Dr. Anna Bonshek on The Unmanifest Canvas

An interview with leading exponent on Maharishi Vedic Science, Dr Anna Bonshek on ‘The Unmanifest Canvas: Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on the Arts, Creativity and Perception’ – a landmark book on the arts, consciousness and enlightenment.

AAE: What is so special about this book “The Unmanifest Canvas” by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and if there’s one key idea, how would you summarise it?

Dr. Bonshek: The Unmanifest Canvas is a remarkable read because it speaks to everyone—people of any gender, culture or age—on how to access and express unbounded creativity.

Everyone is creative. We all want to tap into deeper levels of creativity from within ourselves. The feeling of being creative is inspiring. It brings joy. In bringing out the Transcendental Meditation technique to the world, Maharishi made it so easy for anyone to be infinitely creative.

In the The Unmanifest Canvas he describes a field of infinite creative intelligence at the source of life and all creation—that boundless creativity gives rise to all forms and phenomena. Maharishi also refers to this level of intelligence as Being, or pure consciousness, which is our own silent, inner awareness. When we practice Transcendental Meditation we naturally and effortlessly experience this inner silence. With that experience we bring more and more of silence into activity. This is a boon for anyone, especially an artist.

AAE: There are many publications on creativity and the arts. Does The Unmanifest Canvas offer the art lover and creative practitioner something that can’t be found elsewhere?

Dr. Bonshek: Absolutely. There are many astonishing, new principles in this book, like hidden gems or treasures waiting to be re-discovered. Every time you read a page, you uncover a deeper aspect, and you not only learn about the arts and creativity, but you find out something more about yourself, about your own nature.

Maharishi covers a lot of territory: from the most abstract, unmanifest (as the title suggests), unseen, or inner, reality, to the most obvious, concrete expression. He explains how the consciousness of the artist determines the value of his or her creation.

For example, Maharishi says:

“The creation of an artist is the creation of life. Every artist knows how much of himself [or herself] has come out. A poet, a singer, a dancer, a painter—every artist is putting himself [or herself] into the piece he [or she] is creating. Art is the expression of life; it is the expression of creation. By looking at a piece of art, if one is wise enough, one can see into the structure of the life of the artist and can evaluate the level of consciousness of the artist. The whole of consciousness comes out through a piece of art and can be seen through it. So art duplicates life, duplicates life as the living experience of divine Being. Through art, something non-living, like a piece of paper onto which an artist puts a beautiful, fully blossomed flower, can speak for the life of an artist.”.

In this description, Maharishi indicates that art speaks for the artist’s consciousness. When we reflect on this statement, it seems to resonate with us. Artists, whose work is adored and loved throughout time by so many people from different walks of life and places around the world, their work seems to capture a quality beyond individual expression, something universal and beyond time. It is often indescribable. This indescribable value we can say is the unbounded, absolute value of consciousness somehow expressed in art or music or dance. Maharishi indicates that an artist can experience this level of “Being”, pure consciousness or pure existence, at the basis of life.

So the difference between this book and others is that it tells us of the means to unlock one’s creativity and also about the mechanics of creativity itself. It tells us about the absolute, inner value of consciousness and how we can learn a technique to access inner consciousness and then express more of this value in art and in life. While unparalleled, it makes sense. It it timeless.

AAE: We hear from accounts of artistic genius that only a few gifted people possess creativity. Is there any hope for the average person?

Dr. Bonshek: This is a great question. Maharishi devotes an entire lecture to the topic of genius. He defines a genius as “a naturally creative person” and goes on to say that a “creative person is someone who is able to do less and yet accomplish more, someone who doesn’t have to struggle in order to create—this is creativity.”

Now, what does this mean? How can we, by doing less, achieve more? Actually, by acting from the level of infinite creativity—which behind the scenes creates the entire creation—we can create effortlessly and accomplish anything. In this sense, a genius is person who has access to his or her inner, unseen, infinite creativity and is able to create and achieve maximum without any obstacles.

Maharishi contrasts this description with that of a “non-genius” or a “non-creative person” who, “because he [or she] can’t surmount the obstacles on the way to creation, will struggle from moment to moment.”

