Old Writings

Art from nothing

I'm re-reading a book I got about 15 years ago, "Zen and the Martial Arts". I became
reaquianted with an idea I had almost forgotten about after the long years. The Zen
concept of Mushin, which means literally "no mind" in Japanese. Bruce Lee had a
very good definition:

"Mushin is operating when the actor is separate from the act and no thoughts interfere with action because the unconscious act is the most free and uninhibited. When mushin functions, the mind moves free from one activity to another flowing like a stream of water and filing every space."

This idea can be seen most easily in sports. Most athletes call it "geting in the Zone". I've exprerienced it as a martial artist. It's when you act on instinct and well-honed reflexes without conscious thought. It's the place where the best from within comes out.
As I began to linger over the idea, I thought about how Mushin relates to art and creativity. Mushin comes from the uninhibited mind. So does creativity. When one is in a state of Mushin, one is tapping into the unrestrained resources of the mind (and body). Where else can we find the ultimate creative reservoir?

One truth to the idea is that Mushin cannot turn Joe Average into Joe Cool instantaneously. It is the result of dedicated training and long periods of practice. Great creative cannot come from a vacuum either. It is the result of not only years of practice on problem solving and mental exercise, but also a constant diet of new visual/sensory stimuli.

Another truth about Mushin is that you can't willfully turn it on and off. The harder you work to get it, the more elusive it is. "When you seek it, you cannot find it" is a well know Zen Koan (riddle). Have you ever been stuck trying to get an idea for a design only to have the solution pop into our head when you were in the shower or on the toilet? Have you ever racked your brain for a new concept, frustrated as it seems the idea spigot has been turned off? Your conscious mind is getting in the way.

This idea of the uninhibited flow from the mind is one of the foundational concepts in creativity. Learning to embrace the idea of Mushin, understanding where it comes from, and instilling it as a reflexive part of the thought process will allow you to create "Art from Nothing."

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