“There Is A Crack In Everything That’s How The Light Gets In.” – Leonard Cohen
“There Is A Crack In Everything That’s How The Light Gets In.” – Leonard Cohen
Shaun Nishmas
Good morning, faculty members and students.
Let me start by saying that I am very proud to be addressing such a distinguished audience.
We have gathered here today to celebrate imperfection. Yes, I said imperfection, not perfection. Today I will be talking to you about imperfection and knowledge—and how each thrives on the other. During this meeting, I will take the position that in a perfect world, you cannot attain knowledge. Only in an imperfect world can knowledge thrive. That is why we should celebrate imperfection.
Ask yourself: can you learn anything if everything were perfect?
Do we learn more when something is imperfect, or when something is perfect? I believe that we learn more when something is imperfect. If everything were perfect, all imperfections would be eliminated, and I mean ALL.
What is perfection?
The oldest definition of “perfection” is by Aristotle, a renowned Greek philosopher, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He once wrote about three different ways of looking at perfection:
1. Perfection is complete — that which contains all the requisite parts.
2. Perfection is so good that nothing of the kind could be better.
3. Perfection is that which has attained its purpose.
You might say that perfection is, broadly, a state of completeness and flawlessness. By definition, perfection would stop the pursuit of knowledge because there would be nothing left to pursue. We are talking about a state of completeness and flawlessness, after all. In other words, if everything were complete and flawless, there would be no need to learn anything.
In a perfect world, every story would have a happy ending, so we wouldn’t learn the lessons that come from sadness.
In a perfect world, we would all be New York Yankees, so we would never learn the lessons that come from the agony of defeat.
In a perfect world, everyone would be popular, so we would never learn the lessons that come from isolation and loneliness.
In a perfect world, nobody would die, so we would never learn the lessons that come from grief.
I can honestly argue that we would not need to learn anything because all our needs would be met…perfectly. So why question anything? Why bother?
So do we learn more if something is imperfect? I think so.
I would even venture to say that something needs to be imperfect before we can learn something. Even perfection isn’t perfect. Without the knowledge that comes from imperfection, perfection would cease to be perfect. According to Leonard Cohen, one of the most important and influential songwriters of the 20th century, “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”
What does Leonard Cohen mean by the crack? I believe that it is imperfection. What is imperfection? If perfection is a state of completeness and flawlessness, then imperfection is a flawed, incomplete state that could only inspire perfection in the form of knowledge.
Unless the heart breaks, you would never learn about love.
Unless you’ve been wronged, you would never learn about what is right.
Unless you failed at something, you would never learn about success.
By recognizing the lessons that come from an imperfect world and learning from them, we attain personal growth and well-being. In other words, the “light” Leonard Cohen talks about.
The pathway to this light is not a perfectly straight line. There are many cracks in the road, each leading to a different truth. Hundreds, if not thousands, of truths, in fact. In an imperfect world, there’s no limit to how much you can learn…how much light can come into your life.
I hope the cracks in your world bring light to your life.
Thank you.
A master-piece of Leonard Cohen
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Categories: Leonard Cohen Tags: "here is a crack in everything", Cohen, Crack, crack because there is light, Everything, Gets, Leonard, Light, That's, There, tot
Check out Leonard Cohen’s Live Album
Check out Leonard Cohen’s Live Album
Not only was Leonard Cohen a full time singer and songwriter he also has several other ‘hats’. He was a part time Buddhist monk as well as a poet. While his singing voice isn’t the greatest ever, he has a sort of bluesy moan that makes up for it.
Leonard Cohen really outdid himself. His live concert in London was amazing and his CD is full of pictures and consists of two discs of 26 songs. He seems to convey his troubles and feelings in a pleasantly lyrical way to his audience. He is a master at this sort of venue.
His album is a mix of both old and new songs, however getting a hold of his live material, unlike his studio CD’s can be a little bit harder. Usually the live tracks are placed at the end of an album or on side B. Take a look around and be sure not to miss these!
“The definitive live version” is what some of Cohen’s internet based fans have been calling some of his songs. The quality of sound is wonderful on his ‘Live in London’ album.
Cohen is backed by a silky-smooth band in guitarist Bob Meztger, bassist and bandleader Roscoe Beck (who has worked with Cohen since 1979), Neil Larson tickling the ivories, Rafael Bernardo Gayol at the drums and other percussion instruments, background singer Sharon Robinson and playing a variety of instrumental and vocal duties, the combination of sisters Charley and Hattie Webb and Dino Soldo.
Live In London- Leonard Cohen is amazing and draws the fans in. Go to CDWow if you are searching to purchase the New Leonard Cohen CD.
Performing on the Julie Felix Show in 1967.
Leonard Cohen Tours the World in 2009
Leonard Cohen Tours the World in 2009
Having published his first book of poems at the young age of twenty-two in 1956, Leonard Cohen has since continued to achieve success in everything he has done during his long career as a singer-songwriter, poet, musician, novelist, and poet. While having been known early on for his literary capabilities – publishing four collections of poems and two novels before recording his debut album in 1967 – Cohen has since exceeded expectations in the musical world, and has overshadowed his own literary works with his award winning musical talents.
