Creative Guidance-IASbaba, Inspirational & Educative Articles
Meditation and Creativity:
There is a part of us that is not influenced by the noise and clutter of the mind; there is a part of us that is pure, pristine and clear. This is the part that meditation opens up. Meditation is the doorway to the vast and beautiful realm of the self where life, creativity and joy flows like an endless perennial stream.
Practice of meditation is a quest to listen to the silent murmur of this stream. It is an effort that we put in to declutter the mind so that it can experience silence, solitude and creativity. Those who are willing to put in the effort will experience the joy of this magnificent inner world.
Creativity is a spontaneous moment to moment response to challenges of life. When you are able to move beyond the set patterns of the mind and act from the moment, creativity becomes a natural out flowing. In this state, all challenges of life can be handled with a smile.
There is only one obstacle for creativity; it is our inability to let go of the obsession to keep reflecting on what has happened or what has to happen. Our minds are addicted to thoughts. Although it is so easy and simple to see solutions for complex problems of life, the mind refuses to move beyond its set patters.
Creativity begins when the mind let’s go of the knowledge it has accumulated and allows spontaneous imagination to lead the way. Einstein put this beautifully saying, “imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.”
To be imaginative, creative and spontaneous, you have to be in the present moment. The whole science of meditation is a systematic process of learning how to be in the present moment. Mind and body anchored to the present moment are always in a positive state of mind, ready to imagine new solutions for old challenges.
So then, how do we begin the practice of being in the moment. This is where different methods and techniques of meditation become useful. Meditation has absolutely nothing to do with religion or rituals. It is a simple, scientific and an understandable system of inner transformation. As with any scientific system, practice using right methods will produce the desired results.
Here are some simple meditation techniques you can practice on a daily basis for 30 to 45 minutes. You can choose a comfortable place and posture so that your mind and body is relaxed; preferably a quiet room. Set an alarm for the duration of your choice and start these practices.
a) Watching the Breath – You can keep your focus on the breath throughout the meditation. Every time your mind drifts into thoughts, bring it back to the breath. This is a simple and beautiful meditation that relaxes and allows your mind to quieten.
b) Watching the Candle Flame – This meditation can be practiced in late evenings. You can turn off the lights of your room and sit in front of a single candle flame and watch it. You can do this for about 30 minutes.
c) Mindfulness – This is a practice you can do throughout the day. Being mindful of each and every action of the mind and the body keeps you rooted in the present moment. This is a very powerful way to access imaginative creative thinking.
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