19. Creativity Creates

 


Dwelling further on ‘sat’ (real or permanence) and ‘asat’ (unreal or impermanence), Krishna asks us to contemplate on ‘That’ which is indestructible and which pervades all (2.17).

The popular and easy understanding of creation is that it is the work of a Creator. But Krishna points towards ‘creativity’, which is a constant evolutionary force. For example, it causes sprouting from seeds. The sprout and the seed (both creations) can be destroyed, but not ‘creativity’, which is at work tirelessly and pervades all around. While the creation is bound by time, ‘creativity’ is beyond time.  Creation takes birth and ceases to exist after death, whereas ‘creativity’ is indestructible as well as eternal.

‘Creativity’ is the real karta in the sense that it engenders creation. It creates physical forms like our body and mind. It also creates feelings and emotions.

Knowledge and memory belong to the past and creation (karma-phal) unfolds in the future. ‘Creativity’ always happens in the present.

As our senses are capable of only sensing creation, we need to transcend them to realise ‘creativity’. ‘Creativity’ is the ability to use knowledge and wisdom to absorb the pleasant and unpleasant sensations perceived by the senses and react independently of them. We can at best align with ‘creativity’ through realisation, but it can never be owned.

The best moment of joy is when we are aligned with ‘creativity’, be it in our professional or in our personal lives. For a karma yogi, this is easily attained with mastery of a skill.

While our real nature is ‘creativity’, we usually try to identify ourselves with creation. This false identification with creation gives us the illusion of karta which is the source of ahankaar.

The moment we identify with creativity, we can see creativity all around. To do this Krishna asks us to see others in ourselves and ourselves in others; and finally, to see Him in everything and everywhere.


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