“There are three words that convey the secret of the art of living, the secret of all success and happiness: One With Life. Being one with life is being one with Now. You then realize that you don’t live your life, but life lives you. Life is the dancer, and you are the dance.” This profound quote from Eckhart Tolle in A New Earth invites us to contemplate our role in the grand scheme of existence. Initially, the idea of being the dance rather than the dancer might seem perplexing. It certainly did for me. My mind wrestled with the concept, yet a deeper part of me resonated with its truth. This very disconnect sparked a question: is there a separation between my conscious self and my intellect? This feeling of intuitive understanding, despite mental ambiguity, inspired a series of dancer sketches.
Sketch of dancers inspired by Degas and Matisse, reflecting the concept of life as a dance.
The journey to understand this concept further was influenced by Joseph Campbell’s empowering mantra, “follow your bliss.” Since 2016, this philosophy has significantly shaped my life’s direction. Campbell explained that “follow your bliss” is rooted in the Sanskrit term Sat-Chit-Ananda. While he acknowledged the abstract nature of “being” (Sat) and “consciousness” (Chit), he deeply understood “bliss” (Ananda). He believed that pursuing bliss is a path to realizing full consciousness and being. His insightful interview with Bill Moyers elaborates on this concept, offering a deeper dive into the power of myth and personal joy as a guiding force.
My fascination with Sat-Chit-Ananda led me to the teachings of Ramana Maharshi, a revered South Indian sage. His teachings, particularly in “Who Am I?”, provided a practical analogy to illuminate Tolle’s quote. Maharshi uses the image of a train journey: “We know that the train carries all loads, so after getting on it why should we carry our small luggage on our head to our discomfort, instead of putting it down in the train and feeling at ease?” This resonated deeply. It clarified the essence of “life is the dancer, and you are the dance” in a way that my logical mind could grasp. We are carried by the current of life, and our struggle to control and carry our burdens is unnecessary. Instead, we can relax and become the dance itself, flowing with life’s movements.
However, beyond intellectual understanding, my artistic spirit was captivated by the poetic beauty of Tolle’s words. This poetic interpretation fueled my artistic expression, particularly in depicting dancers. I wondered if the masters like Degas and Matisse, with their numerous portrayals of dancers, were also privy to this profound secret. I now recognize that my pursuit of life’s deeper truths is intertwined with my artistic inspiration. These dancer sketches, reminiscent of Degas and Matisse’s styles – one echoing his Fauvist period, the other from his later works – are a testament to this connection. Following these sketches, I experimented with carving on plywood and styrofoam printing, further exploring artistic mediums to express this concept.
Finally, in a lighthearted expression of this idea, I created a GIF of uncoordinated dancers to welcome the New Year – a playful nod to my own less-than-perfect dance with life! This animated piece embodies the joy of participation, regardless of flawless execution, in the dance of life.
Animated GIF of uncoordinated dancers welcoming the New Year, symbolizing joyful, uninhibited movement in life's dance.
Ultimately, understanding “What Is The Dancer” is about recognizing our intrinsic connection to life’s flow. It’s about surrendering to the present moment and realizing that we are not separate entities controlling life, but rather expressions of life itself, moving in harmony with its rhythm. Just like the dance is inseparable from the dancer, we are inseparable from the life that animates us.