Cohen has received a number of titles and honors over the years, several of which fall outside of his musical and written talents, such as becoming ordained a Rinzai Buddhist monk, being made a Companion of the Order of Canada, and being made a Grand Officer of the National Order of Quebec. He has also won multiple Juno awards, one for Male Vocalist of the Year and another for Songwriter of the Year, and has been inducted to both the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Leonard Cohen has embarked on his 2009 World Tour, his second in as many years, and this time he will be performing across the United States for the first time in 15 years. Totaling 73 shows, Cohen will travel across North America throughout spring, and continue touring in the summer across Europe. Be sure not to miss this talented and timeless Canadian-born musician as he is sure to be performing in a venue near you!
2009 North American Tour Dates
February 19 – New York, NY – The Beacon
April 1 – Austin, TX – The Long Center
April 2 – Austin, TX – The Long Center
April 3 – Grand Prairie, TX – Nokia Theatre
April 5 – Phoenix, AZ – Dodge Theater
April 7 – San Diego, CA – Copley Symphony Hall
April 10 – Los Angeles, CA – Nokia Theatre LA LIVE
April 11 – Los Angeles, CA – Nokia Theatre LA LIVE
April 13 – Oakland, CA – Paramount Theatre
April 14 – Oakland, CA – Paramount Theatre
April 15 – Oakland, CA – Paramount Theatre
April 17 – Indio, CA – Coachella Festival
April 19 – Vancouver, BC – General Motors Place
April 21 – Victoria, BC – Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
April 23 – Seattle, WA – WaMu Theater
April 25 – Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place
April 26 – Calgary, AB – Jack Singer Hall
April 28 – Saskatoon, SK – Credit Union Centre
April 30 – Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre
May 3 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre
May 5 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre
May 6 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre
May 9 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre-Detroit
May 11 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
May 12 – Philadelphia, PA – Academy of Music
May 14 – Waterbury, CT – Palace Theater
May 16 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
May 17 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
May 19 – Hamilton, ON – Copps Coliseum
May 21 – Quebec City, QC – Pavillion de la Jeunesse
May 22 – Kingston, ON – K-Rock Centre Arena
May 24 – London, ON – John Labatt Centre
May 25 – Ottawa, ON – National Arts Centre – Southam Hall
May 26 – Ottawa, ON – National Arts Centre – Southam Hall
May 29 – Boston, MA – Wang Theatre
May 30 – Boston, MA – Wang Theatre
June 2 – Denver, CO – Red Rocks Amphiteatre
2009 European Tour Dates
July 1 – Köln/Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena
July 2 – Berlin, Germany – O2 Arena
July 4 – Antwerp, Belgium – Sport Palais
July 6 – Nantes, France – Zenith
July 7 – Paris, France – Bercy
July 9 – Toulouse, France – Zenith
July 11 – Weybridge, UK – Mercedes Benz World
July 14 – Liverpool, UK – Arena
July 16 – Langesund, Norway – Langesund Festival
July 17 – Molde, Norway – Jazz Festival
July 19 – Dublin, Ireland – O2 Arena
July 20 – Dublin, Ireland – O2 Arena
July 22 – Dublin, Ireland – O2 Arena
July 23 – Dublin, Ireland – O2 Arena
July 26 – Belfast, Northern Ireland – Odyssey
July 30 – Lisbon, Portugal – Atlântico Arena
July 31 – Léon, Spain – Plaza de Toros Léon Arena
August 3 – Venice, Italy – St Marks Square
August 11 – Palma de Mallorca, Spain – Palma Arena
August 13 – Vigo, Spain – Festival Castrelos
August 15 – Girona, Spain – Festival Cap Roig
August 18 – Vienne, France – Theatre Antique
August 20 – Nimes, France – Arena
August 22 – Monte Carlo, Monaco – Sporting Club Monte-Carlo
August 23 – Monte Carlo, Monaco – Sporting Club Monte-Carlo
August 26 – Wiesen, Austria – Wiesen Festival
August 28 – Bratislava, Slovakia – Inchebo Expo Arena
August 29 – Prague, Czech Republic – O2 Arena
August 31 – Budapest, Hungary – Arena
September 2 – Belgrade, Serbia – Belgrade Arena
September 4 – Bucharest, Romania – Piata Constitutiei
September 12 – Madrid, Spain – Palacio de los Sportes
September 13 – Granada, Spain – Colisseum
September 17 – Vizkaya, Spain – Bizkaia Arena
September 21 – Barcelona, Spain – Palau St Jordi
September 24 – Tel Aviv, Israel – Ramat Gan Stadium
Leonard Cohen tickets available at:
ShowTime Tickets
604-688-5000
1-800-480-SHOW(7469)
www.showtimetickets.com
