The idea of the genius is outdated. It makes no sense anymore: “Who, rationally, finds it worthwhile to endure suffering for the sake of creation?” Who wants to have a volatile and uncontrollable mind, shaking the basis of one’s own existence, in exchange for a moment of inspiration? And who, at this time, believes that the artist is self-made, that they do not need others to exist, to create, to think?
Yet, as God’s shadow is long, so too is that of genius. There are still burdens weighing down creative and artistic processes. We still believe in the notion that ‘good feelings give birth to bad literature’. It still seems that one must wallow in suffering to produce quality work. It still seems necessary to stand out and differentiate oneself to be someone.
However, perhaps because the millennia-old tradition of Buddhism originated and spread throughout the world from Asia, it has not been ravaged by the concept of the genius. Or perhaps because at the heart of Buddhist practice has always been the cultivation of a calm and benevolent mind, the idea of marrying suffering to create beauty and truth is completely foreign. On the contrary: this contemplative tradition offers a rich and profound theoretical and practical framework for calming the mind, understanding it better, and transforming its afflictions in a creative yet healthy way.
In the course ‘The Genius is Dead: How a Stable and Clear Mind Transforms Suffering into Beauty’, we will approach understanding this framework and acquiring attentional tools that make the mind, and especially the minds of those engaged in artistic and creative disciplines, a more fertile and flexible ground.
Sessions
Session 1, Friday 26/01 from 11 to 12.30h
Session 2, Friday 16/02 from 11 to 12.30h
Session 3, Friday 15/03 from 11 to 12.30h
Retreat, from April 18 to 21 – Laboratori d’Arts Contemplatives
Retreat
Although not included in the course, participants are advised to attend an in-person retreat at Casa Virupa / LAC linked to the theme of the course. The retreat guarantees an immersion in meditative practice with the best conditions for introspection, where the mind can be free of distractions. On the other hand, a retreat is an ideal way to generate an experience of community with other practitioners.
To whom it is addressed
Professionals in the artistic field as well as in the creative field.
Who teaches
Lama Norbu – Director and founder of the Contemplative Arts Laboratory and Casa Virupa. At Casa Virupa, in addition to accompanying the network of members and students of the center, he also accompanies all the areas that make up the project. He gives retreats and courses on Buddhist philosophy, is the director of the pedagogical coordination and of all the training programs of the organization. In 2020 H.H. Gonma Trichen Rinpoche appointed him as lama (teacher), making him the youngest Western teacher in the Sakya tradition. As director of the Contemplative Arts Laboratory, he is the coordinator of all the commissions and oversees the management, administration and production of the LAC.
Practical information
The course will be taught online through Zoom. It will be possible to access the sessions in deferred for one month after each session.
Schedule: from 11 to 12.30h (CET)
Contribution: 85€* (not including the price of the retreat)
Course language: the course will be taught in Spanish with simultaneous translation into English and Catalan.
Limited places