MEDITATION A CULTURAL INSPIRATION

The use of remix in literature enables the modernization of another’s work in order to be expanded as a new original work to new audiences. The timeless masterpieces of the inspirational teachings of classical Chinese Taoism, known as Tao Te Ching, encouraged people to seek a simple lifestyle that is in tune with nature and the universe in order to create a harmonious balance. It is a source of spiritual lyrics that are focused on a singular ideas for how one lives their life, called “The Way”. After years of using mind-altering drugs, George Harrison, an internationally famous artist, seeking a more meaningful way of life set out on a spiritual journey of Eastern cultures. Harrison embraced the Indian culture of self-awareness or meditation and integrated the practice into his everyday life. Harrison composed the song, “The Inner Light”, by appropriating the lyrics of the Tao Te Ching verse 47 lyrics “To Act Without Doing” and combining an Indian instrumental music track that broadened the scope of mediation to the Western pop culture. To make it culturally appropriate, Harrison started by slightly modifying the poems structure by reconstructing it using common Western culture synonyms as replacement words (e.g. earth for world, heaven for sky, and travels for wanders) in the remix text of the song. By keeping the same meaning of the verse, Harrison is spreading the original text message of Taoist ethics where in life, everything comes from your own beliefs or reflections; as the song line states “Without going out of my door, I can know all things on earth.” Through remix, cultural artifacts inspire people to contribute new works in creative ways in order to extend the original idea. Harrison’s fresh perspective on the appropriated idea of meditation from the original texts creates a new original song. [300 words]