John McLaughlin
As a musician I can say that without inspiration I am artistically dead, so I will choose another subject: The Universe.
Since the scientific revolution began there is a common belief that we are the only intelligent life in the universe. This view lacks imagination.
Let me start by applying imagination to our beautiful planet which is bursting with life and has been for millions of years before human life existed.
In my imagination the planet is itself alive, otherwise how could it possibly give birth to such abundance of life. It was born and it will die like every living being.
In addition, our planet revolves around our sun. The scientist tells me that the planet orbits the sun because of mutual ‘gravity’ which is ‘mutual attraction’.
To me this confers awareness to our planet because it is in a direct relationship with our sun. The fact that this awareness may seem implausible is simply a lack of imagination. Our planet may be a lesser goddess but a goddess nevertheless.
And now the living Sun. How can this magnificent God-like being be considered anything less than God-like with God-like intelligence? It is so awesome one cannot look at it with the naked eye. In addition, it performs the most magnificent and noble sacrifice of all: It consumes its own body and in the process gives light and warmth to plant and animal life on earth without which they will die. It is a Being of extremely exalted status.
It also is in direct relationship with all its planets by governing their dance around it. In addition, it has a direct relationship with a Being of even greater exalted status, our Galaxy whose awareness and intelligence are truly Cosmic…
How wonderful to live in a Universe with Gods and Goddesses instead of lumps of rock and fireballs drifting aimlessly around in Space…
My sincere thanks to John McLaughlin for contributing his creative imagination to the new issue of IMAGINE at https://imaginezine.com/john-mclaughlin, which has really brought a lot attention to our project and is generating a good deal of commentary from our readers and his friends and fans. I love and appreciate what John has to say and has expressed, and I hope you will visit our site and it enjoy it, along with the many other imaginative visions and resources to be found there. — Mark Riva, Publisher
Hello John-hope this finds you in good health especially after your tour! – as a very long term fan of your music since late 60’s I can only thank you for your incredible performances live and recorded.
In return I can only give you the right direction to your Divine quest and answers to God’s mysteries that surround us. Whatever your views on Krsna Consciousness,the translations and commentaries by Srila Prabhupada of the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam are priceless and uunparalleled – try them please.
Many thanks again John
Hare Krsna
Dear John,
Having never been inclined to write or post anything on any website or to any publication/periodical, on the umpteenth listening of the floating point ,I felt moved to sincerely express my deepest gratitude for your wonderful, timeless, beautiful musical explorations. On reading your thoughts on the source of your inspirations, the Universe, they aline completely with what I believe myself to be true. I have been listening to your gorgeous playing for nigh on 50 years and am continuously delighted and filled with joy each time I listen.
Thank you, many blessings and best wishes
How you worked all that out along half a century. Wow, nice sketch there, nice cosmogony. Great, you have just become an official philosopher of the Plan-et-ary Cit-ezens.