Daily Meditation: Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Artist - must see themself as material for their creation

10/24/2017

When people meet artists – painters, poets, musicians – whose works they admire, they are often surprised to discover that the person and their behaviour are completely devoid of the beauty found in their creations: they emanate neither light, nor poetry, nor harmony. Why? Because for the most part, artists are content to create works outside themselves using materials exterior to themselves. It is on these outer materials that they concentrate their efforts. Well, this is insufficient. Art must not merely be confined to somewhere within the creation, but it must also exist in daily life. The true artist is one who can see themself as material for their creation. All the methods of the spiritual life are at our disposal, to help and inspire us in this work. Yes, it is within ourselves first and foremost that we must create poetry and music, harmonious forms and movements and shimmering colours, so that all those around us, in the visible and invisible worlds alike, can benefit from them.