ART N SPIRITUALITY

Therefore, the most important principle of spiritual growth and of the spiritual art, which contributes to spiritual development, is the principle of walking the path of refinement of consciousness.

In the art, man can be a creator and a viewer or listener. Both these cases can provide favorable possibilities for development.

Let me draw your attention to the fact that any work of art can be assessed according to the scale of subtlety-coarseness. And every high-quality work of art should be used for refining attunement. Or, at least, it has to show the way from tamas (that is, from the initial coarseness, dullness, ignorance) — through rajas (the stage of active search of way out to the light of Truth, when man transforms from a dully suffering person into a fighting one) — to sattva (purity, harmony, subtlety) — and higher.

In relation to the above said, let me emphasize that on the path to the Perfection one cannot skip the stage of sattva. One cannot become perfect at once, starting from tamas or rajas! One cannot “leap” over the stage of sattva! The path of refinement, development of inner harmony and the ability to love — is necessary for everyone! No one should think that “it is not for me, let others be engaged in this but I will achieve the Perfection in other way”. No! The law of the evolution of man expounded, in particular, by Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita consists in gradual advancement through the stages-gunas mentioned above, so that one may come then to higher stages of work on oneself.

With the help of art one can also train energy, vigor; this corresponds to maturing at the stage of rajas. Let us take rock, for example. Non-coarse, dynamic dances of youth — who opposed them? The people of tamas, who are far from real, pure energy! Opposed those who are angry about everything new, or inert, irresolute people who lack energy themselves. Had they danced rock ‘n’ roll or similar dances in their youth, they would live their lives more actively now.

Non-coarse energy (vigor) is very needed on the spiritual path, because it develops the personal power, allows one to accumulate strength that can be used for various needs, for meditative work, for example.

So, with the help of adequate dynamic music and dynamic dance one can develop in oneself these missing qualities.

With the help of other kinds of music and dance one can master higher states: calm, inner quietness (hesychia; you can find more details on this subject in our book Practice of the Modern Hesychasm, LP OGT, Odessa, 2004).

Painting, poetry, orient kinds of art such as ikebana, “philosophical landscapes”, etc can also be helpful in mastering these states.

Yes one has to master calm, not energy alone; this is essential on spiritual Path! That is, one has to become universal: to be able to relax and to be maximally active when necessary.

With the help of works of art one can also exert directed energy influence on the audience.