Abstract
The purpose of this essay is to critically
examine the ways by which Beauty is revealed to the human consciousness and how
this impacts its expansion and evolution from an individual and collective
standpoint. Three main aspects of how Beauty is revealed is identified and
situated in the context of its impact on the evolution of human consciousness.
Keywords: Beauty, Consciousness, Humanity, Evolution,
Physical, Creativity, Art, Emotion
A Beautiful Revelation
From the dawn of civilization, humankind has
always sought to answer the question “What is Beauty?” This simple question has
perplexed philosophers, theologians and scientists alike and has resulted in
the postulation of numerous definitions across different disciplines. What has
emerged is an abundance of terminological ambiguities that neither
satisfactorily encapsulate the underlying essence of Beauty, nor provide for
any critical insight into its revelatory aspects. Perhaps this is because
Beauty has myriad expressions that are revealed to the human consciousness at
different levels or stages of its evolution. This essay will examine three
revelatory aspects of Beauty and situate them in the context of the ongoing
evolution of human consciousness.
As sentient beings in a physical universe, we
perceive reality through sensory perception from which we construct and make
sense of our world. In doing so, we interact with nature and each other which
necessarily opens us up to what we come to know as Beauty. This element of
truth is more than a mere ideation or construct of the human mind. It aids in
the evolution of our species from a physical, emotional, and spiritual
perspective by how it is revealed to us.
We can approach the concept of Beauty as being
revealed to us in three primary ways. First, because we are part of the natural
world, we perceive Beauty through our senses. When we employ these senses via
sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell to our environment, our consciousness can
become aware of Beauty as it is revealed in nature. Hence symmetrical patterns
inherent on a butterfly’s wings or on a nautiluses’ shell can appear to be
beautiful to us because of their aesthetic qualities. Similarly, the sound of
rustling leaves or the taste and smell of food, or even the sensation of wind
upon exposed skin, can all be perceived as being beautiful.
This particular revelatory aspect of Beauty can
be viewed as Topical Beauty. Topical Beauty is the physical manifestation of
Beauty as revealed to us solely via our senses. This aspect of Beauty exists in
the natural world and is apparent to us from a mathematical standpoint. For
example, symmetry can be perceived in the face of a young woman or man and
harmony can be gleaned from the acoustics of natural or manufactured sound. The
sensations of taste, touch, and smell can also be measured and quantified in a
scientific manner.
Such beauty however, is topical because it is
revealed only on the surface of what we deem to be reality. In other words, it
can be construed as the proverbial “tip of the iceberg”. It is expressed in
nature through geometric patterns and is readily observable and measurable to
all. Topical Beauty thus represents the physical aspect of Beauty.
The second way in which Beauty is revealed to us
is through works of art. When the consciousness of humankind engages in
creative pursuits, we are able to perceive the revelation of Beauty on an
emotional level. Thus when we listen to one of Chopin’s piano concertos, we can
come away feeling deeply moved by the beauty of the piece’s arrangement.
Similarly, when we look at a Van Gogh painting, it can have a profound
emotional effect on us because it possesses the capacity to elevate our
consciousness to a level that is at once both physical and emotional.
When artists engage in creative endeavors, they
are opening their consciousness to the apprehension of Beauty that exists in
the sphere of imagination and wonder. This is outside the purely physical realm
and enables the mind to transcend it by acting as a conduit through which
Beauty can be revealed to us from an individual and collective standpoint.
Art forces us to look beyond the physical and
allows for the evolution of human consciousness beyond its material
limitations. When we have achieved such depth and breadth of consciousness,
Beauty is revealed to us Sub-Topically. At this stage, Beauty has the power to
move us in a physical and emotionally way simultaneously. Thus some
individuals may weep at a musical concert or be left breathless upon seeing a
sculpture, while for others; touching a quilt their grandmother made years ago
can move them in a very deep and personal way.
Once revealed, Sub-Topical Beauty allows for the
evolution and transcendence of human consciousness beyond the purely physical
or emotional. This is because it engenders capacity building by elasticizing
our consciousness through art. We can no longer just apprehend beauty via the
senses, but we can now feel it in the very core of our being. This further
enables us to partake in the beautiful for when we create, we beautify.
Upon reaching this level of consciousness, we
are now in a position to understand how Beauty is revealed to us in the third
way. When we engage in acts of virtue, whether towards other humans or to other
species, we perceive Beauty that transcends emotion and reason. In such
instances, the laws of nature do not apply since there is no inclination
towards self-gain. Our actions become altruistic and in doing so, they beautify
us collectively.
When we show compassion to the other, we engage
each other in a beautiful way. When we impart kindness or tenderness to others,
there need not be an aesthetic quality to such acts for us to find meaning and
beauty in them. When we show love to an animal, it beautifies the human in us.
When we forgive, our mercy allows us to redeem and beautify the other and this
in turn, beautifies us. Understanding and perceiving Beauty in this manner
allows for not only an expansion of our collective consciousness, but a
deepening of it too. As human beings, we are flawed creatures. But, if our
imperfections are what make us human, when we consciously engage in a virtuous
act, it is our humanity that ultimately makes us beautiful.
This third way of perceiving and understanding
Beauty thus transcends the physical and emotional. It is, in effect,
apprehended by our consciousness intuitively. Such beauty affects us
spiritually since we begin to see the other in ourselves and better understand
our interconnectedness with all forms of life, human or otherwise. This is what
I call Intuitive Beauty.
In conclusion, the apprehension and
understanding of Beauty is directly linked to the evolution of human
consciousness. As we mature and evolve as a species, so too will our capacity
to beautify and become expressions of Beauty ourselves both in a concrete and
abstract manner. Our pursuit of knowledge inevitably opens us up to the
possibility of finding elements of verisimilitude from a physical, emotional,
and intuitive perspective. In this respect, our potential to find Beauty within
ourselves is, ultimately, one of humanity’s most profound endeavors.
Jeevan Bhagwat, See Bios Section for more information -
Contact Information: @j_bhagwat
