The Creative Flow

[Arz Sra]

Leave aside the critic in you for time being. just relax and read slowly. Just be present.

I am starting to write and have nothing in mind. All I could feel was the urge to write. Now I am wondering if its a hidden message. I am feeling the urge to write but not 'what' to write. write + this or that. The latter part is missing. Is it some sort of a hidden message. You may be wondering what I am talking about here. What could be the hidden message in feeling the urge to write but not what to write?

If one is aware of one's surroundings , everything can be a master. Each thing seems to be talking to you in its own silent language. But we are often not open to this possibility. I am feeling the urge to write but not 'what' to write. Write+this or that. The latter part is not there. Many of us may fall into frustration when this happens. You feel the urge but nothing comes out. But as you see , despite the fact that I have no idea about 'what' still the words are coming. And really I am enjoying it. May be something even valuable may come out.

we are very much addicted to 'whats'. I am. But this is not enough. I want to add something to it. I am + this or that. When I felt the urge to write , the first issue that mind gave rise to was 'What'. And it has often been the case that when I feel the urge to write , I immediately start searching in an unconscious and habitual way the 'whats of it'. Sometimes I wonder, is this not a way to murder the creative impulse in me? I want to reduce this creative pulse to an end. I want to plan out _______ly where I want to take this urge to.

I wonder if , in this way, I am reducing the creative impulse to just an ego-tool. I can feel my ego craving for a masterpiece. Just scribbling on the paper won't do. I want a piece of writing that will really really satisfy me. The expression wants a way out and ego sees an opportunity. The innocent creative impulse has nothing to prove. It just wants to blossom. But ego wants a good piece of writing. It does not want to me to make myself a fool in other's eyes by writing something 'silly' or 'immature'. It craves for a well sort out plan before I can begin.

Its amazing that I have been able to write 4 paragraphs non-stop despite the fact that I still don't know where its all taking me. Its better at least than to feel frustrated for not being able to squeeze something out. We are very much addicted to 'whats'. We want to know _____ly where the present will lead us. We want to be sure about the future and this often murders the creative impulse in us. Is not it much better to write whatever comes to the mind than to just sit and smoke air. Something comes out of nothing. I could have been clearly sabotaged at the hand of my mind which always seeks to work as a means to end; which always lives in the future to spoil what is present.

Present is all we have. All that has to be done is to be done in present, not in future or past. Both are just in your mind. Neither future nor past exists but as a thought in the mind. They are not out there somewhere. Future and past are the very anchors that mind holds on to in order to be alive and going. Present is all there is. Even to think 5 minutes ahead is to spoil the work at hand. I am doubtful if I could come up with such Smoothly written article had I had something in mind to pursue. When you are freed of the bondage of past or future walls collapse down and make way for the flow that is in each one of us - at the deepest core of our heart. The very need to take control was what was blocking the flow. We want to organize, to pre-plan and in this subtle tendency to be secure we lose contact with the wisdom that is in all of us. The creative flow and our tendency to be in control causes conflict.

One thing has to be understood here. What kills the creative flow is not thinking about the future or the past at that. What kills it is the constant need to verify what is being done with the Future end. When you write just write, do not bother about the outcome. Do not COMPARE it with the imaginary version that does not even exist. When doing the task , be utterly present to it. You may want to give a minute or two to think about what you want to write. That is OK. But once you have started , forget all the Imaginary 'whats' and 'hows'. Just be present to whatever is at hand. Make it the be and all, Stop judging and let whatever comes come.

Just start writing. Trust the divinity that flows through you. Let it flow as it wants to. Let the silly mistakes happen . Mind may want to pounce upon such mistakes. Mind wants to be sure. It has all kinds of insecurities mucked up inside which it has to defend. Just realize that all you have at hand is the present moment. Nothing else. The more you are in present the more will you be in contact to the infinite creative source. Do not let the standards of mind sabotage the innocence inside you . With time you will be amazed at how this innocence turns into a wisdom you've never been able to touch despite the best of efforts. Effort is always towards a particular end. Its divides the present.

The source is craving to play through you. But the flute is not hollow. Its clogged up with expectations, with standards , with fears and plans. Once you learn the art of being a hollow flute you'll touch the energy that is the very source of logic. The more you let go of the tendency to be in control the more the creativity in you will grow. Just be into whatever you are doing. It will become a dance. It will no longer be a chore but a source of joy. The more you diminish the more you rise. What you are looking for is not in becoming but in not-becoming - in letting go of the tendency to be the director of it all. It takes awareness to see how mind wants to pounce on everything you do to make it a means to its gratification.

So, an article has been written despite not having anything in mind regarding hows and whats ( in less than 12 minutes). It just flowed. There was almost nil effort. Nothing was there to prove to anyone. It was writing for writing's sake, Not for a future end or to soothe some past trauma. It was sheer joy. Seems as if there was no writer , nothing written - just the writing. Creativity is what flows when you stop constructing.