It has recently come to my attention that the precursor to spoken language may have been music. Accordingly, I intend to expand my studies in this direction. There is a slim possibility that my research may be turned into a book at some point.

I certainly understand that Mr. Fripp is no doubt quite busy, but any assistance and/or insights he might provide on this intriguing topic would be enormously appreciated… Jim Sabiston

Mr. Sabiston might be interested to visit AGE Blake’s writings at the Duversity site, particularly this…

John Bennett made much use of a four-fold distinction of ’mental energies’. This scheme was based on two important phenomenological factors:-

1. That we are both mechanical and creative beings. We are both conditioned and free. The influences which come from both mechanicality and creativity are ’unconscious’, out of sight of our awareness. They can appear identical but need to be distinguished as ’sub-conscious’ and ’supra-conscious’.

2. That we have a double kind of awareness. In one kind, we are just aware of what is ’outside’ of ourselves. In the other, we can be aware of both inside and outside; of the see-er as well as what is looked at.

These two distinctions enable us to set up a four-fold scheme. The first distinction is between automatic and creative. The second, between consciousness (proper) and sensitivity ( which is simply reactive). What do each of these four energies enable us to do? What is their corresponding ’work’?

Creative - this energy enables us to ’originate’. It gives a ’new beginning’ outside of our automatic repertoire. Creative impulses do not arise from our consciousness but from the supra-conscious. Every act of free attention involves this energy.

Sensitive - this energy enables us to ’notice’. When something unusual happens, or when we have to do something that we do not have a complete programme for, we have to be sensitive. Sensitivity is at work in our reactions, which can be of high intensity. Pain and pleasure come from sensitivity.

Conscious - this energy enables us to ’understand’. In the Gurdjieff tradition, to understand is ’to do’ and is not limited to thought. However, an important example is in understanding a difficult text. In one moment, one can ’see’ what it means whereas before this was not possible. No amount of sensitive energy can provide what consciousness does. Conscious energy enables us to see the whole in the part and the part in the whole. It also gives us contact with ourselves, and enables us to be detached in the midst of sensitive intensity.

Automatic - this energy enables us to ’perform’. It is the energy we use in driving a car, once we have learned how to do so. The automatic energy operates in walking, speaking and even in thinking. Everything we do involves some ’programming’

21.51    In response to an e-mail from a Crafty Pal of long acquaintance…

RF:      resolving unresolved conflicts requires goodwill by all parties, and a form of spiritual practice (however we understand that). it is possible for a situation to be changed by one party, over time, and this involves a practice of active goodwill & prayer. this does takes time, but over a period of 2-3 years something is usually possible. in extreme situations, and i know this myself, all that is likely possible is that one removes oneself from the circle of damage. probably, in extreme situations there are karmic factors involved that are beyond our normal sphere of knowing. the best approach to adopt is to see these as major spiritual challenges, opportunities to refine our practice.

Crafty Pal:      Still, the act is the SAME act despite the emotional charge of either responding from "the wound" in the 1st case, or the lack thereof in the latter.  Does it even matter as I am going to do what I am going to do?

RF:      actually, the act is not the same. the key to any act is the intent which gives rise to it. if you act while infused with negativity, the negativity keeps going. you may not see this, you may not be aware of the repercussions, but the outcome will be tainted.  

Crafty Pal:      PS My son  is moving to LA next month to play music.  I saw his band perform last evening.  They are ready, at least he and are in agreement on this.  Is there anything you suggest to help these young men? 

RF:      if they succeed, they’ll get fucked. if they fail, they’ll get fucked. that’s a given. the key is: this is a learning experience. i advise young men to have music as a hobby. music is a wonderful hobby. it is an awful way to earn a living, but possible for a young single man for a period of time, until he has children. then, his wife will say: your children need food, an education, a home. and then, he will lie for money & play music that is dishonest for him, or find a different job.

I hesitate to post the above, but hey! There’s 222 in the inbox & I’m tired.