Writer Marianne Schnall sits down with David Lynch to discuss Transcendental Meditation, his practice and the work of his foundation to bring meditation to the mainstream.

Artists don't want to lose their edge and they worry that meditation might take away that edge and make them calm and worthless. This was one of my worries before starting meditation, but I find way more of an edge, way more creativity flowing, way more happiness in the doing, way more energy to do the work. And I say that this transcending every day fuels the work and a very good feeling in life. No one likes to suffer. Sometimes in a romantic way, artists think suffering is part of the art life. But looking a little deeper we see that it is only romantic for others, it's not really romantic for the artist to be starving, cold and suffering in the garret. It's absurd to think suffering fuels creativity. The artist should understand suffering, but the artist doesn't have to suffer to do his or her work. Suffering and negativity kill creativity. So let's get real and experience that treasury within which fuels real creativity.

Tip: See also my post "Transcendental Meditation and the Alternatives".

Photo credit: David Lynch interviewed by Moviechrome (video).