PureInsight | January 12, 2010
[PureInsight.org] The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, a famous site in Vatican City in Rome, is filled with paintings by Michelangelo depicting stories about gods. For hundreds of years, people have looked up at those remarkably true to life masterpieces. As people's minds are dazzled, they may ask, “Why did Michelangelo spend his lifetime creating this eternal masterpiece? What was he trying to tell people?” For many years, people, regardless of their social classes, have all had to raise their heads to see this magnificent painting by this great master.
Every stroke carried his respect and yearning for heaven. Every stroke emphasized a holy and pure mind and a renouncement of worldly attachments. Based on his belief in God, Michelangelo painted the holiness and solemnity of the Kingdom of Heaven. He painted the different consequences of people doing good or evil. He changed the ordinary environment of the chapel into a place of worship for future generations. He spent his whole life in unparalleled hardship and loneliness. Because of his belief in God, his works revealed a miracle in all respects. His belief helped him to achieve this brilliant art. His belief pushed his art toward the pinnacle of the art form, and it has commanded respect from generations in the world of art.
Many figures on the ceiling are almost nude, but these images do not cause any impure thoughts in the people who view them. Michelangelo never married in his life. He put his mind completely into his art. His pure mindset during the course of his painting gave the images of his characters a purity like that of a new born baby. When seeing these huge paintings, besides being touched by the solemnity of heaven, and God's dignity and power, people will also not have any evil thoughts and are likely to exercise moral restraint in front of Michelangelo's works.
Like others, I was curious as to the question, why did he paint them on the ceiling?
The answer seems to me to be that believing in God is very solemn, and the righteous belief in God and heaven exceed all secular affairs. Perhaps because of these reasons, a ceiling is the most suitable place for depicting heaven. People should forever have hope and reverence toward heaven.
Why did he choose a religious theme for his masterpiece?
From his artwork, one sees that he displayed his belief through his painting. It was the most important thing in his life. From Genesis to the Last Judgment, viewers' minds are deeply touched time and time again. It seems like one is being unceasingly purged of bad things. Sometimes, I seemed to see godly expressions in the characters’ eyes and bearing. Since people's attitude towards a righteous belief may be unclear, distorted or even lacking, Michelangelo did his best to expound his righteous belief in his paintings of the stories in the Bible. If people do evil things or slander those with righteous thoughts, no matter whether they are the Pope, priests, ordinary people, or followers of religion, the verdict against them will be guilty in the Last Judgment and they will be sent to hell. There will be no exceptions, even for the Pope or religious clergy.
I imagine that in the course of his painting, some gods said, “Let Michelangelo record these godly events since we need to help the Holy Law-Wheel King to validate the Great Law (Dafa) and tell people what will happen if they do evil things toward his disciples.” Those who do not commit crimes toward Dafa will have a bright future after the Final Judgment. Otherwise, their fate would be dreadful to contemplate. Thus, under consent of gods, Michelangelo completed his most magnificent works. Those who have seen these paintings should cherish the opportunity, as everything depicted is genuine.
Translated from: http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2009/9/29/61789.html
