Contemplative arts are a form of mindful awareness, meditation, or mind training. They are a form of ritual, which blends movement with awareness and presence to help develop insight into one’s own mind. While it is possible for anyone to do some form of contemplative art by reading the instructions in a book, it is very helpful to have a living teacher.
Contemplative arts encourage reflection and mindfulness, and call upon artists to attune themselves to the truth of the present moment, directly encompassing both their inner and outer experiences. Unlike conventional art that may focus primarily on self-expression or aesthetic beauty, contemplative arts use the creative process itself as a vehicle for meditation and awakening. The arts naturally help bring our awareness into the present moment, where creation occurs, and encourage our authentic expression of what we discover.
Examples of contemplative arts and practices include ikebana and kyudo from Japan; calligraphy, common across Asia; charya dance in Nepal; the Indian classical dance Bharatanatyam; tea ceremonies; cham (Tibetan ritual dance); and more. Contemporary forms might include mindful drawing, meditative pottery, conscious photography, or any artistic practice approached with full presence and noble intention.
Note: This topic is vast and has regional implications—we recommend that specialists in the area of contemplative arts be brought in to help illuminate the local practices as well as practices from other cultures.

How we create art, arrange objects, move, play, and interact with the world can become a contemplative practice. Asia has a rich history of this form of active contemplation.

Choose one contemplative art practice (such as mindful drawing, flower arranging, or calligraphy) and engage with it for at least 20 minutes with full attention to the present moment. Begin by setting an intention to use the creative process as meditation rather than focusing on creating something beautiful or impressive. Notice when your mind wanders to judgments about the outcome and gently return attention to the immediate sensations of creating. Afterward, reflect on how this approach differs from your usual experience of making art and how the awareness developed through contemplative arts might spill over into the rest of your day.

• What is it like to practice contemplative art?
• How is contemplative art different from regular art?
• What happens to your relationship with "mistakes" or "imperfections" when you approach art as meditation?
• How might contemplative arts serve as a bridge between formal meditation practice and mindful living in daily life?
• What contemplative activity could you create?
• Does the awareness developed through contemplative arts spill over into the rest of your day?

Compare and contrast contemplative arts traditions (ikebana, chado or tea ceremony, calligraphy, kyudo, charya dance) as forms of meditative practice; analyze how specific arts integrate mindfulness, precision, and aesthetic awareness; and evaluate personal experience by engaging in contemplative arts practice while documenting insights about the relationship between creative process and spiritual development.