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epiphanic moments these disciples possessed, as the basis for Dharmic religions is that individual spiritual experiences trumps all formal religious doctrine, thus necessitating the need for illustration. "Dharma" itself is a word that means "manner of being", essentially indicating that an individual's concordance with the almighty divine will is the sole purpose of lifethe original obligation of balance for life. According to the father of twentieth century perennial philosophy, Rene Guenon, dharma is the nature of an individual, the sum of all qualities that by virtue of those tendencies determines human conduct. Expressing that journey to achieving equilibrium extinguishes the ephemeral periods of enlightenment and provides permanent understanding; the art is meditative.

Like Dharmic art, the Japanese physical art of Reiki is another instance of intervention to balance the body, mind and soul. The methodology is to alleviate imbalances of energy in an individual's aura using the human hands as tools. Architecture and interior design from the region, too, are tinged with the hand of religion. For instance, the entire basis for the Chinese art of feng shui is founded on balance, by arranging physical space in a manner to achieve harmony with the environment. Literally, feng shui translates to "wind and water", a definitive means of expressing geographical, psychological, philosophical, mathematical and aesthetic concepts to balance energy flow. The wind is said to carry and transform Qi, or energy, and the water is believed to be its container. The belief is that human condition may be sculpted toward balance through the architectural art, in that nothing is independent of its surroundings. Balance of the five elementsearth, air, fire, water and woodare said to harmonize the mind, body and soul when in correct alignment.

The mind, the body and the soul are not tools to leave unsharpened. Together, they comprise the basest nature of an individual; thus, exercising methods to enhance one and not the others leaves a person conditionally disproportional. The most ancient of cultures valued this notion as one of the most crucial to achieving life's triumphs. Without this symmetry of the human's triad, identity is lost and incomplete. Throughout history, this dire quest for achieving the harmony has been illustrated through channels of religion, spiritual expression, artistic palettes and architectural forms. The path is individual, but the journey is universal.

Learn more about this author, Alizah Grace.
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