Moving from Sri Lanka to India feels similar to moving from Guatemala to Mexico, but then the Asian version of it. The moment I stepped onto Indian soil, I could feel its history pulse through my body. Even though it is the most populated country in the world, there is an ancient serenity in the air that you can almost touch.
When I arrived at the Ashram, my eyes widened in awe. Not even ten minutes in, and I already dare to say that this place is sacred. The terrain is vast and covered with many types of plants and trees. Small sanctuaries are hidden in every corner, decorated with colorful art that tells a story. And wherever you sit, you can hear the wind rushing through the leaves and the animals calling out to each other.
The bliss of art
My personal favorites are the paintings. There is something blissful about watching creativity take form. One thing I have learned about myself on this journey is how deeply I love art: photographs, paintings, poems, drawings. They capture my attention and invite me to listen to their story. I listen, and become inspired.
To me, creativity, art, feels like a drop of magic. As if Tinkerbell herself sprinkled her golden, glittering pixie dust on creation. During a call with my mother the other day, she shared a beautiful idea she had come across: when you feel that spark of energy nudging you to create, always create. Whether it is drawing, writing, building something, or planting a seed, the act of creating allows the energy of life to flow freely. To make something out of nothing. To bring into existence a piece of art that did not exist before. In doing so, we fulfill a human need: to shape and color the world around us.
It feels fitting to find art within an Ashram. I believe art invites us, as humans, to climb a little higher up the ladder toward our best selves. Whatever that means for each of us: light, happiness, love, harmony, God, intelligence, health, honesty, or peace.
How art relates to religion
Something I learned today during my first lecture is that, in a way, we all practice religion. We all search for the bigger picture. In science, we explore it through research. In Christianity, through the teachings of Jesus Christ. And in Buddhism, through the journey inward. All paths ultimately lead to the same destination: understanding the greater whole we are a part of.
For me, I have chosen to explore life from within for now. Art helps me in that process. It makes me feel alive, inspired, and joyful. All states of being that are on my way up.
