David Lynch, Meditation and Creativity
I used to think meditation was the exclusive domain of those nice tweedy, calm types – not for someone striving on the bleeding-edge (yes it can be painful out here) of innovation and creative entrepreneurship. But American poet Theodore Roethke…
I used to think meditation was the exclusive domain of those nice tweedy, calm types – not for someone striving on the bleeding-edge (yes it can be painful out here) of innovation and creative entrepreneurship. But American poet Theodore Roethke has a word of warning for all those that think their mind gets sharper the more it focuses, creates and thinks. He said “a mind too active is no mind at all.” And anyone who has worked themselves into a burn-out or breakdown of any kind (as I did twice before I cottoned on) knows that a mind that has too many thoughts (or worries) is of no use to anyone. Better to force oneself to stop (yes, the world does go on without us) than cling to the crutch of over-work.
But as well as preventing us from burning out, meditation can be a powerful ally in achieving creative nirvana. David Lynch says that he meditates in order to create: “Garbage goes out, gold comes in. Everything becomes easier. And you start understanding more.”
Edison was clearly a kindred spirit. He used to sleep (a great form of meditation, as the Dalai Lama confirms) and when he awoke, would have found a missing piece of the puzzle.
