I’ve just been to the opening of an art exhibition, here at Auroville in Tamil Nadu. The artist is Aparajita Barai, of Beloved India. In her work, she is trying to revitalise the symbolic meanings of the Indian gods, goddesses, rituals and traditions. In particular, she reminds us of the relevance of this symbolism to our personal, inner, spiritual journey. The artwork is fascinating but what really struck me is the power of art to resonate in us, in a way that words don’t.
When I looked at one particular image, I wasn’t seeing artwork, or even a Hindu goddess. I saw a dear friend of mine. There was something in the purity and innocence of the figure, a divine delicacy, that spoke eloquently of my friend’s essence, much better than any words could. In the picture, there was a simple alignment of the sun above the head, a bindi on the third eye, a lotus flower over the heart, and the feet of the goddess, treading a narrow path. Each of these elements represents an aspect of the being on its spiritual journey – and to me, an aspect of my friend’s true self.
Like all of us, my dear friend has a shadow side and a vast palette of emotions, which she is not afraid to show. And if one allows oneself to be triggered or caught up in these more turbulent aspects, it is all too easy to lose sight of the essence of the other. The great gift of this artwork, for me, was that in one glance I saw right through the superficial turbulence and straight into the heart of my friend, into her being. And what a beautiful being it is!
