The Kalās — Why the Arts Are Vital

What if creativity isn't something separate from spiritual practice, but one of the ways we become more fully human?

In this episode of the Self Meditated Podcast, we explore the kalās — the traditional sixty-four arts of classical India — and what this fascinating list reveals about the relationship between creativity, culture, embodiment and spiritual development.

From singing, dancing, painting and poetry to cooking, flower arranging, architecture, language, memory, logic and play, the kalās encompassed far more than what we would traditionally call “art”. They represented a broad curriculum for cultivating attention, sensitivity, skill, discernment and human expression.

We explore why these practices were valued within the Indian tradition, how Tan ...