Professional Documents
Culture Documents
PaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundationhomepage>NotebooksofPaulBrunton>Category14:TheArtsinCulture>
Chapter2:Creativity,Genius
Creativity,Genius
Creativity
1
Thetrueselfisthecreativecentrewithinus.
2
ThecreativemindbringsforththeEternalPresentoutoftheunlimitedtheordinarymind
bringsforthmereechoesoutofitslimitedpastexperiencesalone.
3
Aworkiscreativeifitisoriginallyconceived,thatis,iftheprocessofgivingitsbasic
andfundamentalideasbirthisanintuitive,illuminating,andinspirationalone.
4
Itisamistaketobelievethatthiscreativitycomesonlybyasuddenflash.Itmayalso
comebygraduateddegrees.Thedifferencedependsontheresistancemet.
5
Theoriginalcreativemindinitiatesitsownideas,butwheredotheycomefrom?You
mightaswellaskwheredoesallinspirationcomefrom.Therearedeeperlevelsofthe
humanconsciousnesswhichfeedtheinspiredpersonattimes.Itisbeyondemotionand
beyondthinking,althoughweexpressitspromptingsthroughthesethings.
6
Noartistreallycreatesanything.Allhecandoistotrytocommunicatetoothersinturn
whathasbeencommunicatedtohim.
7
Ifhesucceedsintransmittingthroughthemediumofhisworksomethingofthe
inspirationhereceives,behepriestorartist,heistrulycreative.
8
Atrueartistwillsearchforformsworthyofhisinspiration,itsbeautyandpower.
9
Thosewhowrite,paint,draw,compose,andsculptshouldbringtheircreationsfrom
spheresofinspirationwhichareradiantwithlight.Yettoomanydotheveryoppositeand
presentuswithmisshapenfigures,patterns,poems,andmusicalpieceswhichnullify
hope,meaning,andorderandenshroudgloom.
10
Thecreativepowerofman,workingthroughimaginationorsensitivity,hasbroughtto
birththemusicalcomposition,thepaintedpicture,thewrittennovel,andothergreat
formsofart.Theyaretheformswhichmovefeelingandinspireaction.
11
Theartistwhoisinspiredbynothinghigherthanthethirstfordollarsandcents,fameand
notoriety,powerandinfluence,willneverproducethehighestpossibleart.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/14/2
1/9
14/5/2015
12
Itisthetaskofacreativethinkertogiveoutnewideas.
13
Thecreativefacultyshouldbecultivatedanddevelopedasbothagreataidto,andan
expressionof,spiritualgrowth.
14
Theprocessesofmeditationareanalogous,uptoacertainpoint,totheprocessesof
artisticcreation.
15
Theneedofselfexpressionincreativeeffortisparamountwiththeartist.Hisjobishis
joy.Thisinnerrelationshiptohisworkisimportantandsatisfying.
16
Itisnotenoughforthewriter,thepoet,thepainter,orthecomposerofmusictobe
original,forsomemenhavefoundoriginalformsofmurderandofrobbery.Moreover,
insanityhasnotseldompassedamongtheartistsfororiginality.Alsoithasbeen
associatedwithexhibitionismandwithneuroticism,withthedesireforpublicity,todraw
attentiontooneself.Inshort,itcanbeamaladyoftheego.Hewhoistrulyoriginallearns
tothinkforhimselfandespeciallytobeawareforhimselfresistingtheinfluences,the
suggestions,andthepressuresofhissurroundings.Allhumanbeingsaredestinedto
developuntiltheyacquirethiskindoforiginality,forthentheywillcomeclosetothe
fulfilmentofthemainpurposeofhumanexistence.
17
Originalityiscertainlyandeagerlytobewelcomed,butwhenitmeanssacrificing
everythingworthwhile,whenitsrevolutionisaggressiveonlyinordertosurprisebyits
uglinessorshockbyitscoarseness,whenitbecomesmeaninglesstotheaudienceand
insultingasasocalledartisticproduction,itoughttobefirmlyrejected.
