Johannes Vermeer

“As the soul passes in this body from infancy to youth to old age, at death the soul passes into into yet another body. Such changes do not bewilder those of steady mind.”

Bhagavad Gita 2.13

 

Dutch master Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) has painted a girl studying herself in a mirror. The oversized pearl necklace tells us she is an aristocrat, but breeding cannot insulate her from the uncertainty of what she sees. Dressing is an everyday act, yet she seems uncertain what to make of her own reflection. Is this repetitive, predictable image all there is?

Intuitively, we sense more to ourselves than the commonplace. Our immortality lies just below the surface, just beyond the reflection in a mirror. To better perceive the reality beneath everyday appearances, India’s wisdom texts invite us to chant the clarifying mantra Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. For further discussion and good company, come join us at one of our gatherings for kirtan, discussion, and a peek behind the mirror.

Fondly,
Yogesvara