In fact, it is because a genius has an alert and clear consciousness that they are so successful. Clarity of consciousness is enhanced by practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique. Therefore, among other things, this is a technique for enhancing one’s inner genius. Maharishi states:

“Creative intelligence is that intelligence which is capable of creating the entire creation, and this creative ability is capable of surmounting all kinds of stagnancy and anything that might hamper progress. Because a genius is a person with very clear and alert consciousness, he [or she] sees things so clearly that he [or she] doesn’t even experience obstacles or resistance to creativity; he [or she] just keeps on progressing steadily toward greater achievement. While some less creative individuals can’t see a way, a genius not only sees the way but achieves the goal effortlessly. This is genius.”

Maharishi reveals that everyone can unlock their inner genius. We start simply, through the practice of Transcendental Meditation. In this way we can begin to unlock the inner genius innate within us all.

AAE: It’s often been thought that to be an artist one has to suffer. Does Maharishi say anything about suffering for art?

Dr. Bonshek: You’re right. This idea has gained traction in recent thinking. On the contrary, Maharishi shows us that creativity is the impelling life force, the blossoming of life—which is the opposite of suffering.  About creativity he explains:

“It’s the dance of life. It’s the laughter of life. It’s the music of life. Now, this being the reality of creativity, pain and suffering, if anything, are opposed to it. Creativity is progressive. It’s evolutionary. It makes life blossom in greater or higher states of development. It’s the music of life through which life laughs and dances and progresses.”

In a very profound talk Maharishi lays out how suffering is the opposite of creativity. Having shown this, he reveals that when a person is creating, they are momentarily brought out of suffering. A person, or an artist, who might find themselves suffering when engaged in creative practice, their works of art are actually produced on steps of increasing joyfulness.

Maharishi teaches:

“A wave of creativity is a wave of life, a wave of happiness, a wave of intelligence, and in that wave, life rejoices—it advances. A painter puts a brush, a writer writes a sentence, the absorption in the joy that he [or she] receives in that expression makes his [or her] mind more creative.” He adds that “This absorption naturally widens his [or her] awareness; he [or she] comprehends another expression to enrich the previous expression. In this way, every stroke of creative intelligence is attractive, is charming, is joyful; and in this joy, life rejoices in creating another wave, probably higher than the previous, and this is how the stream of creativity advances until it reaches the height of advancement from the individual level of creativity to the universal level of life.”

AAE: Does Maharishi speak about the effect of the work of art or architecture—in particular, art created from a deeper, inner realm?

Dr. Bonshek: Yes, he does. In a lecture on “Art and the Field of Infinite Correlation”, Maharishi tells us that the “Practice of Transcendental Meditation stabilises [the] ability of performing from the finest level of the impulses of emotion or imagination. The whole thing is a very spontaneous activity.”

He adds, “The most successful artists have spontaneously displayed the most nourishing pieces of art. The more their performance is spontaneous, the more it sings the full glory of life.”

AAE: There are chapters where Maharishi is speaking with artists, designers, dancers, musicians, and composers, including a chapter with the famous Buckminster Fuller. What does Maharishi have to say to him?

Dr. Bonshek: Maharishi spoke with and inspired so many creative people through the decades, bringing a fresh message and deep principles of creativity, art, music, and literature.

Maharishi always highlighted the importance of meditating, of practicing Transcendental Meditation, emphasizing it as the master key to unfolding fuller values of life.  In an exchange with the American innovator, Buckminster Fuller, Maharishi tells Mr Fuller that while the knowledge of infinity has been understood in the modern era, there has been no direct experience of it—not until the introduction of this effortless, mental technique.

As Maharishi says:

“Transcendental Meditation provides that direct experience through a very simple and natural method. Therefore, through this procedure, every man [and woman] will be able to unfold his [or her] inner faculties to the maximum and live an integrated state of life and just enjoy. That is why we say, ‘No man is born to suffer’”.

Everyone, including visionaries and innovators, can truly live ‘fuller’ values of life.

AAE: There are some chapters which are very abstract and might require more familiarity with new terms. Do you have any advice on how to approach such material?

Dr. Bonshek: The last chapter, “World Parliament of Peace on Art and Music” in particular uses Vedic terminology, which might be new to readers. However, the big themes and the flow of logic take us through comfortably. Coming back, repeatedly, there’s increasing familiarity. Those terms don’t seem so unusual. Indeed, Maharishi explains them very clearly. For example, when he speaks about the sound “A”, the first syllable of Veda. Maharishi explains that “if we want the literature of musical art, if we want the literature of art, where art is music, then we get to the first syllable of the Veda.”