18
Whyshouldwenotgiveagreatgeniusalittleextralatitudetobreaksociety'srules?Ina
fewyearshewillbegoneforeverbutthepowerofhisworkwillcontinuetoimpregnate
somanymindsforsolongatime.Anditisthisthatreallymatterstous,nothisbrief
peccadilloesorshortcomings.
19
Forthesakeofafewpossiblegeniuseswhomightappearamongthem,thehordesof
pseudo,mediocre,uninspired,oruntalentedartistshavetobeendured.Alas!wewait
andwaitfortheirmasterpieces.Mostperhapshaveashallowsincerity,beingyoungand
luredtoartasaseeminglyeasymeansofmakingalivingoracquiringfamebutthey
havetoolittleknowledge,norealcreativityatall,andonlyacapacityforimitation.This
explainswhytheirworklacksqualityandwillpassaway:animitatedeccentricityisnot
freshdiscoverynortruevisionoftheuniverse'sorder.
20
Theirselfconsciousattemptstoappearoriginalmayjustifycriticismbutatleastthey
showappreciationoftheideathatoriginalityiscreative,isaripplefromthehigherlevels
ofourbeing,issomethingtobeadmired,valued,andsoughtfor.
21
Tobecreativeinthefullsenseitisnotenoughtoputthethoughtintowords:thepicture
mustsummarizeandsuggestit.Bothmustgodeepdownandtouch,evendisappearinto,
theStillness.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/14/2
2/9
14/5/2015
22
Tostimulatehiscreativityinwhateverfieldheengagesin,heshouldbringamoreloving
interestintoit.Forinstance,theartistwholoveshisworkislikelytobemorecreative
thantheonewhoengagesinitwithoutsuchfeeling.
23
Thetwothingswhichanyoneneedstobecomecreative,whetherinanyofthearts,
sciences,orcrafts,inprofessionalskills,orevenintheartoflivingitself,arefirst,the
instrument,andsecond,theinspiration.Technique,talent,abilityarenotenough.
Originality,freshness,greatpower,geniuscomefromabove.
24
Theartist,thewriter,orthecomposerwhofeelsthatheisgettingintohisstrideona
pieceofwork,feelsalsoanexultantjoy.
25
Anartisticproductionthatisreallyinspiredmustgivejoytoitscreatoratthetimeof
creationequallyastoitspossessor,hearer,orbeholder.Ifitdoesnot,thenitisnot
inspired.
26
Theimaginationcanpeopleaman'satmospherewithcreationsthataredevilishor
heavenly,candrawothermendownwardorliftthemupward.Beingacreativeartistdoes
notentitleanyonetocompletelicenseorjustifyhisclaimtobeingthehighesttype.There
areotherconsiderations.
27
Hisartismadeoutofhisinnerlife.Ifthatiscrooked,insane,orhorrible,ifthoughtsand
feelingsareinatangledmess,thenthepoems,pictures,ormusicwillcorrespondtoitand
bejustasdistortedorunbalanced.
28
Letamanwithdrawfarenoughfromtheactiveworldandtheimpetusforcreativework
willwithdrawwithhim.For,belongingnomoretothatlife,helosesinterestinit.
29
Itisnotonlythemysticandthemeditatorwhomaypassthroughadarknightofthesoul,
butalsotheartist.Hemayfindthathiscreativefacultyseemstohavedesertedhim.
Eitherhewilldonoworkatallordiscontinuewhathehasbeentryingtodoandchange
toadifferentworkinwhichhecansummonupaninterest.Heknowsthatonedaythe
phasewillpassandthismaybeinamatterofdays,weeks,ormonths.
30
Anothercauseofunequalvalueinproductions,ofdeteriorationinformandspirit,isthat
theartistorwritermayoutlivehiscreativepowers.
31
Thosesterileweeksareknownbyeveryartist,whenwordsaredraggedoutfromthepen
asthoughtheywereteeth,andwheninspirationturnsdisappointinglyintoamirage.
32
Mostofusknowthatinspirationflickersoritsimplydriesup.Atsuchtimestheobject
isusuallyputasideuntilthelightreturns.Thisprocedureisquitesensiblefromapractical
workingstandpoint.However,itignoresthefactthattherearelayersofconsciousness,
andthatwhenonelayerdriesup,it'sworthwhiletopenetratethedeeperoneforitexists.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/14/2
3/9
14/5/2015
Genius,inspiration,technique
33
Geniusflashesfromfactstoconclusion,whileargumentslowlylaboursstepbystepin
sortingthemout.
