Chapter 45 
 
  

A raw canvas or a lump of clay seem incomplete yet this incompleteness is, for the mastercraftsman, their perfection for they give rise to all shapes and forms. 
Silence seems empty yet it is the greatest  fullness to the ears of the musician, all sounds arise from it. 

Even though  the musician  is a master of his instrument , 
his object is not to get from the first note to the last as swiftly as possible. 
Even though the painter is a master of technique,  it is the depth of his intuition that shows his greatness. 
Even though  the poet is a master of  words 
and their meanings, 
His most ecstatic  utterances often sound,  
at first, like gibberish. 

The mastery of technique  provides the  ability  to express creativity.  
Yet, creativity is not gained by technique. 

By selfless abandon the mastercraftsman gets in touch  
with the Creative Harmony.  
He allows it to express itself through his being,  he becomes an empty  vessel.  
 


  
footnotes
[1]  Forgetfulness of self is remembrance of God. Whoever knows God through God becomes alive, and whoever knows God through self becomes dead.
Abu Yazid al-Bistami

[2]  The best way for the genius is to make himself an empty cup, free from pride of learning or conceit of knowledge, to become as innocent as a child who is ready to learn whatever may be taught him. It is the one who becomes as a child before God, at the same time longing and yearning to express music through his soul, who becomes a fountain of God. From that fountain divine inspiration rises and brings beauty before all those who see the fountain.
 There is one step further, and that is when the person no longer remains a poet or a musician or a philosopher, but becomes God's instrument only. Then God begins to speak to him through everything, not only in music or verse, in color or line: he begins to communicate with God in all forms. Everything he sees above or below, before or behind, right or left, either heavenly or earthly is communicative. He then begins to speak with God, and it is this step which is called revelation.

Hazrat Inayat Khan, Inspiration