In a previous article “Truth, Perfection & Intimacy” I spoke about perfection, and its antithesis, imperfection, and how there is that dynamic in the universe of all things unequal naturally tending towards balance. In the case of humans, there is an innate desire to become merged back with perfection, and to become balanced, which is a basic need of the human condition. Intimacy is typically viewed as a sexual act, but I believe that they are two very different things.
As individual imperfect humans, we are separate from one another. Our brains operate in a way that distinguishes me from you, and that you exist separate from me, and we are objects unique unto ourselves. We attempt to fulfill our basic need to be wanted and significant, while at the same time being a part of something that is much larger than ourselves. That’s why god is so attractive. We want to be immersed in the ultimate power, knowing and seeing all, but at the same time being special, one of a kind, and maintaining our unique individuality. If you ever reach this state, you are experiencing intimacy.
In light of this it is easier to understand the four questions of the human condition as mentioned in the article “What is Art?”
(1) The “psychological” question, “Who am I?”
(2) The sociological question, “Who are we?”
(3) The cosmological question, “What is the nature of the universe in which we live?”
(4) The epistemic question, “What is the nature of our knowledge about the answers to all these questions?”
These questions point you to the essence of the human condition. One can strive to reach intimacy, or gratify the ego. Both give a sense of fulfillment. The ego gives a false sense because it deals with a contrived perception of what we imagine things to be instead of what they really are. It gives us a false sense of security and accomplishment because it is determined by our own subjective perception of how things are happening and effecting us. We strive for that intimate connection through religion, relationships, philosophy, drugs, hollywood, and art. We depend on these surrogates to help us make sense of our lives and the people around us, and to help us achieve happiness. And I would argue that only through the act of intimacy can we gain a true sense of reality (if there is such a thing).
If there was such a time where all things were perfect, then I can only deduce that there was once a perfect version of sentience and self awareness, so much so that all entities living and perfect had a certain infinite variety of distinction from each other, but also, since they were all perfect, were all self aware of each other. I could never understand how you feel, unless I were you, or lived in your body as you for just a moment long enough to understand you. Do we not want desperately to find our “soul mate” who knows us inside out and yet preserves our individuality?
In the deepest part of our human condition is the gate we can enter to achieve this very connection, where one soul and heart can symbiotically attach to another and be greater than the sum of their parts without loosing their own uniqueness. This is intimacy, not the emotional and physical euphoria of sex or drug trips, which pales in comparison, but a realm where perfection and eternity exist.
In an earlier article on “What is Art?”, I defined art as as “… an aesthetic born from creativity, provoked from intuition, and cultivated from the greater sum of one’s experiences, knowledge, wisdom, intuition and intimacy.”
Art is not just a painted canvas or dance or musical exposition, it is a moment, the moment when we feel that intimate connection with a discovered truth, about ourselves in relation to everything else.
In fact, art is the most versatile and accessible way to achieve intimacy, and this quality is capable of being communicated. And when it is, it is beautiful.