34
Whatisitthatmanifestsitselfduringthecreativemomentsofgenius?Acurrentofforce
fromtheOverself!Itsinspirationactsasacatalyzer,thatis,itreleasesthecreative
imagination,whichsetstoworktoprovideanappropriateformforitsmanifestation.
35
ItisfromthislevelofconsciousnessjustbeforethatoftheOverselfthatallgreatartand
allgreatideasderive,presentingthemselvestotheconsciousmindasinspirationsor
intuitions.
36
AllgreatdramadidnotdiewithShakespeare,andallgreatphilosophyhasnotperished
withPlato.Perhapstherearebrightersoulsthantheirswaitingtobebornduringthis
century.Theinfinitestorehousewhencegeniusdrawsitswealthisnotlessinfiniteinthe
twentieththanitwasinthesixteenthcentury.
37
Thegeniusisbothreceptiveandexpressive.Whathegetsintuitivelyfromwithinhe
givesoutagainintheformsofhisartorskill.
38
Themostvaluablecontributionwhichanyartistorwritercanmaketotheworldistolet
himselfbecarriedawaybyinspiredmoodswhenhecangiveutterancetotheOverself's
voice,radiateitsbeauty,dispenseitswisdom,andshowitsbenignity.
39
Theartistmustraisethecupofhisvisionalofttothegodsinthehighhopethattheywill
pourintoitthesweetmellowwineofinspiration.Ifhisstaroffairfortunefavourshim
thatday,thenmusthesurrenderhislipstothesoftlureoftheambercoloureddrinkthat
setscareaflyingandrestorestothetonguetheforgottenlanguageofthesoul.Forthese
sibyllineinspirationsofhiscomefromaskythatisbrighterthanhisown,andhecannot
controlit.
40
Theinspiredindividualdoesnotneedtorehashanddeliverotherpeople'sideas.His
poweriscreativethroughhismedium,truthorbeautyarebornanew.
41
Hecreates,nottoexpresshissmallpersonalityassomanyothersdo,buttoescapefrom
it.Foritistothedivinewhichtranscendshim,whichisloftilyimpersonal,thathelooks
forinspiration.
42
Theinspiredmandoesnotworkinordertosubmithispagestothefinetasteanddelicate
noseoftheliterarycriticsnordoeshewritetoentertaintheboredortoprovidefresh
subjectsforthetittletattleofparlourandclub.HewritesbecauseheMUST.
43
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/14/2
4/9
14/5/2015
Thesupremelygiftedartistwhoworksprimarilyoutofpureloveofhisartwhetheritbe
writing,painting,ormusicratherthanoutofloveofitsrewards,sometimesapproaches
andarrivesatthissameconceptthroughanotherchannel.Suchageniusunconsciously
throwstheplumblineoffeelingintothedeepmysteryofhisbeing.Heisliftedbeyondhis
ordinaryselfathismostinspiredmoments.Hefeelsthatheisfloatinginadeeper
element.HereceivesintimationsofthepuretimelessrealityofMind,whosebeauty,he
nowdiscovers,hisbestworkshavevainlysoughttoadumbrate.Theflashofinsightis
grantedhim,althoughifheisonlyanartistandnotalsoaphilosopherhemaynotknow
howtoretainit.
44
Theactorwhoneverloseshisownegointhepersonageheisportrayingmaybeamanof
muchtalent,buthemaynotbeagenius.
45
Theartisthasthisadvantageovertheintellectual,thatherecognizessooner,obstructs
lessoften,andobeysmorequicklytheintuitiveprompting.
46
Iftheartistbecomestrulyinspiredhewillnotseektobringhorrortomenbutrather
beauty.Thiswillbesowhateverwayitshowsitselfcolour,sound,word,orform.The
finalstepisnotwithbeautyforitsownsakebutforwhatitpointsandleadstothe
beautifulConsciousnesswhichawaitsman,theinnerbeauty.
