Fórmulas

As we’ve seen, an act of creativity is the exploration of new meaning that is of value in new and old context(s). Einstein’s discovery of the theory of relativity revolutionized the way we consider time.

Before Einstein, we saw time as absolute, independent of everything else. After Einstein we had a new context for thinking about time: relativity. Time is elastic, depending on the velocity of observers, and time’s relationship with space.

Suppose a student wants to learn Einstein’s theory. It’s very difficult and obscure at first, but at some point in her studies, understanding dawns. She has broken free from her old concept of time, and from this new perspective she can understand Einstein. Is this a creative act? Although there is no discovery or invention of a new meaning of context in the outer arena, no outer product, there is understanding of new meaning in the inner arena. Certainly far less creativity is needed to understand something like relativity than to discover it, or to apply it meaningfully in a new context. And yet she has discovered a new context of thinking about time for herself, and that surely has value; for her this is a creative act.

Indeed, I was such a student, and my pursuit of physics was the result of that first glimpse of the meaning of relativity. Similarly, when we read about people like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, or Eleanor Roosevelt, we recognize that such people discovered ways to serve humanity that escape many of us. Yet the change of context they discovered was largely personal. Does that also qualify as creativity?

Yeshe Tsogyal, consort of the 8th-century mystic Padmasambhava, played a crucial role in the founding of Buddhism in Tibet. At one point in her life she was raped by a gang of bandits, who later became her disciples. What makes it possible for a person to so radically transform cruelty? The world’s civilizations are greatly indebted to people such as Tsogyal, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, Shankara, and the like who found, lived, and communicated spiritual values to all humanity. Are their discoveries creative acts?

And what about the people who follow the spiritual paths laid out by these masters, often elucidating the path through their own work and dedication? Do their acts count as creativity?

Finally, what about people in ordinary life who discover and live unselfish love in relation with other people and the world? Do their discoveries amount to creativity?

The affirmative answer to all these questions leads us to see that creative acts fall into two broad categories that I call outer and inner creativity. Outer creativity yields objective products in the larger world. Inner creativity involves transformation of the self, and yields a subjective yet still-discernible

product. Abraham Maslow, whose famous theory of positive psychological health was based on fulfilling certain internal needs, recognized the importance of inner creativity, which he called self-actualizing creativity; outer creativity he called talent-driven creativity.

Acts of outer creativity are usually judged in the context of what already exists. A new context is added to existing contexts (as we saw in Einstein’s discovery of relativity). Although outer creativity is not restricted to geniuses, the arena of outer creativity is certainly dominated by people we now see as great men and women. Inner creativity, in contrast, is about a transformation of the individual self that yields new personal contexts of experiencing and living. It is evaluated in comparison not with others but with one’s own old self. Here also there are great exemplars (like Buddha, Jesus, Moses, Mohammed, Shankara, and so on). But ordinary people also display inner creativity in their learning, understanding, and in the new and expanded contexts of their personal lives. The contributions to inner creativity of such unsung heroes form the backbone of human civilization.

So far we have been discussing inner creativity at the fundamental level. Transformation of the individual context of living (that we can recognize through a person’s behavior) occurs only with people of fundamental creativity; their spiritual insights and life experiences help them define a

“spiritual path.” The popularization and explication of these paths constitute situational creativity.

This is how the bulk of the knowledge systems of the great religions and ethical and moral systems of the world have been created.

To summarize, the phenomenon of creativity manifests in a fourfold classification scheme (figure 14). When you realize this vast scope of creativity, it’s both humbling and inspiring, isn’t it?

Figure 14: The four-fold classification of creativity What is creativity?

The making of something new, we all agree.

If what you originate

Newly combines already known elements, Then, oh creator, call your creativity situational.

Only if the flower of your creation Blooms in a new context, as well, And reflects new archetypal value Is your creativity fundamental.

You can display the product Of your outer creativity

Like a sun-illumined blossom on the bush.

Its perfume you share with others.

But you are the blossom That opens from inner creativity.

Have you meditated, accepted the inner invitation?

Follow the trail of transformation.

Then only, oh creative, you share your being.

CHAPTER 5