You are referring to moral science and morals do not form literature. Do they?

Question: You are referring to moral science and morals do not form literature. Do they?

Shri Shri Thakur: Literature establishes the moral principles only and those morals goad us towards our goal. Thus the literature which does not establish morals is not at all useful to mankind – it has no truth in it and truth is that which nourishes our life and growth.¹

Question: Judging usefulness (of literature) inevitably calls for a lot of analyses and calculations. How is it applicable to Art?

Shri Shri Thakur: Art is a form or a technique which makes man identify his very nature, the truth or life with sensation. This is what I understand by Art.

Question : Falsehood, death, rubbish, abnormalities, indulgence of sensory appetites – all these can also be presented with sensation. Today in literature, fine art, music – everywhere such a tendency reigns at large – are these also not recognised as art?

Shri Shri Thakur: Yes, they may be – but we do not want them. They ultimately invite our own destruction. That is why in spite of being art they are opposite.

Question: The tragedies of Shakespeare, the naked art of Greece – are these not the greatest expression of Art in the world?

Shir Shri Thakur: If they establish that very nature, the truth and life of us, then why not?

Foot notes:

¹ – "What is good to us is true to us" – William James

Satyam lokhitam proktom

Na yatharthabhivashanam || - Shri Krishna, Karna Parva – Mahabharata

(speak the truth which does good to people, and not for the sake of rightfulness alone)

[Ref: Nana Prasange Vol.1, Ninth Edition, Dec-2001, Page 55-56]