I've been a big fan of Mike Giant's for years. Ever since my ex-boyfriend Ben introduced to me his art by showing me the tattoo of a buxom nurse holding a needle that Mike did on his arm. What I love most about Mike's art is that he illustrates the type of woman I group up intimidated by in San Jose. Granted, I lived in an affluent suburb, but Chicano/Latino/Mexicano "cholas" still peppered my life - whether I was on the West side or the East side. He captures the romance of these "gangsta' women" and the almost indentured servitude and respect they give to their culture and their men. I own a couple original pieces, and am proud to call Mike an acquaintance and attend his art gatherings at the Skullz Press on Divisidero in SF. Today while surfing around on Rebel 8, the clothing line run by Joshy D, I stumbled upon the reasoning behind the "8" that I see in Mike's work, and now have a better understanding as to why others who are interested in his art might want it tattooed on them.
I have profound respect for Noah Levine and how he has been guiding the incorporation of Buddhism into the punk rock life/lifestyle throughout the world. Souls previously harboring anger, destruction, violence, and addiction have learned to set themselves free with wisdom taught through his meditation group and book - Dharma Punx.
Here Mike discusses the symbology of the "8" which I believe transcends punk, art, and instead is the act of being punk through art. It shows how we can still be spiritual while keeping our cultural identifiers.
(Seen here with Derick Montez, protoge of Mike Giant at Skullz Press. Photo courtesy of Merlin Jackson)
From Mike:
"A lot of people ask me what the “8” means. For myself, it’s a reference to the Noble Eightfold Path as taught by Shakyamuni Buddha about 2500 years ago. Through deep introspection and mindful living, following his path has revealed that my own greed, hatred, and delusion are the roots of my suffering. His teachings helped me understand that my suffering originates from within me, not from some outside source. By practicing his Noble Eightfold Path as best I can, I honestly feel like I’ve liberated myself from much of the base suffering I feel day to day by simply understanding that my ego is a creation of my thinking mind and I don’t need to pay it much attention if it isn’t helpful.
The Buddha broke his Eightfold Path down like this:
1. Right View
2. Right Intention
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration
Although this sequence isn’t particularly chronological, in my experience Right View helped the development of Right Intention, which in turn helped the development of Right Speech, and so on down the list.
Gaining a proper understanding of Right View is the first step in realizing liberation through the Eightfold Path. Right View is sometimes translated as “right perspective”, “right vision” or “right understanding”. It revealed to me a way of seeing life as it truly is in the present moment, rather than experiencing life as conceptualized within the confines of my thinking mind. In this way, Right View helps me understand that I create my own suffering, and happiness for that matter. I learned that I must be personally responsible for maintaining peace and tranquility of mind because nobody else will do it for me. Once I had really established Right View for myself, I was able to free myself from my fear of inevitable sickness, aging and my eventual death. I also began to understand the base nature of human existence and Ultimate Reality. And although Right View may begin with concepts and propositions, through diligent meditation practice it has gradually become a way for me to eradicate the distractions of my thinking mind.
Right View has also revealed to me the Law of Karma, such that every action in body, speech and mind will have a likewise reaction depending on your intention. To put it simply, if you wish to have a life free of suffering you must act with that intention in everything you do. If your intentions cause harm to those around you, it should be no surprise that someone else intends to harm you. Violence feeds violence. Only non-violence brings peace. I have certainly found this to be the case in my own experience.
Right View also revealed to me the nature of impermanence, such that all things are subject to change. Nothing is absolute, or static. There is no birth, nor death, only change. Fear of death exists in all of us, and it holds us back. We weren’t designed to last forever. We all have to make our peace with death before we can really live. Take advantage of your time right here right now before it’s too late.
As an example of how to understand Right View, consider a leaf on a tree. You may look at a leaf on a tree and allow your mind to create all kinds of distinctions about the leaf. You could compare its color to other leaves. You could compare its size and shape to other leaves. You could think about how old the leaf is or consider how long until it falls from its branch. You could give the leaf a personality and create its life story. You could consider all kinds of “What Ifs”. Like, what if a gust of wind comes along and breaks the leaf free of the branch? What if the tree catches fire? What if the leaf has magic powers?
Or, you could just sit down, quiet your mind and meditate on the leaf. This is how you get to know the leaf as expressed through Right View. With Right View, you can see that the leaf has no beginning and no end. You can see that the leaf is connected to the tree that is connected to the Earth that is connected to the sky. You can see that the rain that falls from the sky is in the leaf. You can see that the leaf produces the oxygen we all need to breathe. You can see that the veins in a leaf grow in the same way that the veins in your body grow. You can see that when the leaf is dry and old, it falls to the ground, disintegrates, becomes fertilizes for the tree, and is again reborn as the tree itself and everything around it. With Right View, you will see that you and the leaf are in fact One.
And once you have established Right View for yourself, you will also see that as a human being you were meant to be happy, content, and loved. Simple as that.
From the Dhammapada:
“All experience is preceded by mind, led by mind, made by mind.
Speak or act with a corrupted mind,
And suffering follows
As the wagon wheel follows the hoof of the ox.
All experience is preceded by mind, led by mind, made by mind.
Speak or act with a peaceful mind,
And happiness follows
Like a never-departing shadow.”"
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