The Instrument

The instrument, or tool, is defined as a means by which something is done, an agency. An implement used to facilitate work. So then examples are given...

We do not say the extravagant violin is the most beautiful, greatest, supreme violin that plays more beautiful music than any other on Earth above all else! Why? Because we know placed in the hands of someone who knows nothing of playing it will bring very little in the form of "music" to our ears. We know that in fact someone knowing very little may actually even harm the instrument, place it out of tune, possibly damage it if they are extremely crude in their knowledge and mishandle it treating it like a guitar or an instrument it is not. Aside from us all knowing this instinctively, we also will know the following. We know that a more refined "player" having more refined thinking and knowledge of the art which is the playing of this instrument, will bring about the most beautiful "music" the violin is capable of playing. And having opposite the crude knowledge of the one previously mentioned, will bring opposite results to the violin. Instead of playing it "out of tune" ... They may "fine tune it" to a degree far surpassing even the one who has made the violin. They may take a masterpiece of an instrument from birth, and raise it even a higher plane than it's creator.

As also we give further suggestion to understand fully what is offered for thought here. The fact that a "lesser" instrument, staying with the violin for familiarity's sake, is played by the refined mind or the crude mind, the results are fairly identical. The crude thinking, lacking understanding of the art, will play the violin of less refined quality in the same poor fashion as the refined violin with no discernible difference. As the refined thinking, having high understanding of the art, will make a violin made of lesser refinement sound like one made more refined than even the creator, or anyone else around, imagined it could ... Even if the one playing it is somewhat less comfortable with what he is playing, being more used to playing higher quality or "refined" instruments.

When writing I try to use clear examples I know to be true that show clearly what I suggest without being of myself. As when you refer to "I" the chord of the ego is struck and people tend to concentrate on "He thinks his "I" is better than MY "I" and the focus is not. That is for another suggestion ... With that said I give yet another example breaking a "general rule" I often keep and give personal experience, thus experiment, that is proven by myself over many years.

As I have held a profession of Chef/Cook for extended time now, I may offer this. That in early years, the first half of a decade if looking to put in a perspective of time, I used what I consider, inferior or less refined tools...namely, knives. Always being a perfectionist, and quite a "competitor" in those times I always strived to improve technique and my personal skills above those I watched. I studied technique and practiced quite often much of what I wished to acquire using the "less refined" tools I had readily at my disposal... To my dismay I struggled to execute much of it to the degree I wished or desired. At first upset with myself, but being a keen observer of all details, also noticed in many instances the "instruments" being used by those I "studied" did not match mine. So I studied the "instruments" and got suggestions and feedback of experience from those who I felt had balance of opinion  and experience in the matter. In other words, people I felt had expertise in use as well as general function of the instrument. I acquired a couple knives considered more refined and resumed my techniques I wished to improve. Without doubt, techniques I found difficult to improve, let alone master, improved exponentially with more refined tools. The ease and speed, or time needed, to improve was considerably different. It is concluded that superior tools will improve results of even the simple minded, inferior skilled, of us ... though as my skill has progressed of my own accord so too has the capabilities of all tools I use, refined and not so much, alike. And noted the more refined my personal skill and general refinement of self, the more I am drawn to greater refined tools, their proper uses and avoidance of misuses, and maintenance with my own personal refinement (of my own hand or done by someone I trust) of said tools as they advance in "age" in my possession. I find passion in offering education and experience to those who may misuse or are clearly in ignorance of their tools no matter the refinement of them.  And it is clear to see why the more "refined" of us cringe many times when we see an instrument built with great thought, detail, and passion in great refinement being used by the cruder of us in a manner not showing respect to the tool it was built with. It is not a personal matter, nor material matter, that may raise the hair on our arms, the temperature of our blood, the brow or expression of our face when we witness this. No, it is a subconscious feeling that the seasoned and unseasoned alike feel the connection of maker and user in disharmony. It's not so much the use of the material (knife), or misuse in this instance, it is the lack of harmony in thought between the one who has created the instrument and the one who possesses now the instrument. Whether we are conscious of it or not, we feel the grave mistake being made by the one wielding such an instrument not to, or worse, care to, have understanding of the value and gift of such an instrument placed in their possession. We feel a disconnect/misuse of a law, not made of man, but applying to all men.

The suggestion of mind comes as so. It is easy to see as I found, that using a more refined instrument may send to you knowledge, understanding, inspiration, passion and qualities held in the making of that instrument when you hold that instrument. Some may say this is unlikely. Again lets observe facts we've considered not only here, but in our own experience. The making of a superior instrument requires a superior knowledge and understanding of how that instrument should be used. Picking up a superior violin is not going to make you a master violinist, no more than picking up a knife made with decades of knowledge and hand forged precision is going to make you a master chef. BUT, if even the least skilled of us at either mentioned art picks up either the hand crafted knife or violin and say they do not feel in some way the passion and inspiration built into those instruments above the ones cheaply, or simply, made with inferior thought, understanding, passion, etc we can safely disregard it as untruth. And if we use the "superior" instrument the better, more substantial, and quicker the growth of the mind using it seems to come. Though it is ultimately the person (mind) that will determine the connection between it and the instrument and ultimately "MAKE" the instrument ... we find the instrument is made by mind, not the person (or mind) made of instrument. Be it that a higher mind needs a more refined instrument to fully express itself.

As stated from the start the instrument should never become the end or held above mind that wields it. It is simply a "means" as defined from beginning. It is the subordinate and not the master. As money will not buy "happiness" as many a rich man has died just the same or in worse condition as the poor man. The violin is not the supreme, it is simply an instrument for the supreme (mind) to express itself to high degree. The more refined the instrument being used, the more refined and of higher vibration and plane may the mind bring forward. As even those not consciously knowing of an art, can FEEL the difference of the violinist playing on a refined instrument as apposed to the unrefined instrument. As such without superior instrument, the superior mind, spirit, being may not express itself fully.

This is an understanding that is valuable to have because what happens if we can not build a refined instrument for ourselves? If we lack respect for the refined instrument given to us? If it is our being's highest desire to express ourselves in the highest forms, but it is clear we require higher forms of instruments to fully do so, it is logical that our minds will seek to refine or build a superior instrument and if unable, or destroying such instrument in our possession, seek a new instrument all together. If our business is a that of a chef, violinist or any other profession it does not end when our instrument breaks, we have outgrown it, or need a more refined one to express increase in our skills and become more efficient... correct or not? So it is if our body becomes worn out and of no use to our thought, when it is laid to rest is it not true our thought carries on? Are words, thoughts in motion, of a thousand years plus still not in existence today regardless of the mouth of those words being no longer here? Is it not then clear our body is simply an instrument and not the supreme? A means and not an end? If it is the mind that controls and makes the instrument, what does that say about us? Intelligent implication holds limitless truth even if limiting minds are considering it. So all minds alike in every form of growth I place this for consideration.

Kindest Regards