47
Ifhecomposes,paints,sculpts,orwritesasthelightwithinshowshimthethingor
thoughttobedepictednotasopinion,bias,oruntruthurgeshimhewillbetruly
inspired.
48
Thereisthisqualityaboutaninspiredwork,thatyoucancomebacktoitagainandagain
anddiscoversomethingfreshorhelpfulorbeautifulorbenedictory.
49
Suchaninspiredproductiongivesoutaformofenergywhichmakesthosewhocan
receiveitwithenoughsympathyfeelandseewhatitscreatorfeltandsaw.Thereisan
actualtransmission.
50
Theinspirationwillcometotheextentthatheletsgoofhimselfwhenheopensthepiano,
tothedegreethatheforgetsthatheistheartist,thewriter,whenhetakesupthebrush,
thepen.
51
Perhapsitisamatterofsustainedpowerofconcentration.Perhapsthegeniushasthis
abilitytomaintainsteadyandunbrokenconcentrationuponthepartplayedwithouta
breaksothatthoughtsofselfconsciousnessorofwhattheaudienceisthinkingdonot
havethepowertoenterin.Therefore,theartistwhohassuccessfullymasteredtheartof
meditationshouldbeabletotransferthequalitiessodevelopedtotheworkofcreationor
ofcompositioninhisartandthusattainastateofgenius.Fortositwithoutmoving,
intenselyconcentrated,heldcompletelybytheobjectofconcentration,isonewayof
providingpartofthenecessaryconditionsforartisticcreativity.
52
Hisobjectiveistoreceiveacommunicationwhoseinspirationremainspure,uncoloured,
andundistorted,whereastoomanyothersusetheirartasapretexttoputforwardthe
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/14/2
5/9
14/5/2015
twistedconstructionsorillusoryimaginationsoftheirownlittleegos.
53
Hewillexpresshimselfandhisaspirationsfullyonlywhenhe,hisbody,andhisthoughts
areunified.
54
Itwouldbehardtofindandstatenewmetaphysicalorspiritualtruthatthislatedateof
humanculture.Butabrilliantmindmaystateitinsuchanunexpectedandperceptive
wayastogiveittheforceofanewrevelation.
55
Artisticcompositionandproduction,aestheticstyleandmethod,involvetheartist's
freedomifheistodoreallyworthwhilecreativeworkoriginatinginhisowndeepest
innerlife,thatofhissecretspiritualidentity.Hemustbedeterminedtokeep
uncommitted.
56
Ifimaginationispermittedtowanderunbalanced,unchecked,totallyfree,itmayleadto
genius,inspiration,ortolunacy,disorder.
57
Sensitivityandpassivityareneededtoabsorbinspiration.Iftheyarenotinborn,theywill
havetobestudiedandcopiedforalongwhilebeforetheycanappearoftheirownaccord
andbetrulypersonal.
58
Thecreationsofinspiredartdeserveappreciationforthatwhichisbeyondtheirtechnical
excellence.
59
Heiseveralertforthatfaintbutfascinatingbeginningofanintuitivethought.
60
Thoseartproductionswhichemergefromthishigherstateofconsciousnesshavea
qualitywhichtheotherkindlack.
61
Whatevermediumanartistworkswith,whateversoundsorwordsorsights,and
whatevertechniquehedevelopsandapplies,hestillneedsbothconcentrationand
inspiration.
62
ApetcatoftensettledonthelongandbroadcuffofMuhammed'ssleevewhenhewas
writing,thusinterruptinghisworkinArabia,butabutterflyoccasionallysettledonthe
pencilofW.H.Davies,thetramppoet,andperhapsassistedhisversemakinginalittle
Kentishcottage.Yetwhoknows,thepausesofinactionmayhaveallowedMuhammedto
relapseintomeditationandthus,indirectly,assistedorenrichedthesubsequentwriting.
63
Thesingergiftedwithavoicewhichcanexaltandinspiremen,theartistendowedwitha
talentwhichcompelsthemtopauseandbehold,mayeachbeusedasachannelforthe
Overself.
