Art of Creation: Harnessing The Concept Of Zero

Zero or Shunya as a concept, was perhaps derived from the concept of void. It is the cornerstone of the Hindu Upanishads. It echoes in the Buddhist philosophy of Nirvana: attaining salvation by merging into the void of eternity. In the West, the concept of void and nothingness appeared first in the works of Arthur Schopenhauer during the 19th century, although zero as a number has been adapted much earlier.

Shunya or Zero gained its prominence when the Indian astronomer, Aryabhata experienced a groundbreaking moment in 498 AD and exclaimed: "Sthanam, sthanam, dasa gunam" which kind of translates to "Place to place in 10 times in value." "With that, the idea of decimal-based place-value notation was born." Shunya or zero now spread to the Arab world, crossed the Iberian Peninsula to Europe and eventually set sail for the creative fulcrum in the New World, called Silicon Valley. Here along with the digit 1 it ushered in a new way of living never known to mankind before.

Welcome to the era of Global Convergence: Welcome to Globalization 4.0.
While the fiery passion of one god like man, (Alexander the Great) was the driver behind Globalization 1.0 (the Hellenistic era), Globalization 2.0 was the result of aggressive imperialism, providing the way to multi-nationals companies to take Globalization to the next level of 3.0. However, the new Globalization 4.0 is being chartered by individuals like you and me. And the phenomenon that is empowering each inidividual to lead the way is the convergence of personal computers with fiber-optics and work-flow software. This convergence has brought us empirical knowledge within few key strokes. Daniel Pink, the author of Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future, explains: In a world, upended by outsourcing, deluged with data and choked with choices, the abilities that matter most are now closer in spirit to the specialties of right hemisphere—artistry, empathy, seeing the big picture and pursuing the transcendent.

That is precisely what being in the void does. It is harnesses the power of Shunya or zero or nothingness. When you are in this place you become a "subject of cognition" to a perception that is, "Pure, will-less, timeless" where the essence, "ideas", of the world are shown. You are empowered to look at information in a new way. You loose the technicalities. You become the essence. And Art is the practical consequence of this brief aesthetic contemplation as it attempts to paint one's immersion with the world, thus bringing to the surface the essence/pure ideas of the world.

You are here for no other purpose than to realize your inner divinity and manifest your inner enlightenment. Morihei Ueshiba, translated by John Stevens

Art of creation (be it in bazaar like trade shows, in the silence of the museums or in your edible backyard or in your exprimental basement projects) is one of the many paths to explore your inner divinity. Foster peace and creativity in your own life and then apply the Art to all that you encounter.