promising to guide them in their rapid march to the Goal of life, viz., Self-realization, why do you encourage dance, drama and music?

The question betrays an ignorance of the fundamental principles of music and dance.
They are divine. I should request you to remember that Lord Krishna with His inseparable flute
and Mother Sarasvati with Her Veena remind you that music is divine. Lord Nataraja reminds
you that dance had its origin in Him. The wickedness of man would misuse anything. Because
pickpockets are found in abundance in a temple on a festival day, should we deny ourselves the
blessings of His Darshan?
It is a pity that these two divine arts - music and dance - have been brought down to the
level of sensuous entertainment. It is the sacred duty of every lover of God and of the fine arts to
raise them to their original standards of purity and divinity.
Music is Nada Yoga. It at once enables you to attain union with Nada Brahman, the
sacred Pranava. Nritya or dance enables you to enter into Bhava Samadhi.
Drama is a very powerful instrument for the dissemination of spiritual knowledge. What
you cannot teach through hundreds of books and hours of lecture, you can bring home to the
audience easily and effectively through a single play. Drama is an art-form that touches the
heart.
The very fact that the worldly man has taken such an interest in these three and misused
them to fulfil his nefarious purposes, shows what a tremendous power they have over the heart
and soul of man. What a blessing they will be if they are used for spiritual ends!
From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

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