The Zen of Creativity

John Daido Loori, a photographer, videographer, and Zen Roshi, always believed that art and spiritual enlightenment went hand in hand. He used photography as a lens to glimpse into what it means to really awaken both body and mind, and to point the way to truth. And, similarly, he used the principles of Zen to unlock his creativity and help guide his artistic endeavors.

Loori felt that people should try and dissolve the barriers between art and spirituality. He believed that the creative process should be uncluttered and unlimited, and, using Zen practices like “still point,” he was able to focus on his inner stillness in order to increase his creative output.

His Zen Mountain Monastery up in the Catskills of New York was built in 1980 to house and train students of his unique style of spiritual training. And even though Loori is no longer with us, his beliefs and teachings are still very much alive there today. Check it out!…Anybody can attend retreats at the monastery, where you will sit, work, and contemplate. I just attended a retreat there a couple of weekends ago…very intense!

ommm!