Sri Shinmoy Paintings Page

Question: In which way are we supposed to see your art?

Sri Chinmoy: You are supposed to see my art with your aspiration-heart and dedication-life. Aspiration-heart means an inner cry, and dedication-life means a soulful smile.

Question: Is there a dynamic art and a passive art?

Sri Chinmoy: Yes. When we see some art, immediately our mind, like a dynamo, wants to do something, grow into something and become something. Again, when we see other art, immediately we feel that it is like the bottom of the sea or the vast sky. It is where peace and poise reign supreme and there is only eternal tranquility.

Question: Can anybody manifest some form of art even if he does not have the sensitivity of an artist?

Sri Chinmoy: Yes, one can manifest some form of art even if one does not have the sensitivity of an artist. There are many artists who do not have any sensitivity but they draw quite well and do excellent work. It is like people in certain professions or vocations who have no liking for their particular field, but who are experts. They don't have to be sensitive; they don't have any feeling for their particular work. But they do it well, God's Grace is working in and through them, but they are not conscious of it. So they do not get as much joy in their work.

Again, if an artist is sensitive, then naturally his art will be more soulful and more fruitful. Mother Earth and Father Heaven will deeply appreciate his kind of art, because consciously he is creating. And a sensitive artist gets much more joy in his creation than an artist who is not sensitive.

Question: Is art important for the evolution of mankind?

Sri Chinmoy: Art is supremely important for the evolution of mankind. It is through inner art and outer art that mankind evolves. Inner art is discipline; outer art is the execution of God's Command. Inner art is prayer and meditation. If you pray and meditate, then easily you can know if God wants you to become a singer or a teacher, or something else. Then, if you listen to God's inner Command, that becomes outer art. This inner art and outer art are most important for the evolution of mankind.

Question: Is there any relationship between beauty and art?

Sri Chinmoy: Beauty and art go together It is like a beautiful flower. A flower is nature's art, God's art. But when you look at it with your eyes and appreciate it, then what you see along with the flower is its beauty. The flower itself is art, but what it embodies is beauty. How can you separate beauty from the thing that embodies beauty? So, in that way, art and beauty go together.

Question: What is the role of art in the spiritual life?

Sri Chinmoy: The role of art in the spiritual life is first to awaken oneself and then to awaken the sincere seekers around one. Through self-discipline and self-sacrifice the seeker will first develop his oneness-heart, and then he will offer his oneness-heart to others. In the spiritual life, one has to be a seeker first. Then his aspiration he will offer to the world at large: That is his art. That is his progress for earth and his service to God.