The great German author Thomas Mann wrote, "Art is the spirit in matter, the natural instinct toward humanization, that is, toward the spiritualization of life. . ." Man's conception of art as the natural instinct toward humanization, or spiritualization, provides a bridge uniting the fine and the practical arts, the spiritual life with the art of creative living. . .

            This conception unites the work of Gandhi with the Japanese tea ceremony, the mission work of Albert Schweitzer with Mozart's Magic Flute, Navaho sand painting with the great cathedrals of Europe, the work of Mother Teresa with that of Goethe, the poetry of the Trubadours with the scriptures of India, the work of Albert Einstein with that of the anonymous but devoted local elementary school teacher. All of these are art because they spring from what Mann calls the natural instinct to humanization. 
     - Laurence G. Boldt, ZEN and the Art of Making a Living

I would like to believe that beauty is of deep import to our modern age. Without question, the intention of morality, philosophy, and religious belief is to bring hope, joy, peace, and freedom to mankind. But in our time religion has lost its grip. Intellectualism has undermined spiritual aspiration in most people. At this juncture I would put the question, might not beauty, and the love of the beautiful, perhaps bring peace and harmony? Could it not carry us forward to new concepts of life’s meaning? Would it not establish a fresh concept of nature? Would it not become a dove of peace between the various cultures of mankind?
- Soetsu Yanagi, The Unknown Craftsman, A Japanese Insight Into Beauty

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There are now a number of chapters of my upcoming book posted here:

The Gentle Arts Of Living A Quality Life On Your Own Terms

More will be published later today. They are still in early draft form. There will be many revisions prior to publication, projected for November.