Imagination

Hmmm . . . What was Albert thinking?

I imagine he was pointing to the importance of creativity in human affairs. If so, then there's something here worth examination.

We're all familiar with Creativity with a capital C: the works of Shakespeare, the teachings of the Buddha, and other transformational cultural productions. I don't have much to say about these.

But I do wonder about ordinary, lower-case creativity: the creation of a superb pasta sauce, the intuitive response that helps a friend in need, and other momentary transformations of daily life.

Sometimes everyday creativity seems to arise quite spontaneously, almost out of thin air. (Why did I put mustard into the pasta sauce? Who would have thought it would be so good?)

But more often, creative inspiration seems to emerge from a base of knowledge and expertise. In fact, when I examine the mustard-in-the-sauce, I can remember reading somewhere that mustard and brussels sprouts made a good combo. My spontaneity depended upon knowledge.

We also know from the history of Buddhism that, while spontaneous awakening does occur from time to time (Huineng, for example), the experience of enlightenment often depends upon years of intensive study, both of the self and of the texts. (Ted's been pointing this out over at Flatbed Sutra for quite a while; see here for an example.)

So don't burn your books just yet. Keep developing your craft. Spend time on the cushion. And stock up on mustard.

Comments

[Genju]

mmm...mustard... We would go grocery shopping and always believe we needed mustard only to get home and see we'd done that the week before. Now we have a family saying when we get home and realized we've purchased, clung to, grasped at something we already have: "The Mustard Gods have struck!"

The Mustard Gods have been great teachers about self, grocery lists, and modulated creativity in living! :-)

Thank you - again - for a great waking up post! May the Mustard Gods never strike in your teachings, Barry!

[Bob]

I thought all I needed to can this THING was to sit, and read Ox Herding every day. Now you tell me I need to read books too?

[John Small]

I like to think of imagination as another dimension of knowledge; There are those things that are known, and those things that might be known.

I've always suspected that one day Einstein figured out relativity, with much imagination involved, and then worked with the language of math to communicate what he already understood.

Long ago I had a time of immersion in calculus that became a kind of spacial, almost transcendental thing. My tiny dabbling in this made me wonder how Einstein must have seen existence. I suspect what he meant by imagination was based on his own very powerful experience, which might be more accurately have been called insight.

[John Small]

I once put chocolate in some barbecue sauce and it was stunning. Mustard in spaghetti sauce, yeah!

[Steve]

I see creativity as something that's in everyone but we are often too caught up in things to let it surface. It's there if we just get out of the way...

[mama p]

...i also read (attributed to einstein): The most powerful nation in the world is Imagination. really-- i think Creativity and Imagination are intelligences that rely upon input of the brain AND our ability to listen deeply.

(and i've also read that nutmeg in pasta sauce is pretty spectacular...!)

[Barry Briggs]

Funny story about the Mustard Gods, Genju - thank you!

Bob - Ox Herding is all you need. But you must study it carefully!

Thank you, John, for sharing your insight into math - one which escapes me. Give mustard a try in almost any red sauce - it's a kick!

Steve, yes, you're exactly right.

Mama P - oh, I hadn't thought of nutmeg. But know that I "know" about it, it will "spontaneously" appear sometime soon!

Thanks, everyone!