Osian's Auction Catalogue India The Passionate Detachment | February 2001

16 Passionate-detachment Essentially, such a balance requires detachment within the energy of involvement. The idea of inner detachment is misunderstood, by both east and west. One has highlighted the passive and fatalistic aspects, while the other has focused on the cynical and anti- pleasure aspects. This has led to detachment not being able to sustain a viable practicality for itself. The intangible value of detachment cannot be calculated and the fear of its anti- motivational aspect is too risky. This catch-22 is reinforced by institutions unwilling to nurture the idea through an educational and work process. Yet in artistic creativity, detachment is carefully cultivated. Like other human values, detachment represents different facets at different stages of maturity. At lower levels it can lead to indifference or a cool cynicism; inspired as readily as self-absorption. At somewhat higher levels, detachment can inculcate a sense of humour and playfulness which absorbs like a participating-spectator. At higher levels it inspires a calm sense of duty, rooted in absorbing all, grasping the essence of non-judgmental judgments, the idea of inaction, or some continuous effort which seeks no reward but that of being true to activity and its pleasure. At still higher levels it can inspire action in others though remaining quiet (neutral) oneself. Thus one pivotal dilemma which confronts all individual activity is that non-activity seems wise. Thus an individual who truly wishes to know oneself, and the nature of one’s creativity, must sooner or later come to terms with this spectre of non-activity. This spectre can emerge at any age, not just in the twilight, or when energy is tired. The issue is how to allow this seed a significant freedom in the mind, and still continue with a self-renewing motivation. This is the duty of detachment. In general, however, the positive force inherent in detachment has not been emphasised in the western inner journey. For the east, the non-violent and passive aspect of detachment today lacks credibility, for it is unable to discipline the daily violence. One requires a re-education. Our understanding regarding love and compassion, within which the greatest force for detachment exists, must be one area of focus. The knowledge that once one received unqualified love, is enough for most to selflessly devote their lives with lesser demands of reciprocity. To give not because one necessarily wants to give, but that one cannot help but give. It is a compulsion which also influences our own desires and wants. An overwhelming momentum is created which sooner or later calms want. Wants and desires are clearly recognised and yet somehow a smile can control their venting. Yet ‘letting it be’ requires a passionate discipline. For only the most passionate can sustain such detachment and duty. Duty becomes the act which absorbs all pleasures. Detachment is the wisdom which disciplines duty. Creativity is the most complete duty which strives to fulfil this pleasure. Action cannot innovate without coming to terms with these ideas. Fearlessness Fearlessness comes from being part of each corner, having let each idea lived within, having been given the opportunities to give such anarchy a freedom. It comes from the ego realising its role, rooted in the humility of its insignificance and the confidence that awareness is indestructible, ever-changing. To demand freedom is an early desire of the ego; to give freedom, is its inner compulsion. Fearlessness comes from living a life rooted in absorbing all which comes one’s way, and yet moulding this absorption with some unique aura. Aura is the appendix of clarity; it is what inspires clarity to become clearer. In clarity lies fearlessness, a clarity which never closes the eye to the surrounding flux. The intent to be fearless is thus rooted in the belief that fearlessness may never come. Yet that is irrelevant after a certain duration, for then enough discipline has been nurtured to let a vulnerability be itself, without having to hide. A frailty is allowed to be revealed without fear. Such is the nature of fearlessness — that fear is a permanent tenant, detached in its corner, with no need to evict. Creativity has always nourished this fusion of contradictions, to emerge with fuller forms, and the openness of mind which encourages fearlessness. It manifests itself via experimentation, or a belief in randomness, or the ability to merge uncertainties without the need to resolve, or the ability to accept inspiration from any corner, from trivial notions or profound ideas, from ugly forms or beautiful images, from vulgar circumstances or serene moments. There is no sense of proportion but the limitlessness within. There is no value which burdens the creative impulse, for each act of creativity becomes a discipline to sustain the day. To let each unknowing situation reveal itself, to just spectate and in that distance become the most active participant. It is like the lover who sometimes needs to give distance to loved ones which they may not be ready to accept. In that show of trust, one gives the other a chance to act positively. In that retreating step, one moves towards a fuller togetherness, which otherwise would have resulted in a pushing away, a demand of faithfulness which could not have been fulfiled.