Hong’s Stories: My first spiritual guide
How Joni Mitchell led me to my spiritual path
Amituofu! This live performance by Joni with Herbie and an incredible band is mesmerizing. Joni has inspired me since I started listening to her folk music albums like Clouds and songs like Woodstock and Song About the Midway freshman year in high school. Then I was blown away by Blue, The Hissing of Summer Lawns, Hejira, Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter and Mingus.
Joni was my musical education. Through her music, I discovered Jaco and Mingus which led me into Miles, Coltrane, and Ornette and on and on. She was also my first guide down my spiritual path though I didn’t know it at the time. Refuge of the Roads on her Hejira album is about spiritual master Chogyam Trungpa. She introduced him into my subconscious years before I started to steep in his writings.
From Joni, I learned to keep going deeper. She is a relentlessly honest explorer in her music and lyrics. Her later albums like Night Ride Home synthesize all of her styles and are again uniquely Joni. She is one person I especially wish I could sit and talk with about music and life. I am sure it would be funny and deep with a healthy dose of piss and vinegar.
More chi! Train harder!
Hong
Hong of $aint Benjamins is a Wall Street defector turned entrepreneur and Shaolin monk. Hong also performs his original songs in various settings.
