Do you feel art is another way to spirituality? Meditation, yoga, tantric art all is ingrained in Indian culture and tradition. But how many of us are aware of this great Indian Heritage. Jean Letschert Ascharyaacharya a Belgian artist and philosopher settled in India speaks his heart to bangalorebest about the present condition of art in our society.

"More than ever before, mankind needs to be related to the sacred. The techno-industrial civilization of modern times, in spite of its undeniable material progress, has indirectly succeeded to drive man away from his divine nature.
In this timely situation, art must endeavour to fill the gap between Man and the Divine, as it did during the ages. More than ever, art should be the expression of hope and harmony on earth as well as in the heart of each individual. In his glorious creation, the divine Celestial Artist offered to mankind the most beautiful world to witness. It is through the restoration of that sacred beauty that the face of God will be revealed to us, and love and peace be our daily share," he reveals.

He is among the rare western artists practising Tantric Art as a spiritual and religious discipline. Jean is a marvellous portrait painter. As a philosopher, Sanskrit scholar, yogi and mystic painter he has devoted his creative art to the aesthetic enlightenment of mankind for the last twenty-five years creating sacred visions faithful to the great religions' approaches to the mystery of life.

"The Indian tradition teaches us to emphasise in ourselves, that the world around us should not be seen as an outside object but rather as an interior event," he adds.

His urge to learn eastern philosophy made him start his journey to India at the age of 26. During his stay in India he met J. Krishnamurthy the great thinker of all times and was profoundly inspired by his teachings. Impressed by Krishnamurthy's teachings Jean decided to impart his knowledge to the children in Rishi Valley in Andhra Pradesh.

In 1967 he got an Indian fellowship and joined the Madras University for his Ph.D on 'Correspondence of Human Anatomy'. He also mastered the Indian architecture, Sanskrit and also practised yoga especially Kundalini yoga (tantra).

On his spiritual journey he met Natraj Guru, the disciple of the great spiritual leader Narayan Guru. With the help of the guru he built an ashram in Wynad, Kerala, known as the Narayan Gurukula. He was an environmental activist in Wyand. He started an art school for children. Jean divides his class into two categories, the first one is for those with little talent in painting or any form of art and the second one is for the more talented. He also teaches people to use two hands simultaneously for the co-ordination of energy in the bodies. He also conducts workshops on Mandalas (constellation). Jean's work of art is a visual witness to the Universal Aim of all religions, which is the happiness of mankind in the framework of universal harmony. Drawing his inspiration from Hinduism, Islam and Christianity, his paintings breathe with an intense message of love, peace and solidarity.

A specialist in the Mural Painting Technique of the Italian Renaissance, Jean takes orders for large-size murals on spiritual themes for reception halls of cultural establishments, companies, hotels, etc. As a scholar of Indian Wisdom Traditions, Jean is a source of original information related to the philosophical and mystical trends of these traditions and has published several books in French. His comparative study of religions has given him a deep knowledge of the hidden meaning of the symbols of various religions of the world. He has conducted several pilgrimage tours in India for Western tourists who wish to go deeper into the mysteries of Ancient Culture and Religions, and is open to any collaboration with any organisation promoting a comprehensive understanding of these traditional trends in various frameworks. Jean creates and realises traditional, ecumenical or personalised altars for introspection and meditation.

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