Creativity is inherent to human nature, but is often overlooked because we are too focused on life’s problems. We are caught up in our hectic daily routines, pain, doubts, and fear, so we forget to look inside ourselves for the spark that can provide us with peace. The dzogchen tradition of Bön Buddhism is an effective way to rediscover our lost creativity. The term dzogchen in the Tibetan language means ‘great perfection’, and refers to the state of wholeness that we all possess. In Bön Buddhism, creativity is not a skill or talent, but an expression of our nature, of who we really are. According to this tradition, every living being has an innately pure source of creativity, which is capable of generating positive qualities that in turn allow our creativity to flow. Love, compassion, joy, and calm, for instance, are simply expressions of this source and the essence of creative flow.
Creativity is a light that shines on every aspect of our lives, a flow of energy that springs from the depths of our being and allows us to bring about positive change. In order for this to happen, however, we need to connect with the cardinal source of our being; if we are successful, it has the same power as drinking from a spring of cool water when we are thirsty, or getting back home after a long and tiring day. There is only one way to reconnect with this source, and that is to achieve awareness of who we really are, but this requires us to get to know ourselves truly and honestly. In order to do so, we have to come to terms with the aspects of our life that we do not necessarily like, such as unresolved fears or unhealed trauma, by using intelligence and honesty. These obstacles block the flow of our creativity, and consequently our joy, so we must overcome them.
In order to know our true self, it is important to recognise that we are all perfect and complete just as we are. Our inner essence is unchangeable, and contrary to what we are often told, there is no need to adjust or improve anything about it. We are perfect just as we are, and we already possess all the enlightened qualities that we need to shine. Unfortunately, however, our lives are often overshadowed by three so-called poisons: aversion, attachment, and ignorance. Aversion leads us to reject or avoid anything that we do not like. Attachment, on the other hand, makes us constantly crave more of something we like, while ignorance prevents us from recognising that our true nature is perfect as it is. This last poison, ignorance, causes us to feel unsatisfied, and to constantly look for something better.
