Invite the Lightning

The accidental grace of creative and spiritual enlightenment

Dear Living Dark readers,

A well worn bit of Zen wisdom has it that although enlightenment is a total accident, meditation practice can make you more accident-prone. Nobody is quite sure who first said this, but many members of the modern Zen community have been suggested. It may have been Shunryu Suzuki. Or Robert Aitken. Or Richard Baker. Or it could have been someone from outside the Zen tradition, such as Rajneesh/Osho or J. Krishnamurti. Or it might have been two or more people in combination. I’m personally inclined to think that the mystery of the saying’s origin adds to the charm of its insightful expression.

No matter where it came from, what I want to say to you right now is this: The same principle holds true when it comes to creativity and the muse. The creative spirit alights on its own schedule. The muse is under nobody’s control, least of all yours. Its arrival is, from your and my point of view, an “accident,” a spontaneous, unplannable blessing that is unobtainable through direct effort. But—and here’s the thing, the Zen principle in action—you can increase your odds of receiving a visit by practicing, by sitting down to work.

Some explication: