A. An artist brought up in the true tradition of “ Spirituality” sees his art as simply an inseparable form of divine worship. For such an artist it is the best and easist way to be in touch with the heart of God. His devotion to God flows out of him in the form of an artistic expression. The flourishing of his art is simply to the extent he his devoted to God.

 

The following passage comes from a book called “The Mysticism of Sound and Music” by Hazrat Inayat Khan, a Sufi mystic who died in 1927

“I gave up my music because I had received from it all I had to receive.  To serve God one must sacrifice the dearest thing, and I sacrificed my music, the dearest thing to me.

 

I had composed songs, I sang, and played the veena.  Practicing this music I arrived at a stage where I touched the music of the spheres.  Then every soul became for me a musical note, and all life became music.  Inspired by it I spoke to the people, and those who were attracted by my words listened to them instead of listening to my songs.

Now, if I do anything, it is to tune souls instead of instruments, to harmonize people instead of notes.  If there is anything in my philosophy, it is the law of harmony: that one must put oneself in harmony with oneself and with others.

I have found in every word a certain musical value, a melody in every thought, harmony in every feeling, and I have tried to interpret the same thing with clear and simple words to those who used to listen to my music.

I played the veena until my heart turned into the same instrument.  Then I offered this instrument to the divine Musician, the only musician existing.  Since then I have become his flute, and when He chooses He plays His music.  The people give me credit for this music which, in reality, is not due to me, but to the Musician who plays on His own instrument.”    By Ron Ragel