The Robo(egoic man)

Ego makes the Man a programmed system like a Robo.

Let go of your ego to experience bliss

True art means: if it helps you to become silent, still, joyous; if it gives you a celebration; if it makes you dance — whether anybody participates with you or not is irrelevant; if it becomes a bridge between you and existence — that is true art. If it becomes a meditation, that is true art. If you become absorbed in it, so utterly absorbed that the ego disappears, that is true art.

People who can’t create become critics

And don’t be bothered what critics say. Critics don’t know anything about art. In fact, the people who cannot become artists become critics. If you cannot participate in a running race, if you cannot be an Olympic runner, at least you can stand by the side of the road and throw stones at other runners; that you can do easily.

Share, don’t ask for recognition

Sharing is one thing, and asking for recognition is totally another. Share; don’t ask for recognition. I’m not saying that recognition will not come — it will come profusely. Ask for recognition and it won’t come so profusely. Even if it comes, it will limp. Because when you ask for recognition, the other becomes reluctant to give it. Because when you are seeking your ego, the other also wants to seek his own ego. Then you provoke criticism rather than recognition. And the one who recognises your art is deep down recognising, through his recognition, his own recognition.

Art can be very meditative

And art can be the most prayerful thing, the most meditative thing possible. If you can be in any art, music, painting, sculpture, dance, if any art can take a grip of your being, that’s the best way to pray, the best way to meditate. Then you don’t need any other meditation; that is your meditation. That will lead you slowly, step by step, into existence.

Music is silence between sounds

Even when you are listening to music, what really touches your heart is not the sound but the gap between two sounds. How to bring that gap to your heart is the whole art of music. But if a man can bring that gap just by his presence, and you fall into deep silence, you will know the real music. Then you will know that what you used to think of as music was only a preliminary training.

And the same is true about dancing, the same is true about every creative art. What it appears to be is not the reality; it is just a device so that you can become aware of something intangible, hidden, beyond.

Every creative art brings you to your innermost being where there is just calmness, absolute silence.