191. Creativity Is Compassion

Creative action is compassionate action. Every creative act makes explicit something that was previously unseen, and in doing so it helps those who encounter it see more of their own self and the world. By engaging with an artwork, we undergo a wholly new experience, which grants us an opportunity to become aware of what we have not already noticed. What is created by the artist is not just a physical artwork, but a broader awareness in the audience of what exists and what is possible in life.

Compassionate actions are actions that meet the needs of ourselves or others. We all have a need for greater awareness, as it is through awareness that we discover how to break free from our suffering and create joy in its place. Every creative act is therefore also an act of compassion, because it helps to expand our awareness.

Similarly, every compassionate action is a creative action. When we act to meet the needs of ourselves or another person, we directly support creation by enabling the creativity of that human being to continue to exist and thrive in the world. When we share our awareness with others, we help them towards the liberation from suffering that enables the possibility of even greater creativity.

Compassion in all of its forms and creativity in all of its forms help to broaden the awareness of others. This does not mean that every creative or compassionate act intentionally aims at expanding awareness. We might act out of the desire to express ourselves, out of concern for the welfare of another, or even out of the belief that we are obligated to do something. But regardless of our intentions, if an action helps to meet the needs of ourselves or others, then it is always both creative and compassionate.