Page 24 - Black Velvet Issue 94

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These experiences allow us to see This was inspiring and uplifting and
how connected everything truly is. made us see the power of peace,
Everything is equal in importance, love and music combined,” says
just as the trees absorb the CO2 Stu.
we breathe out and we breath in So, what makes a peace pirate
the oxygen they release. It is one exactly? Stu tells us, “A peace pi-
motion, that is synchronicity, seeing rate is simply an expression of
that it is all one.” peace, and peace is the result of
letting go and seeing that we are
he album opens with ‘Mind- being done by something far more
Tscape’. Keith says that hav- amazing than we can imagine.”
ing a clear mind is important when You too can become a peace
writing and performing music. “The pirate though – it’s not just confined
mind can become noisy at times to the band members themselves.
and quietening it down is highly Stu says that “Being a Peace Pirate
beneficial to becoming more in- is no longer listening to the mind
spired and creative. Music is simply that believes, but moving into
another expression of the soul, so spaces beyond the limitation of the
although music is a big part of that condition to see that we are already
expression, it is not the only ex- free. Peace is here and now, and
pression. Poetry and painting and no thought can reveal the peace
sculpting and writing books are that it is hiding beneath; our being
also part of this journey, amongst is closer than thought. A peace pi-
other interests such as reading rate is becoming an instrument of
books on the subject of liberation; peace, and an uplifting force of light
for example, The Power Of Now and love in the world.”
and A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, And do the Xander brothers
True Meditation and The Way Of ever think there will be peace on
Liberation by Adyashanti, are also earth?
wonderful books for those who truly Keith replies, “Only if each indi-
seek a deeper truth and under- vidual can see the peace that they
standing of peace. Zen Buddhism already are before their being is
is part of this, as are the countless covered up with fearful and divisive
others teaching that point to self-re- thinking. Peace on Earth is an in-
alisation. When you see what they side job. As long as we continue to
are pointing to, along with all reli- believe that changing out there will
gion, you see how misunderstood bring peace in here, we are missing
these pointings are, because the the point of who we are. In reality,
words are only symbols of the truth. there is no in here or out there, it is
They only point to truth and these all one, but that can only be fully
teachings all give you pointers of seen when the mind is still and it
how to transcend the thinking that cannot be taught, only pointed to
limits our capacity to perceive real- and experienced through deep self
ity clearly and move from a con- enquiry. It begins with letting go of
tracted state of being to an that which limits us; mainly
expanded infinite stateless being. thoughts and feelings. That means
‘Mindscape’ is really about accept- letting go of the false identity we
ing the thoughts and feelings that believe ourselves to be, the person
arise so that our consciousness we take ourselves to be is just a
can move beyond the noise they bunch of thoughts and feelings, the
create.” one that perceives this cannot be
Currently the band have their perceived or imagined as it is the
mind set on working on their next foundation of what we are, pure
album. “Part of the process is to re- awareness or being or whatever
main peaceful within the creation of names or symbols you wish to use.
the music so that the message is The question we have to ask if we
strong and strikes a chord in the lis- wish to experience true peace is,
tener,” says Keith. “A big part of fo- am I still here when I stop focusing
cusing is silencing the mind, on the thoughts that arise within? If
meditation and practicing being those thoughts are removed tem-
present and thus abiding in a more porarily, then who am I really? If,
pure awareness aids this process when I am fully present, I am at
massively. The main goal is to stay peace because I am not focused
true to the message of peace and on thinking about the past and fu-
love. Music is a wonderful medium ture and therefore free of the limit-
to spread this message. The ulti- ing identity, then who is it that
mate goal is to be an instrument of perceives all of this that arises in
peace and remain as a source of awareness? And the deeper you
light and love in a world that needs go, the more you realise that what
it more than ever; we are part of you are is more like an empty infi-
that wave of awakening to the so- nite space in which all phenome-
lutions to the problem.” non appears. It is easier to begin
with what I am not before we can
he Xander brothers first be- understand the unified field of con-
Tcame interested in peace, sciousness. Reading True Medita-
love and music after watching the tion and The Way of Liberation by
Woodstock films. “It was a time of Adyashanti and applying his point-
true connection and togetherness. ing is a good start; these books are

XANDER AND THE PEACE PIRATES