My Thoughts on "Creativity" by Osho

"Unleashing the Forces Within"

Osho starts by encouraging the reader to prepare their canvas. He speaks of the 3 C's, consciousness which is being, compassion which is feeling and creativity which is action. He goes on to explain the difference between activity and action. Action is purposeful with intent and power, while activity is ordinary, mundane and uninspired. Osho warns of a life full of activity and empty of action, a life with no purpose. It is suggested that we act in harmony with nature, and in harmony with what comes most natural for us. The five obstacles which block this harmony and ultimately creativity are:

-Self Consciousness (Ego, Id, personality)
-Perfectionism (The ultimate effort to be just like everyone else)
-Intellect (Knowledge, intelligence, book learning over nature learning)
-Belief (Systematic conditioning)
-The Fame Game (Uncover the reasons for your actions)

We have a tendency to get caught up on one or all of these obstacles and ultimately loose sight of our inner creation. Osho gives us four keys to help.
They are:

-Become a Child Again (Restore your innocence and trust)
-Be Ready to Learn (Empty yourself so you can be filled)
-Find Nirvana in the Ordinary (Live in the present moment)
-Be a Dreamer (Break free from the ordinary)

We must strive as human beings to uncover our natural creative energy and release our gifts upon the world. Osho inspires us to break free from the ordinary and do something strange even crazy, but ultimately "real", every day. A few quotes and stories that inspired me:

"A foolish man comes to you and says you are very intelligent, you can look intelligent only to a foolish man. If he is more intelligent than you of course you will not look intelligent to him. So a foolish man comes and certifies your intelligence and you are very happy....What type of intelligence is this that has to be certified by foolish people?"

"Being respected by idiots you have to behave according to their manners, their expectations. To be respected by this sick humanity you have to be sicker than they are. Then they will respect you. But what will you gain? You will loose your soul and gain nothing."

"Your mind is full of memory; you can repeat; you can reproduce. That's what your examinations are-a person is thought to be very intelligent if he can vomit all that has been thrown into him. First he has to be forced to swallow, go on swallowing, and then in the examination papers, vomit. If you can vomit efficiently, you are intelligent. If you can vomit exactly that which has been given to you, you are intelligent.

Now this is something to be understood: you can vomit the same thing only if you have not digested it. If you have digested it you cannot vomit the same thing."

-That is creativity!