64
Thequalityofsublimeinspirationdistinguishesthetrueartistfromthemeretechnician.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/14/2
6/9
14/5/2015
65
Eventhemostinspiredmysticneedstechnicalskillanddevelopedintellecttoconveyhis
messageadequatelytohisreaders.Themorehelacksthem,themoreinarticulatewillhe
benomatterhowstronghisinspiration.Themorethatadequateexperienceand
competenttechniquearemissingfromhisequipment,themorewillhefailtofulfilhis
ownintentionandthelesswillhisreadersbeabletogatherinwhatevervalueshe
representstothem.Toknowisonethingthetalenttopresentwhatyouknowisanother.
66
Itistruethateducationgivesamanthepowertoexpressinwordformsorartistic
productionswhathethinksorfeels.Itisalsotruethatanuneducatedmanmayhaveafar
deepercontentmuchmoreworthexpressing.Butunlessthelatterisabletoradiatesome
ofthiscontentbysilentlook,glance,ortouch,hewillactuallynotbeabletogiveothers
asmuchastheformer.
67
Theartist,thecraftsman,orthewriterwhohasmasteredhisprofessionaltechnique
remainsaworkmanifhestopsthere.Butifhelearnstoenterintothespiritualpartof
himself,ifhepractisesgoingintoitscreativequietbeforehebeginsproducinganything,
hebecomessomethingmoreandhisproductionbecomesinspired.
68
Inmatterandmanner,incontentandtechnique,insubstanceandstyle,theproductionsof
thefaultlessartistwhoisonlytechnicallycompetentwillneverequalthoseofthe
faultlessartistwhoisalsospirituallymature.
69
Thecreativemindneedsseveralconditionstopromoteitswork.Amongthemsecrecy
duringconceptionandsolitudeduringinspirationarehelpful.
70
Thecreativepoet,writer,orartistwhomeditates,evenforashortwhile,beforehiswork
beginsgainsproportionatelyinthevisibleresults.
71
Thecreatorofinspiredmusic,poetry,pictures,andbooksmustworkaloneifhis
productionistokeepitshighquality.Ifheworksinagrouphehastostruggletokeephis
inspiration,aswellastoavoiddistraction.
72
Theskilloftheartist,craftsman,poet,painter,composer,orwhatevermustmeetand
unitewiththeinspirationoftheglimpse:thenthereistruecreativityinhiswork.
73
Theartisthastwofunctions:toreceivethroughinspirationandtogivethroughtechnique.
74
Inspirationforawriterdoesnotnecessarilymeanthatthesentencescometumbling
throughlikepouredwater,orforapainterthatthebrushstrokesrushacrossthecanvas.It
may,butalsoitmaynot.Whatitdoesmeanisaninflowfromadeepersource,neithera
calculationbytheintellectnoramovementbytheegoisticemotion.Itsfirstsignisthatit
isreallyasmoothflow,whethersloworrapidorwaitedfor.Itssecondsignisafreedom
fromdoubts,thepresenceofcertainty,sureness,andasenseofrightness.Itsthirdsignis
thequietjoywhicheitheraccompaniesorendsthework,foritistrulyacreativeact.
75
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/14/2
7/9
14/5/2015
Theauthorwhoasksforlightonthesubjectsinhisbook,whopraysforguidanceinthe
writingofitandforinspirationinthedoingofitwhenthelittleegocannotseeitsway,
cangaintruthandpowerfromonhightodoareallyoutstandingcreativejobifheknows
thetechniqueofinducingthe"InteriorWord"tospeakwithinHim.ThisVoice,heardin
meditation,issocompellingandsoinspirationalthatitwillprovideallthatheseeks.
76
ThesuperiorartistinChinaismoreofamentalistthanhisWesternequivalent.Forhe
doesnotjustsitdownandpaintwhathesees,whethermodelorlandscape.Hesitsdown
quiteafewtimesbutmakesnoattempttorecordwhathesees.Heletshismind'seyedo
that.Whenthetimecomestopaintthepicture,heremainsaloneinhisstudioand
transfersthementalrecord.
77
Foranaestheticworktobeborn,oneshouldfirstturnthemindinward,getitquiet,and
thenletthemindgobackandletthesensesrevealwhattheycanoffullandrealbeauty.
