| ART AND SPIRITUALITY | | | | definition. I'll begin with art. |
| What is the relationship between art and spirituality? | | | | Art is the embodiment of life, that which is real, that |
| We know there is one, but can we articulate it? An | | | | which contains the primary forces of consciousness: |
| artist might say he is dedicated to his art. Does that | | | | vision, essence, and flow. Anyone who embraces life |
| connote spirituality? Is the art his spiritual path? Many | | | | can make art. That's what art is about: embracing life |
| would not take him seriously - yes, one honors the | | | | and making art of that. Artists are human, just like |
| artist's choice to dedicate himself to art. But | | | | anyone else. They don't always embrace life. But in |
| dedication to one's work does not necessarily a | | | | their art, they have learned how to. The art reflects |
| spiritual path make. Or does it? "I'm dedicated to my | | | | where they have embraced life. "The path of the |
| art." Pshaw, many would say, and, don't take it so | | | | heart," to quote Castenada's Don Juan. |
| seriously. | | | | What is spirituality? It is the embracing of life. The |
| Besides, one knows very well that art cannot take | | | | spiritual path is the path that allows us to do that |
| the place of a divine Creator. Where is God in all this? | | | | more and more. Art is the result of spirituality. Do |
| For many dedicated artists, God does not exist, or at | | | | you doubt this? Is the result of living a spiritual life |
| best his or her or its existence is in question. Are | | | | that you are closer to God, more pious, more holy? |
| those artists spiritual? Can one be spiritual and not | | | | Or is the result that you are more alive and real and |
| believe in a divine Creator? One can have character. | | | | full of consciousness? Faith, ritual, and acts of |
| One can have scruples and be a solid citizen. Is that | | | | goodness and virtue contribute. But that in itself does |
| spiritual? I would think so. But is it spirituality? Is it a | | | | not connote spirituality. We know very well that |
| spiritual path? Maybe. Maybe not. | | | | belief in God does not in itself make a saint. In some |
| Does dedication to a profession make a spiritual | | | | sad instances, it can propel a sinner to do much harm. |
| path? Not all artists are professionals. Making money | | | | The true artist is one who cultivates a spiritual path, |
| has nothing to do with it. One might say that the | | | | at least in his art. This is why artists feel such passion |
| professional artist has dedicated himself to art in the | | | | and devotion regarding their art: the creation of art |
| way a monk, priest, or nun has dedicated him or | | | | becomes integral to the spirituality and spiritual path. |
| herself to God. Here one must look at the love of | | | | While artists have their eye on the goal, or, one goal, |
| the profession as overriding the need to make | | | | which is to make art, others have their eye on living |
| money. Here, strangely or not so strangely enough, | | | | the spiritual life. They, too, I would maintain, produce |
| the profession of artist and that of the clergy collide. | | | | art. It may or may not come in a marketable or |
| To have extraordinary passion for ones work: Is that | | | | tangible form. Nevertheless, it is there. To live a |
| not spiritual? But is it spirituality? And again, what | | | | spiritual life is to live a creative life, a life that |
| about God? | | | | inevitably will produce art. Notice I said nothing about |
| What to do here: Define art and define spirituality | | | | being religious. I said nothing about dogma. Religion is |
| and see if they have anything in common, see what | | | | hollow without feeling, and feeling comes from the |
| they have in common and how closely they resemble | | | | personal spiritual path, a path that can include religion |
| each other. For this task, the widest definition of art | | | | but does not have to. |
| would be desirable. And so for spirituality, the widest | | | | |