Buddhamind - Creative Mind
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By Chris Ward in Society and Culture Published: Friday, 26 June 09 - 11:40 AM (GMT) Last Updated: Friday, 26 June 09 - 12:42 PM (GMT) |
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The recent 2009 ‘Buddha Mind – Creative Mind’ weekend event organised by the
The weekend explored the links and relationship between the creative life, artistic expression and Buddhist thought and practice. John Peacock gave an interesting and rich reflection on creativity and its direct relevance to us. The search for meaning creates artists of us all and our lives become our primary creative works. John completed his contribution at the end of the evening dinner by playing the sitar.
The main part of the event on Saturday and Sunday comprised a mixture of formal presentations and workshops on a variety of creative areas. Samanera Amaranatho commenced on Saturday with a fascinating presentation on - Creativity, the Arts and the Ordained Life. This was followed by Roy Exley on Buddhism and art since the 1905’s, John Danvers on Creativity in relation to Buddhism, consciousness and non-attachment, and Professor Partha Mitter on the history of Buddhist art in India.
Amongst those leading the many engaging workshops were: Amitajyoti - on ‘Painting as a Practice for Unification and Integration’
Robert Beer - ‘Art is Outside, Heart is Inside: Symbolism and the search for meaning’
Alison Harper - ‘Discovering Tenderness: The Importance of connecting to an idea or feeling while making artwork’
Jan De- Ruiter - ‘Zen Art, A Unique Approach: The concepts of Wabi and Sabi in art and everyday life’
Houria Niati - ‘Enacting Vision: a Personal Perspective. War, Buddhism, art and the complexities of identity’
Akasaka – ‘Drawing as Meditation Practice’
Sunday commenced with Ajaykumar, followed by Ratnagarbha speaking on - ‘The Red Wheelbarrow: Buddhism in modern poetry’
Sue Gorman followed with - Is Mindfulness Apparent in the Aesthetic? A Potter’s Perspective’ and then Sister Zangmo described her personal journey from a troubled childhood to ordaining as Buddhist Nun in the Tibetan tradition - Letter to my Mother, Buddhism, Ordination and Art Practice.
Sunday workshops included:
Guy Malkerson – ‘Zen in the Sonic Realm: The harmonising of Buddha mind, impermanence and interconnectedness’
Haydn Ford – ‘Experiential Drama Workshop exploring themes around the Eternity of Life’
Ven. Amaranatho – ‘Holy Leisure: An open enquiry into the art and spontaneity of now’
Hat Naylor – ‘Character, Archetypes and Stereotypes: How to create dynamic characters in fiction and scriptwriting’
In addition to the formal programme, there was also a exhibition of art works, Japanese Arts Demonstrations of the Tea Ceremony, Ikebana, Calligraphy, and Japanese Music, and a highlight for many, of Professor Richard Gombrich singing some Wagnerian arias.
The weekend was a very stimulating and rich mixture of ideas, history, creative disciplines, music, art and Buddhism, in the delightful grounds of
The Taplow event provided just such an intra-Buddhist opportunity where it was possible to find out a little more about other traditions and how they fit together in the current diversity we find in the West. Without exposure to other traditions and other practitioners, it is unlikely that any sense of being part of a broad Buddhist community will develop in the West. The Buddha 
Mind Creative Mind weekend not only provided an invaluable opportunity to speak with talented and inspiring individuals from a wide range of Buddhist and cultural backgrounds, but also to learn of the ways that Buddhist practices are combining with Western artistic traditions in a creative synthesis.
Images by Lokabandhu
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