The Creative Art of Reading
Reading is not a matter of passively absorbing a set of symbols; it becomes a creative process when the reader re-creates the emotional state that the author has embedded in the text. In this process, the words on the page merely serve as a starting point for the inner animation of spiritual, emotional, and meaningful images. In other words, to truly grasp the author’s thought, one must actively engage the mind, connect with the inner world, and have the ability to "animate" the letters and images, thereby fully recreating the author’s experiences.In support of this, the following quotes can be cited:"Life, brightness, strength, meaning, spirit—they must be discovered by the reader himself. He must recreate within himself what the author has created; and if he cannot, does not want to, or does not do so, then no one else will do it for him: his ‘reading’ will be in vain, and the book will pass him by. … Real reading is not merely a stream of printed words rushing through the consciousness; it demands focused attention and a steadfast desire to accurately hear the author’s voice. Mere intellect and empty imagination are not enough for reading. One must feel with the heart and contemplate from the heart. …" (source: link txt)It is also noted:"To read means to search and discover: for the reader, as it were, is uncovering the hidden spiritual treasure concealed by the writer, wishing to find it in its entirety and claim it for himself. This is a creative process, for to reproduce is to create. … Reading must be deep; it must become creative and contemplative. Only then will its spiritual value and its soul-forming power be revealed to all of us." (source: link txt)Thus, the activity of the mind during reading is expressed not only in its ability to register visual information but also in transforming it into an emotionally enriched, creative, and profound understanding, which allows the reader to "animate" the text and connect it with personal experiences and thoughts.