Art as Practice of Devotion

By Francis Brabazon

     Art is a method of practicing devotion to the True Teacher, who is the Supreme

Artist; the whole universe being His creation, and man His most finished work.

To this Artist every true artist has ever bowed, knowing that without His help he is helpless, without His inspiration he is void of any creativeness.

When the pupil has served his teacher and humanity, and learned the method of meditation, he is ready to begin the actual practice of art, which should have only one purpose: the faithful representation of the creative purpose of God, and his own self-effacement.

Representation does not mean in the likeness of an object, but in the likeness of the creativeness of the Creator. In other works, as the student attunes himself to the Supreme Artist, he begins to work in His manner.

Just as the Creator created man in His likeness (in His creativeness), so the mature, humble artist again creates his work in His likeness (in His creativeness).

Discipleship (attitude) uncovers the meaning of form.

Meditation on the True Teacher's form reveals the meaning of the objective world, as all objects are found to be contained in His person.

When the movement of objects is seen as His activity, then the law of rhythm is realized.