A fascinating article that will resonate with some improvisers, especially those who practice mindful meditation and make it part of their improv journey. Does this article speak to you? I gain focus, calm, and often joy when I can be in the present moment. It is when ‘flow’ happens, the zen state. Yes, it is a very special feeling.
Reposted with permission from the author,
Thomas Chemnitz, Instructor
Die Gorillas (Theater), Improvisation, Berlin
For a while I have been interested in mysticism, a spiritual way and practice, that can be found in almost all large religions, although most of them (especially Christianity, Islam and Judaism) keep these practices in the shadow or had even forbidden them.
The mystic practices aim at clearing the inner mind and being in the moment. For only by connecting to each present moment, without thoughts and judgements, it is possible to connect to something, which actually cannot be put into words (for words narrow down), yet is often referred to as »the Eternal«, »the Universe«, »the Godly« or »God«.
The most important mystic exercise is meditation, of course (which, by the way, is not only practiced in Buddhism or Hinduism).
»Being in the moment«. »Clearing the inner mind«. This is also what we aim for in improvising. Only that in an improv class we use playful activity instead of meditation. As a matter of fact, many exercises use extra speed or complicated rules, in order to leave the rational and judging mind behind and allow us to act and react spontaneously and »from the bottom of our soul«. If this happens, workshop participants experience it as a liberating moment, usually accompanied by laughter. Sometimes they are also quite astonished to see what has come out of them, in this very moment.
And here is where we come to »the ego« or rather »liberation from the ego«. In the mystic practices, whether in meditation or in the rotating dance of the Sufis, the goal is to stop the constant inner chatter of the ego and let it dissolve, like a wave into the ocean. This is very hard work, for naturally the ego fights hard against this, it’s a bit like dying after all. Although: dissolving doesn’t mean extinction, for – to stay within the image – the ocean needs the wave to express itself.
Dealing with the ego is also quite a topic in improv. Two years ago I wrote a focus on this and don’t want to enlarge on it again (so if you want to read more, go to June 2018). Only this much: if you want to make the experience of truly and successfully »improvising together«, the ego is all too often in the way.
In some partner exercises (i.e. the »mirror exercise«) there is the phenomenon, that at a certain point none of the partners can tell who is leading and who is following at this very moment. We also have the improv-saying »follow the follower«. But who or what are we actually following then?
And then there are these improv scenes, where afterwards it’s hard to tell, how that brilliant idea actually came into the scene, where none of the players could claim it to be his or hers. The idea was »simply there«, it »just happened«. Interestingly enough, these kind of scenes usually seem to be the most rewarding ones, where you have improvised with this special easy flow, and where everyone felt happy afterwards. And whereas most improv scenes vanish quickly from memory, these stay in your mind and you mention them, when after 20 years of improvising you are asked for your »most special improv experience on stage«.
Now I would go as far as to claim that these improv moments are also a form of »mystic experience«: a bit mysterious maybe, but rewarding and fulfilling, as we have managed to liberate ourself from our ego and truly connect with the present moment.
And no matter if any form of spirituality means anything to you or not, I do wish you many of these moments when improvising!
Thomas Chemnitz
https://www.die-gorillas.de/improv-school/focus-of-the-month.html