I’ve spent a long time studying the classics. Including fiction and philosophy I have read and been shaped by teachings thousands of years old.

I understand that the insight they provide is timeless. The human condition is does not seem to change so rapidly. Suffering was prevalent thousands of years ago and it still is today.

But something is changing.

The type of suffering is changing. I cannot imagine that deficiencies in mental health have ever been more prevalent than they are today, especially in the west.

And the challenges that were present thousands of years ago are not as prevalent as today.

When I look at the enlightened masters that taught on this planet, like Jesus, like Krishna, like Gautama, I realize that they spoke to specific people in a specific period.

I can appreciate that the teachings of Mohammed and Moses arose as a reaction to the cultures they lived in.  And in doing so there is a process in which I am able to distil the information. I am able to extract the timeless wisdom and see the commonalities that these teachings share.

As the world changes, as its people adopt new ideas and technologies, it can be difficult value the ancient wisdom because of the seemingly archaic culture that it arose in.

I am beginning to understand, just as Jesus spoke to the Jews, and Gautama spoke to the Brahmans, that each period of awakening demands a relevant guide.

While it can be easy for some to accept the ancient wisdom, it will not be easy for all. There will be a large portion of the population that needs to be met where they are at. There is a need for modernization. Even if the values and teachings are completely congruent with the masters that have lived, there will be a benefit for the modern world to see someone who lives in this time with them.

It is important to acknowledge where we are at collectively so the messaging can be relevant.

For example, in today’s age the attention span is very short. There are billions of ideas competing for our attention. Because of this, there are a lot more surface level interactions and less depth in communication.

Technology is a double edged sword.

And so the modern mystic must adapt. Not in pursuit of fame or followers, but if true to the Bodhisattva intention to instill peace on the planet.

What worked in the past will not work to the same degree in the present.

We live in a unique time, with a unique culture. As all times and cultures are.

So this comes with a willingness to meet the viewer where they are at.

Perhaps this is why I’ve chosen art. Yes, there is a natural inclination and appreciation for aesthetic, but also, we live in a world ruled by media and marketing.

If content is the name of the game, then that is how I will play.

I remember returning to Toronto when I was 25 and being unsure about what I wanted to do with my life. I had been fascinated with the monastic life for over half a decade and considered a quiet contemplative life in the mountains, but ultimately I chose to stay in the city with the purpose of being an artist.

I hear how vain this sounds. I am not putting myself on the same level as these masters of reality that I have spoke of. But I do value them greatly and resonate with the teachings, and knowing how they have helped me, I am prone to packaging the same ideas in a way that can help others.

And so my art is deeply spiritual. Meaning it acknowledges the eternal absolute at almost every turn. The art is a signpost leading to a life of greater fulfillment and actualized potential.

So I celebrate modernity, for it is what we have to work with. There are a lot of distractions, but there is plenty of information that supports your growth as well. The trick is to separate them, and to recognize the path that leads to your flourishing.

I am a being in a long, long line of beings. I have been shaped by my ancestors and the DNA that has been evolving for millions of years.

The landscape we live in is an ever-changing one and we must be able to adapt. We must be willing to let go of the past in order to reshape the future.

While the wisdom is timeless, there is a style that speaks to the modern world, and it is yours to discover.