Krishnamurti: A Genius on Creativity

Understanding the Depth of Innovation and the layers of conditioned thougts

"As long as you try to be creative within the realm of your conditioning, you cannot be creative." - Jiddu Krishnamurti, Paris 1950, Talk 3

Whenever I feel that my own patterns of thought are chaining me to a narrower perspective, and I don't have the time to escape into nature, I turn to the writings of geniuses or engage in some disruptive craftwork. Even under the greatest chaos and stress, this always manages to provide me with new ammunition. For me, Krishnamurti will always be the quintessential genius, and perhaps he can also bring about a transformative shift in your thinking.

Jiddu Krishnamurti, a philosopher known for his profound insights into the human mind and creativity, challenges us to rethink what it means to be truly creative. In his compelling discourse, Krishnamurti delineates the barriers imposed by societal conditioning and how they stifle genuine creativity.

The Illusion of Creativity Within Conditioning

Krishnamurti asserts that true creativity emerges only when we understand the complete process of ourselves. As long as we accept and reproduce the patterns of a society based on violence, intolerance, and static progress, we are under its control. This societal blueprint tries to shape the individual, limiting the scope of genuine innovation.

The Revolution of Self-Understanding

According to Krishnamurti, a real revolution occurs when an individual comprehends their entire being. "As long as you try to be creative within the realm of your conditioning, you cannot be creative." This powerful statement underscores that creativity cannot coexist with conditioning. True creativity exists when the mind is fully understood, and thus, it is not dependent merely on expression, which is secondary.

Breaking Free from Mental Projections

Creativity can only be discovered and fully understood—its truth seen—when one comprehends their entire process. As long as there are mental projections, whether verbal or at any other level, a creative state cannot exist. It is only when every thought process is understood and comes to an end that creativity can flourish.

Krisnamurti said, that Creativity exists only when the mind is in a state of emptiness, in which there is no knowledge, where there is no experiencer who learns, who collects, who accumulates—it is then that this creativity, which can express itself through various skills and crafts without causing further misery, comes into being.

?What I am saying is not difficult. The difficulty lies in asking the question and continuing to ask it. If you are waiting for an answer to the question, then you are not truly engaging with the question."

My question is whether we can remain curious and continuously pose questions in our fast-paced, fragmented world that demands quick solutions?

Conclusion

His words encourage us to continually ask questions and seek our most profound inquiries, rather than searching for perfect answers. Krishnamurti's perspective invites us to explore what it means to be creative beyond the superficial layers of conditioned thought. His talks, particularly his discourse in Paris in 1950, provide crucial insights into overcoming the limitations imposed by societal norms and accessing a deeper, more profound level of creativity and innovativeness.

My article aims to convey the genius's message in a manner that resonates with those seeking a deeper understanding of creativity beyond societal conditioning.

Varga Sylvia / Creative messenger, HR man. MBA, designer BA, CreatiCity Institute

If you're interested in my work and writings on unfolding creative intelligence and personal innovativeness, follow me on my LinkedIn page. My topics include creative intelligence, creative burnout, innovator mindset, thought processes, and archaeology. Sylvia Varga, founder of the CreatiCity Research Institute.