78
Thehappyandunusualsatisfactionwhichthecreativeworkerofanykindandespecially
theartistorwriterfeelswhenhehasbecomedeeplyimmersedforhoursinaparticular
pieceofworkisaremoterippleoftheblissinwhichthesecondselfisalwaysitself
immersedandtowhichhisprolongedconcentrationbroughthimnearer.Againandagain
throughthisconcentrationhestumblesagainstandunwittinglyopensadoorinhismind
whichgivesaccesstotheantecourtoftheOverself.Inthecreativeexperiencehebegins
tofindfulfilmentbutinthespiritualhecompletesit.
79
Whathefeelsisonethingwhathecanexpressisanother.Thedistancebetweenthese
twodependsonhiscommandoftechniquenotlessthanonhisreceptivitytoinspiration.
Thegreatartistisgreatinboththeserespects.
80
Thewayathoughtisexpressed,thestyleinwhichateachingisconveyed,possessesa
valuewhichishighlyexaggeratedbytheintellectualisticortheartisticbuthighly
undervaluedbythemysticandascetic.
81
Althoughtechnicalequipmentisnotallthereistothepracticeofart,itmustbemastered.
Withoutit,inspirationsuffersfromafaultyordeficientmedium.
82
Creativework,insofarasittrulytouchesthedepthsandheightsofinspiration,takesour
mindsoutofourpersonaltroublesandthusgivesustemporarypeaceforitbringsthe
impersonalOverselfintocontactwithourtroubledpersonandthecontactprovidesus
withahigherpointofview.Thosemomentsofartisticinspirationwhenthemind
becomesalmostincandescentarealwaysmomentsofintenseconcentrationandrapt
absorption."Itisfromthisconditionoftheirbeing(trance),initsmostimperfectform,
thatPoetry,Music,ArtallthatbelongtoanideaofBeautytaketheirimmortalbirth."
Lytton'sZanoni
83
Inspirationgivesamanthestrengthenedfaithandvirileforcetoworkbuthehimself
mustfindthewordsorsoundsfortheresultsthewrittenpoemormusicalpiece.
84
Creativeinspirationcanchargewords,sounds,paint,orstonewithmagicalpower.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/14/2
8/9
14/5/2015
85
Thecompositionistechnicalbuttheinspirationismystical.
86
Skillwiththeuseofanauthor'spendoesnotnecessarilyindicateahigherconsciousness.
87
BuddhasaysintheLankavatarasutra:"Mahamati,itislikethemasteryofcomedy,
dancing,singing,music,luteplaying,painting,andotherarts,whichisgainedgradually
andnotsimultaneouslyinthesameway,Mahamati,thepurificationoftheTathagataof
allbeingsisgradualandnotinstantaneous."Yearsofpracticegivethesculptororthe
painteradexterityofthehandwhichisamarvelforwitnessesofhiswork.
88
Ageniuswhopossessespoortechniqueanddeficientmechanismwillneverbea
completemasterofhisart.Hisproductionswillalwaysbeimperfectones.
89
Hewhoputshisskillsasacraftsman,anartist,orapublicservanttotheserviceofhis
essentialself,hisdivinerself,putsthemtothebestuse.
90
Goodartisnotcompleteunlessithasbothpraiseworthytechniqueandinspiration,form
andcontent.
91
Awriter'sorartist'svaluedependsnotonlyonhistechnicalequipmentbutalsoonhis
beingmanipulatedbytheOverself.
92
Ifhelacksthisinspiredcreativenesshewillproducemeretoystoentertainpeople,not
spiritualtreasurestoenrichthem.
93
Thetrueartistthatistosay,theinspiredartistmustnecessarilybesparseinhisoutput.
Soalonecanhekeepupthechoicequalityofhiswork.
94
Thetruthcanbeputinshortplainwordsandshorteasysentencesoritcanbeputin
polysyllabicwordsandlongwindingsentences.Itisnotthehigherpowerwhichusesthe
onekindortheother,buttheauthorhimself.
95
Theinspirationcomesfrombeyondtimetheformulationinthought,picture,pattern,or
soundtakesplaceintime.
TheNotebooksarecopyright19841989,ThePaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundation.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/14/2
9/9