World Peace
Richard Shulman
How answering the Universe’s hint became a recording:
In the summer of 1985 I was preparing to create my first solo piano album, and was considering two different studios. One of the studios reserved August 5th and 6th for me, even though I had not yet committed to recording there.
Then a friend asked me to play for a peace meditation on the evening of August 5th. The meditation was to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing. She saw it as a perfect opportunity to replace the thought forms of violence and war with thoughts of love and peace.
Shortly afterward, I was asked to perform at a UNIVERSAL PEACE DAY ceremony on the morning of the 6th. I realized the Universe was giving me a hint, and an opportunity. I could actually make my own statement of and for peace! I decided to do the recording and both events, and dedicate the entire weekend to world peace.
This was what I now call a Divine set – up. The Universe had arranged itself with an opportunity, and all I had to do was to say yes and go for it. Every time I have said yes to a Divine set up, I’ve been challenged to go beyond my perceived limitations, and have benefited immensely.
Although I had music prepared to play for the album I had originally planned, I felt that none of that music was appropriate for this project. So I chose to improvise as I went. The first day in the studio, the music came out very intensely, as a prayer for peace. It was as if I was feeling and expressing a desperate need for peace in the world.
When I arrived in the studio the second day, I was feeling nervous. I felt as if I had played everything I knew how to play the day before, and I had come to the end of my resources. My mind was going on and on saying, “What am I going to play today?” In the midst of my obsessing, I began to notice that a simple little tune was already going through my mind. I listened carefully, until I was sure I could play it. Then I sat down and we began to record.
I continued to wait and listen in between each take, until I could hear inwardly what was next. The music for each piece flowed peacefully and with feeling. After a couple hours of this process, I paused for a moment and silently said, “God, I’d like to do some work for the World now.”
Soon I was filled with a profound sadness as I thought of my brothers and sisters in the Middle East, who hadn’t yet remembered that we are of one blood, that Allah is Adonai, and that children of one God can love one another. With these thoughts and feelings came music, which I played.
Gradually as I experienced each situation (South America, Ireland, the USSR and USA, and the World) and continued to play, the feelings and and visions of peace harmony and love became stronger and stronger until all I perceived was the gratitude of peace fulfilled. There was also music for this feeling.
Weeks later, after hours and hours of listening to the raw recordings, I was able to determine that the pieces which created the greatest force for peace were those from the second day. Some of these simply held a vibration and feeling of peace, and others moved from the intensity of portraying real-life situations into a musical picture of healing and peace fulfilled. I also realized that the order in which the pieces came through on the second day was significant in creating a journey into peace.
The World Peace album starts with the tune from the beginning of the second day, and mostly follows the order of the original inspiration. There is only one piece included from the first day.
This was the first recording in which I palpably experienced support from the Divine for actions taken in selfless service. I had found the rewards of letting go of any motivation besides “The Highest Good” while playing music. This intent continues to produce the greatest happiness I’ve ever known, and music which reflects this joy back to me.
