Koan Kreativity XIII
Using Ancient Wisdom to Inspire Modern Creativity
Presented as either a riddle or tale, the koan is instrumental to the Zen student’s path to enlightenment; by opening and freeing the mind from both outer and inner restrictions, the “empty mind” of the Zen student is more open to insight and realization that could be achieved in no other way.
As artists and creative people we, too, need the benefit of an “empty mind.” Our own creative insights and realizations become more tangible and workable when we clear away the clutter of fear, apathy, negativity, and all other potentially destructive restrictions that we may have learned in our lives.
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In the Hands of Destiny
A great Japanese warrior named Nobunaga decided to attack the enemy although he had only one-tenth the number of troops the opposition commanded. He knew he would win, but his soldiers were in doubt.
On the way, he stopped at a Shinto shrine and told his men: “After I visit the shrine I will toss a coin. If heads comes up, we will win; if tails come up, we will lose. Destiny holds us in her hand.”
Nobunaga entered the shrine and offered a silent prayer. He came forth and tossed a coin. Heads appeared. His soldiers were so eager to fight that they won their battle easily.
“No one can change the hand of destiny,” Nobunaga’s assistant told him after the battle.
“Indeed not,” said Nobunaga, showing a coin which had been doubled, with heads facing either way.
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As artists and creative human beings, we choose our own creative destinies.
We can choose not to believe in ourselves, and then allow ourselves to succumb to the negative forces of our own minds (or, those of other people in our lives); our work will never get started or completed and we’ll think that our creativity is nothing but a waste of our precious time and energy.
We become defeated.
Or —
We can choose to believe in ourselves and then allow ourselves to write novels, make documentaries, paint acrylic landscapes, photograph people on the street, dance the tango, and/or produce an infinite possibility of creative work.
We become victorious.
As Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can’t — you’re right.”
