creative mind creates innovation

Innovation the new catchy word in the world whether it's the IBM Add or the business companies every one wants innovation. But from where the innovation comes?

The paradox of art is that first you have to learn its discipline and then you have to forget it totally. If you don’t know its ABC you will not be able to move very deep into it. But if you know only its technique and you go on practising the technique your whole life you may become very skilful technically, but you will remain a technician; you will never become an artist.

Learn the technique and then unlearn it

In Zen they say, if you want to be a painter, for 12 years learn how to paint and then for 12 years forget all about painting. Just completely forget — it has nothing to do with you. For 12 years meditate, chop wood, carry water from the well. Do anything, but not painting. And then one day you will be able to paint.

Let the technique be part of you

Twenty-four years of training. 12 years training in learning the technique and 12 years training in forgetting the technique. And then you can paint. Now the technique has become just a part of you; it is no longer technical knowledge, it has become part of your blood and bones and marrow. Now you can be spontaneous. It will not hinder you, it will not imprison you.

Creativity is being innovative

Innovate new ways, new means. Try something new that nobody has ever done. The greatest creativity happens in people whose training is of some other discipline.

For example, if a mathematician starts playing music he will bring something new to the world of music. If a musician becomes a mathematician he will bring something new to the world of mathematics. All great creativity happens through people who move from one discipline to another. It is like crossbreeding. And children that come out of crossbreeding are far healthier, far more beautiful.

Creative person may not be famous

One thing has to be remembered: if you are really creative you may not become famous. A really creative person takes time to become famous because he has to create the values — new values, new criteria, only then can he be judged. If you want fame, then forget all about creativity.

Whenever you bring something new into the world you are bound to be rejected. The world never forgives a person who brings anything new to the world. The world appreciates the uncreative but skilful person, the technically perfect person, because technical perfection simply means perfection of the past. And everybody understands the past. To bring something new into the world means nobody will be able to appreciate it. It is so new that there are not any criteria against which it can be valued.