As spirituality is more often linked to religious activities does it mean being religious is spiritual? Well, religious activity is a path that leads to create an atmosphere of oneness within the community, which would then slowly traverse in understanding and accepting oneself as part of the cosmic power. So, definitely religious activity would carve a path for one to be closer to experience this divine power but whether it becomes spiritual experience or not is depends on an individual.
Spirituality is something which is beyond the mundane, realising that there is something higher than self. Then how can one have such experiences through art while one battles each day to be attached or detached from worldly pleasure? Art is a meaningful representation of the world and even now art is the resort on which every individual relies upon because of which there are ample cinemas that are released every week or there are music and dance concerts or the recent trend of standup comedy and others happening. Artists are using their craft to express their beliefs and experiences.
Spirituality in art can be seen in two ways, one is through the artiste and the other in the spectator. For an artiste it is a creative journey where one forgets oneself and their existence in the world and delves deep inside the inner world which is the art world. Though this is momentary, the ability to walk within different worlds is already giving a dopamine effect creating a kind of peace and subduing the ego. This imaginary world away from the mundane is the experience that is creating a happiness which is close to Brahmananda (ultimate joy/bliss). On the other hand, the spectators who are witnessing the art work forgets everything and involves themselves deep within the art as if it is the reality.
When one experiences such an exemplary work there is a Rasananda that happens. Natyasastra compares the Rasa experience with the wonderful feeling of tasting the food that is made with right proportion of the ingredients. This experience is something which cannot be explained through words and such should be the experience that an art work should provide to the world. Rasānanda is known as “Brahmananda Sahodara” i.e. the friend of ultimate joy. Though experiencing this ultimate bliss is not on everyone’s plate yet through Rasananda one can definitely experience a glimpse of Brahmananda.
Art isn’t spiritual because we express about our deities or religions but its spiritual because it goes beyond to embrace a transformative inner process where the creator and the created doesn’t exist anymore. Art comes from the heart and connects with the heart and that is why an audience is called a sahadaya, meaning one in attuned heart of the artiste. Spirituality is the humanity at its best and opening up to the spirituality is the creative process and art can be a path too. :- Dr. Rashmi Thaper