From East to West, From Spirituality to Responsible Creativity, and ViceVersa
Hélène Hagège, Takeshi Okada, Todd Lubart
September 17, 2026 DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780197834305.003.0015 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary |
|---|---|
| Key points | The authors discuss Joseph Campbell's account of Indian and Far Eastern arts, arguing that these practices foster an "ego-quenching" transformation of mind supported by skills developed in mindfulness or meditation training, and that the resulting state, while transcending social constraints, can paradoxically be enhanced by codified disciplinary rules. They connect this creative attitude to contemporary notions of mindfulness and responsibility. |
Abstract
Abstract In his talk, Joseph Campbell introduces Indian and Far Eastern arts to Western audiences. Both sets of practices foster a transformation of the mind that is accompanied by the reduction of a subjective sense of the self. This “ego-quenching” process can be fostered by skills that are typically developed by mindfulness or meditation training (vigilance, cognitive flexibility, self-awareness, etc.). The resulting state of mind transcends the constraints of society and other predetermined factors, even if it paradoxically can be boosted by very codified disciplinary rules. This attitude, characterized by harmony, phenomenological freedom, and playfulness, is essentially creative in nature. The aim of the commentary is to discuss the place of creativity in Campbell’s discourse entitled Philosophical Concepts of Creativity in the Orient and to establish connections with contemporary concepts such as mindfulness and responsibility.