Though much has been written and said about artist/activist/statesmen Aimé Césaire, much more needs to written about his partner Suzanne, a brilliant surrealist thinker, and mother of the Afrosurreal aesthetic. Her quest for “The Marvelous” over the “miserablism” expressed in the usual arts of protest inspired the Tropiques surrealist group, and especially René Ménil.
“The true task of mankind consists solely in the attempt to bring the marvelous into real life,” Ménil says in “Introduction to the Marvelous,” “so that life can become more encompassing. So long as the mythic imagination is not able to overcome each and every boring mediocrity, human life will amount to nothing but useless, dull experiences, just killing time, as they say.”
Suzanne Césaire’s proclamation, “Be in permanent readiness for The Marvelous,” quickly became a credo of the movement; the word “marvelous” has since become re-contextualized with regard to contemporary black arts and interventions.
Relevant, but in double-edged sword kind of way, while taking ChatGPT for a walk to check its stride, I typed in the following prompt ...
"Please list some of the mystic traditions that are common to all institutional religions."
And the response was impressive ...
"While not all institutional religions have mystic traditions, many do share some common elements or practices that can be considered mystic. These elements often involve seeking a direct experience of the divine or ultimate reality through personal contemplation, meditation, or other spiritual practices. Here are some examples of mystic traditions found across various religions:
Prayer and Meditation: Practitioners across religious traditions use prayer and meditation to focus their minds and hearts on the divine or ultimate reality. Examples include Christian contemplative prayer, Buddhist mindfulness meditation, and Hindu mantra meditation.
Asceticism: Many mystic traditions involve some form of ascetic practice, such as fasting, celibacy, or other forms of self-discipline, in order to purify the mind and body and develop spiritual insight.
Spiritual Guidance: In many mystic traditions, seekers rely on the guidance of spiritual teachers or mentors who have experience in the spiritual path. This may include the relationship between a spiritual director and their directee in Christianity, the guru-disciple relationship in Hinduism, or the relationship between a Sufi master and their disciple in Islam.
Mystical Experiences: Experiences of direct communion with the divine or ultimate reality are common to many mystic traditions. These experiences are often described as transcending ordinary human consciousness and can include visions, auditions, ecstasy, or profound feelings of love and unity.
Use of Sacred Texts: Mystics often use sacred texts as a source of inspiration, guidance, and contemplation. This might involve reading, memorizing, or meditating on passages from religious scriptures, such as the Bible, the Quran, the Bhagavad Gita, or the Buddhist sutras.
Symbolism and Allegory: Mystical teachings often employ symbols, allegories, or metaphors to convey spiritual truths that are difficult to express in ordinary language. Examples include Christian parables, Kabbalistic interpretations of Jewish texts, and the symbolic imagery found in Hindu and Buddhist art.
Rituals and Sacraments: Many mystic traditions incorporate rituals and sacraments as means of expressing and deepening one's connection with the divine or ultimate reality. Examples include Christian sacraments such as baptism and the Eucharist, Islamic rituals such as prayer and fasting, and Hindu rites like puja and darshan.
Community and Fellowship: Mystics often seek the support and companionship of like-minded individuals or communities, whether through informal gatherings, monastic orders, or spiritual organizations. Examples include Christian monastic communities, Sufi orders, and Buddhist sanghas.
It's important to note that these elements can vary in emphasis and expression within and between different religious traditions, and not all mystics or religious practitioners engage in every one of these practices."
Wow. It took less than 30 seconds for ChatGPT4 to come up with that response.
A machine like a fast car is not a man. I am all too human. Prick me I bleed.
Though much has been written and said about artist/activist/statesmen Aimé Césaire, much more needs to written about his partner Suzanne, a brilliant surrealist thinker, and mother of the Afrosurreal aesthetic. Her quest for “The Marvelous” over the “miserablism” expressed in the usual arts of protest inspired the Tropiques surrealist group, and especially René Ménil.
“The true task of mankind consists solely in the attempt to bring the marvelous into real life,” Ménil says in “Introduction to the Marvelous,” “so that life can become more encompassing. So long as the mythic imagination is not able to overcome each and every boring mediocrity, human life will amount to nothing but useless, dull experiences, just killing time, as they say.”
Suzanne Césaire’s proclamation, “Be in permanent readiness for The Marvelous,” quickly became a credo of the movement; the word “marvelous” has since become re-contextualized with regard to contemporary black arts and interventions.
Excellent piece Steigel.
Relevant, but in double-edged sword kind of way, while taking ChatGPT for a walk to check its stride, I typed in the following prompt ...
"Please list some of the mystic traditions that are common to all institutional religions."
And the response was impressive ...
"While not all institutional religions have mystic traditions, many do share some common elements or practices that can be considered mystic. These elements often involve seeking a direct experience of the divine or ultimate reality through personal contemplation, meditation, or other spiritual practices. Here are some examples of mystic traditions found across various religions:
Prayer and Meditation: Practitioners across religious traditions use prayer and meditation to focus their minds and hearts on the divine or ultimate reality. Examples include Christian contemplative prayer, Buddhist mindfulness meditation, and Hindu mantra meditation.
Asceticism: Many mystic traditions involve some form of ascetic practice, such as fasting, celibacy, or other forms of self-discipline, in order to purify the mind and body and develop spiritual insight.
Spiritual Guidance: In many mystic traditions, seekers rely on the guidance of spiritual teachers or mentors who have experience in the spiritual path. This may include the relationship between a spiritual director and their directee in Christianity, the guru-disciple relationship in Hinduism, or the relationship between a Sufi master and their disciple in Islam.
Mystical Experiences: Experiences of direct communion with the divine or ultimate reality are common to many mystic traditions. These experiences are often described as transcending ordinary human consciousness and can include visions, auditions, ecstasy, or profound feelings of love and unity.
Use of Sacred Texts: Mystics often use sacred texts as a source of inspiration, guidance, and contemplation. This might involve reading, memorizing, or meditating on passages from religious scriptures, such as the Bible, the Quran, the Bhagavad Gita, or the Buddhist sutras.
Symbolism and Allegory: Mystical teachings often employ symbols, allegories, or metaphors to convey spiritual truths that are difficult to express in ordinary language. Examples include Christian parables, Kabbalistic interpretations of Jewish texts, and the symbolic imagery found in Hindu and Buddhist art.
Rituals and Sacraments: Many mystic traditions incorporate rituals and sacraments as means of expressing and deepening one's connection with the divine or ultimate reality. Examples include Christian sacraments such as baptism and the Eucharist, Islamic rituals such as prayer and fasting, and Hindu rites like puja and darshan.
Community and Fellowship: Mystics often seek the support and companionship of like-minded individuals or communities, whether through informal gatherings, monastic orders, or spiritual organizations. Examples include Christian monastic communities, Sufi orders, and Buddhist sanghas.
It's important to note that these elements can vary in emphasis and expression within and between different religious traditions, and not all mystics or religious practitioners engage in every one of these practices."
Wow. It took less than 30 seconds for ChatGPT4 to come up with that response.
💯🤍 Love this ... The Marvelous