This syllable contains all the other sounds within it. Like the hum of the marketplace which can be heard a mile away from the market, as we approach the market, we distinguish words within that hum. This analogy gives us an insight into the phenomenon. “A” contains all knowledge within it. “Veda” means “knowledge”. The sound of “A” contains complete knowledge.

In this talk, Maharishi starts by locating the supreme value of art and music as being in the skilful operation of transformation—the skilful unfoldment of transformation mechanics. He goes on to explain that the path of evolution is musical and gives many beautiful analogies to illustrate the points he is bringing out.

It’s an important lecture. At the end Maharishi concludes that this art and music should be in the student’s life, increasing the magnitude of bliss. He adds that the key is self-referral—through Transcendental Meditation and the advanced techniques of Transcendental Meditation. “Self-referral” means when our consciousness is open to itself at that deep, silent level of awareness, where consciousness knows itself as the knower, the process of knowing and the known, all together in one reality, one state of complete knowledge.

In addition, Maharishi mentions that the Transcendental Meditation-Sidhi program and Yogic Flying, along with pure food and a cordial environment, are vital for creative development.

Maharishi asserts that with these made available to the children, they will “never be out of themselves” and then “They are never out of artistic living. They are never out of waves of bliss in their life.”

The book culminates with this offering of artistic living in waves of bliss. This is a high aspiration for artists, for students, for all of humanity, and clearly one which Maharishi presents as attainable. The importance of meditation is always there. In considering the arts and creativity, Maharishi asserts ”If there is anything that can be called the “art of all arts,” it is Transcendental Meditation”.

Anyone reading The Unmanifest Canvas will find something inspiring, something more to discover, whether they dip into a page, a chapter or enjoy the entire book. This is a rich resource for everyone—for the teaching in the arts, art programs, and developing and understanding creativity.

AAE: Our appreciation to Dr Anna Bonshek for presenting such as clear and concise overview of this special volume. We can say the knowledge contained in this book forms the backbone of the mission of the Academy of Arts for Enlightenment. It points the way for artists to be fulfilled in their life and work, and provides the means to achieve the goals of all artistic expression.

The Unmanifest Canvas; Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on the Arts, Creativity and Perception, 2011 is available at: https://press.shopmiu.com/product/the-unmanifest-canvas/

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Dr Anna Bonshek is Mahagauri Professor of Art and Maharishi Vedic Science at Maharishi Vedic Research Institute, Australia, a Maharishi Vastu Consultant, and peer assessor for Arts Queensland. She a member of Migaloo Press Artists Collective.

Dr Bonshek (BA (Hons.) WP, Higher Diploma, Slade School of Fine Art UCL, MA MIU, PhD MUM) has lectured on art, exhibited internationally, curated exhibitions and received awards from the Royal Society of Arts, Science Policy Foundation, NEA, Iowa Arts Council, ISEA, and Sahametrei Award (awarded by His Highness King Norodom Sihamoni of the Royal Kingdom of Cambodia).

Dr Bonshek’s publications include Mirror of Consciousness; Art, Creativity and Veda and The Big Fish: Consciousness as Structure, Body and Space. She is Contributing Editor to Consciousness, Literature, and the Arts and on the editorial board of Journal of Maharishi Vedic Research Institute.

REFERENCES & SOURCES:

¹Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, “The Supreme Role of Art and Science”, The Unmanifest Canvas, 2014, p. 41.
²Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, “The Nature of Genius”, The Unmanifest Canvas, 2014, p. 105.
³Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, “The Nature of Genius”, The Unmanifest Canvas, 2014, p. 105.
⁴Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, “The Nature of Genius”, The Unmanifest Canvas, 2014, p. 105.
⁵Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, “The Relationship of Creativity and Suffering”, The Unmanifest Canvas, 2014, p. 97.
⁶Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, “How Creative Intelligence Expresses Itself in Waves of Happiness”, The Unmanifest Canvas, 2014, p. 115.
⁷Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, “Art and the Field of Infinite Correlation”, The Unmanifest Canvas, 2014, p. 275.
⁸Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, “Press Conference with Buckminster Fuller,” The Unmanifest Canvas, 2014, p. 137.
⁹Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, “Work Parliament of Peace on Art and Music”. The Unmanifest Canvas, 2014, p. 317.
¹⁰Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, “Work Parliament of Peace on Art and Music”. The Unmanifest Canvas, 2014, p. 325.
¹¹Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, “The Role of the Artist”, The Unmanifest Canvas, 2014, p. 239.