What is the purpose of Art?

More than three years ago, I wrote an article that aimed to somewhat describe the “mission” of my humble blog. Already in the title, I gave a clear indication of my thoughts regarding art:  I feel it is authentic only if it REVEALS BEING. I also mentioned one of my favorite non-duality teachers, who is also a wonderful ceramist, Rupert Spira:

‘I am like an open window; I make the viewing possible but am not in the view‘.

It has been one of my favorite quotes for many years, like a signpost that guides me back on track when I lose my way. Some time ago, I happened to watch a wonderful video of Rupert Spira on YouTube, in which he talks about the essential role of every authentic work of art, which is to allow the artist and the viewer to trace back the current of PERCEPTION to its SOURCE, from which it springs forth — BEAUTY, and from this, once the object of perception has been transcended, dissolve it into Pure Consciousness.

In this and other discussions on art, Rupert Spira describes the human being as endowed with three internal “realms” that operate synergistically: thought, perception/sensation, and feeling. Spira philosophically belongs to the grand family of non-duality, which has its roots in the Advaita Vedanta of ancient India, which has given us great souls like Nisargadatta Maharshi and Ramana Maharshi, just to name a few, until more recent times. I can only recommend anyone to read the transcripts of their teachings—many of which have also been translated into Italian; in my heart, I call them the “Masters of Silence.”

Simply put, Spira tells us that if we trace back the river of thought (or rather, “nama,” the “name” of things in Sanskrit), we rediscover Truth at its Source—and we know we have touched this Source because we EXPERIENCE a profound understanding that DISSOLVES beyond words, names, and thoughts. This numinous experience is the purpose of Jnana Yoga, or the Path of Knowledge.

If, on the other hand, we trace back the somewhat more turbulent stream of emotions, especially lofty and selfless feelings, we find at their Source the experience of Love: it is the path of Devotion and selfless Action, Bhakti Yoga.

Finally, and this is where I wanted to lead you, if we trace back the stream of perception (sight in the contemplation of a work of art, for example, or hearing in the listening of a symphony) to its Source, we could have the numinous experience of Beauty. This is the Path of Form, Rupa Yoga, where “RUPA” in Sanskrit—Rupert Spira emphasizes this detail several times—means both Form and Beauty.

If we then “remove” any object from Knowledge/Attention, Love/Feeling, and Beauty/Perception, what remains is PURE CONSCIOUSNESS, of which Knowledge, Love, and Beauty are the three luminous faces: the pure unfathomable and mysterious Light in which they all DISSOLVE.

This is why I like to talk about “Sourcing Art” and “Soul-Images”… As I have already written in a previous article, according to Francis Lucille, also a teacher belonging to non-duality tradition, there are two fundamental types of authentic artists: the first ones are fully aware of the Source of their inspiration, and their intention is to be its channels, to be in service of the Source. The others, however, only sometimes soar up with their inspiration; their inner vision is not yet completely clear. Lucille speaks of various possible degrees of openness and transparency to the Source. The wider the window is open, the less you are in the view; Form and Beauty merge more deeply in your work, to paraphrase Rupert Spira.

I understand your point, if right now you are thinking: “What does this have to do with me? I’m not an artist! I’m not even a wise person, and the last time I lit a candle in a church, I was seven years old!” ;-D Well, let me respond to that. I’m sure you ARE creative, and you enjoy discovering new things, studying topics that matter to you, reading good books, and perhaps you have even experienced love in the past, and I genuinely hope you are still in love! The thing is, these are the possible paths to Happiness! Yes, because experiencing Truth, Love, and Beauty always has an ecstatic, overwhelming, and numinous aspect to it. Each one of us has a natural inclination towards one of these paths, of course, but in fact, we could explore all of them. I love accompanying groups of people in experiencing these journeys through Intuitive Creativity and Qigong because it’s what I do best and it brings me the most happiness as well.

As I write this article, we are still in the midst of the Covid emergency. We are living in difficult, uncertain, and even frightening times. Like many people, I believe that great crises are always ALSO great opportunities. Think of the Renaissance that flourished in Florence after the Black Plague. I may be naive, but it excites me to think that perhaps we could begin to create a broader world, whose boundaries are the ever-expanding ones of the Soul, not the narrow confines of fearful and dictatorial small egos that unfortunately have dictated the rules of our community of men and women so far. The Work (in an alchemical sense!) must first be done WITHIN each of us. Only from strong and authentic individuals can a community like the one described by our founding fathers in the beautiful Constitution of Italy (where I live) be born:

“It is the task of the Republic to remove the economic and social obstacles that, in fact, limit the freedom and equality of citizens, preventing the full development of the human person and the effective participation of all workers in the political, economic, and social organization of the country.”

So states the second part of Article 3. And furthermore, in Article 4:

“Every citizen has the duty, according to their possibilities and choice, to carry out an activity or function that contributes to the material or spiritual progress of society.”

These are words that express beautiful and sacred concepts, much of what makes life worth living. In the American Constitution, one of the inalienable rights is even the pursuit of happiness. Every American citizen has the right to defend it from anyone who tries to hinder it (hopefully in a non-violent way, though) also because the happiness of the individual is a prerequisite for the well-being and happiness of the entire community (isn’t it?).

During these long months of confinement, I tried to make the most of the expanded time that fell into my lap by informing myself as a citizen. Who knows, perhaps the time has come to serve a larger community. Thanks to the recommendations of friends, sisters, and other willing fellow citizens, I discovered that small lights of “resistance” are being created against the egotistical drift of certain powers that are doing everything, more or less consciously, to erase the rights established by the Constitution and beyond. Among puppets and puppeteers, it is people like you and me who are affected. I believe that we can no longer afford the luxury of NOT actively participating in the safeguarding and resurgence of our individual and collective happiness. Too many negations in this sentence? Let me rephrase: IT’S TIME TO WAKE UP AND GET TO WORK.

I have always been convinced that the more ecstatic and profound experiences we individually live, the more we are able to SEE how much and how the reality surrounding us clashes with what we KNOW our daily living could become. From this deep knowing, the strength of the Warrior of Light can be born, using the sword of Knowledge, Love, and Beauty. And may each person do what they know best to build a world that is at least as vast as their own Soul!