The value of Buddhist Philosophy for photographic creativity - when the light is switched on, but nobody is there
About a disagreeable coworker a friend of mine once said that even the light was on, nobody was there. Her suggestion of cognitive deficits is quite amusing for me, it also reminds me of a Buddhist concept that does not imply something negative in its philosophical context. The idea of selflessness. The absence of something like the human self is held to be rather desirable.
For the reason that an essential characteristic of the self is clinging, which in turn induces suffering. Despite many psychological interventions that are aimed at eliminating various stress factors (clinging), Buddhists are concerned with the dissolution of the one who cultivates this clinging, the self. This means the insight into the phenomenon that light is on, but actually nobody is there.
To the advantage that then there is nobody left to cling to anything. Therein lies the fruitful connection between the Buddhist idea of selflessness and creativity. If the human being behind the camera is on its way without self, he will get out of the way for something, which lies beyond his self.
Dream no. 6, Regensburg, 2021 © Dr. Christine Lehr
This something might be a photographic idea with a specific social background for example, or something still undefined, not yet labeled, which can be located in the sphere of the so called flow. In any case something that widens the circle around the own self significantly.
One could argue that it is always Me who has a certain idea. A Buddhist view would answer that in this claim of author- and ownership clinging is hidden. Which means that if I don't get appreciation for my idea, I will suffer.
How to switch the light on? To see that the own self does not have such a striking shadow profile, like once assumed. How to recognize one's self, to forget about it? How to get into a flow? Does flow take place by accident, or are there techniques to inspire the creativity in a mindful way?
To be continued.
Comentarios