GALLERIES - BUDDHIST COLLECTION

PURITY

COLLECTION  >

SIZES:      15 X 24

                 19 X 30

                 23 X 36

                 25 X 40

                 33 X 51

DETAIL

The artwork is a composite of six principal elements: photos of orchids, a four-armed Buddha Avalokiteshvara statue, fragments of Buddha Vajrasattva and a Vajra, gold leaf patinas and typographical inscriptions. The Vajrasattva statue and the Vajra form the right and left borders of the artwork. They were obtained from different sources at different times and their inclusion as a complimentary unit in this work was completely serendipitous. Only later, when I began to study Buddhism, did I realize what these images were and how the Vajrasattva is almost always shown in Buddhist iconography holding the Vajra.

The Buddha Vajrasattva represents Purification — of our impure mind and actions. When we purify our minds, we purify our world. We allow our Buddha nature to fully bloom. The Vajra represents the indestructible nature of the Buddha. The four-armed Avalokiteshvara, shown within the orchid rectangle, is the Buddha of Compassion. He holds a mala in one hand, an umpala flower in another and a wish-fulfilling jewel in his other two hands. Together, all these elements, encapsulating the eternal wisdom of the Buddha mind, stand in contrast to impermanence, represented by the orchids.

The theme of purification is evoked within the body of the artwork by the admixture of the gold motif that pervades the piece — representing the world in which we live — and the white/pink orchids and muted white background — representing the ethereal and spiritual realm to which we should aspire. A number of sayings attributed to Buddha are embedded in the artwork. They all speak to how one can infuse one’s thoughts and deeds with meaning so as to achieve this transcendent state of purity, virtuous actions and spirituality.

• The thought manifests as the word; The word manifests as the deed; The deed develops into habit; And habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care, And let it spring from love born out of concern for all beings.

• Everything changes, nothing remains without change.

• To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others.

• Neither fire nor wind, birth nor death can erase our good deeds.