Taking a Line for a Walk

Swiss artist Paul Klee would "taking a line for a walk"; how about taking the lines of brush strokes for a pleasant afternoon walk?

In one place the artist Klee commented: "The more horrifying this world becomes, the more art becomes abstract."

"Flower" - Sumi ink and watercolor on paper. The size is 10 by 16 in.

One Stroke

One stroke; one taste 一味.

"Many things happen as you sit. You may hear the sound of the stream. You may think of something, but your mind doesn't care. Your great mind is just there sitting. Even when you are not aware of seeing, hearing, or thinking, something is going on in big mind. We observe things. Without saying "good" or "bad", we just sit. We enjoy things but have no special attachment to them. We have full appreciation of them at this time, that's all."

From Shunryu Suzuki: Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness.

Monoprint on paper; size is 18 by 24 inches.

Mind, Spirit, Energy

神，it pronounces as "shen". A Chinese character which has a few meanings:

1. a deity
2. preternatural; magical
3. mind; spirit, 心神
4. (a person's) energy, 神氣
5. (an) expression, 神情

In the Shambhala language, in Trungpa Rinpoche's renowned book, Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior, the seventeenth chapter is called "Natural Hierarchy." Rinpoche talked about three principles, which in Tibetan are called lha, nyen, and lu. Lha, 神, refers to the divine, or to "the highest points on earth." Nyen refers to the human domain, or to "the great shoulders of the mountains... includes forests, jungles and plains." Lu refers to "water being," or to "oceans and rivers, the realm of water and wetness," They also refer to seasons. The world has its order, power, and richness. He then said: "The discovery of natural hierarchy has to be a personal experience - magic is something you must experience for yourself."

Original calligraphy, ink on paper. The size is 10 by 10 inches. The seal is an image of a bird, which is part of one word of my first name.

Zen: Things as They Are

Zen: Everything as it is. Nothing more; nothing less. Seeing them clearly, deifinitely. Clear seeing.

Chinese calligraphy, "Zen"(in Japanese), or "Chan"(in Chinese) in semi-cursive style.
Sumi ink on rice paper. The size is 15 by 15 inche. Signed with the artist's seal "the heart of buddha" , and my name "Chin".

The calligraphy itself is professionally double-mounted on another piece of acid-free paper, the surface is totally flattened. Ready to be put into a frame.

Samsara and Attachment

The attachments get us going. Any kind of attachment will do. To love, to hate, to little things, to big things. To a person, to some notions. All the attachments get us going all the time: day after day, or, in Buddhism philosophy, we say life after life.

Chinese calligraphy: "Why life and death keep going endlessly?" - 為何生死不斷？The size of the work is 22 by 18 inches. Sumi ink on satin silk. (It is hard to see the shiny silk quality on this photo.)

Discipline

Chinese character: Discipline 戒. Discipline is everything. Without discipline, our energy is just spreading into the vast space, without a focal point. With discipline, all our effort will be like an arrow striking the target - it is not goal-oriented per se; it is just effective.

Freedom achieved through discipline. This work: sumi ink on rice paper, mounted on paper. The size is 15 on 18 inches. Will add my seal for framing.

Genuineness

Chinese calligraphy, character: Genuineness 真.

To quote Trungpa Rinpoche's words: "the Genuine Heart of Sadness" -- that open, raw and tender part of our heart that is touched by our experience. Ani Pema Chodron said that remaining in touch with this tender, vulnerable feeling is what keeps us from becoming thick-skinned and closed-down to our experience. Staying awake and present with whatever arises creates the space for enlightened qualities of mind to manifest, such as compassion and loving-kindness. (See Gampo Abbey Blog.)

This work, sumi ink on acid-free card board, the size is 10 by 15 inches.

The Rain

The rain is falling everywhere: on the rich, on the poor; on the happy people, on the sad people; on the crows, on the squirrels; on the greenery, and on the rocks. The rain is falling on everyone's roof. The rain is falling on everyone's head...

I used to just welcome sunshine, now I also welcome the rain. Precious water drops, precious mellow sound, precious memories, precious love, precious moments of living... So gentle and so tender... this precious life.

Chinese calligraphy: Rain 雨. Sumi ink on paper, the size is 11 by 14 inches. The seal is an image of a bird.

Silent Hour

SILENT HOUR

Whoever weeps somewhere out in the world
Weeps without cause in the world
Weeps over me.

Whoever laughs somewhere out in the night
Laughs without cause in the night
Laughs at me.

Whoever wanders somewhere in the world
Wanders in vain in the world
Wanders to me.

Whoever dies somewhere in the world
Dies without cause in the world
Looks at me.

By Rilke, Rainer Maria
POEMS by Rainer Maria Rilke


"Dust Storm2", Mixed media on rice paper, mounted on paper. The size is 22 x 15 inches.
http://yeachin.net/

Buddha, the Awakened One

"Buddha" means "awakened one" or "the enlightened one." "Buddha" is also used as a title for the first awakened being. In most Buddhist traditions, Siddhartha Gautama is regarded as the Buddha.

In our mind and heart, we all the the seed of awakening - like the seed waiting for the rain to sprout. We all have tremendous goodness inside. It is there; never diminished.

Chinese calligraphy, "Buddha" in semi-cursive style. Sumi ink on rice paper, mounted on another acid-free paper. The size is 13 by 14 inche. Signed with the artist's seal "the heart of buddha."

Welcome Spring! "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life"

Some things in life are bad they can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse
When you're chewin' on life's gristle, don't grumble give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best

And always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the light side of life

If life seems jolly rotten there's something you've forgotten
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing
When you're feeling in the dumps don't be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle, that's the thing

And always look on the bright side of life
Come on, always look on the bright side of life

From MONTY PYTHON - "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life"

Chinese calligraphy: Welcome Spring. Sumi ink on paper. The size is 8 by 12 in. The seal is: "Chin's heart."

Nothingness

Chinese calligraphy: "Wu, (in Japanese sounds like) Mu, Nothingness, 無" in semi-cursive style. Original work. Unframed. 

The Japanese and Korean term mu or Chinese wu meaning "none; without" - it is a key point in Buddhism, especially the Chan and Zen traditions. It mean "no", "not", "nothing", or "none". Nothing happens thus everything can happen.

"In Buddhism there is no place for using effort. Just be ordinary and nothing special. Eat your food, move your bowels, pass water, and when you're tired go and lie down. The ignorant will laugh at me, but the wise will understand." 
By RINZAI 臨濟禪師

“Nothing is born, nothing is destroyed. Away with you dualism, your likes and dislikes. Every single thing is just One Mind. When you have perceived this, you will have mounted the Chariot of the Buddhas.”
by Huang Po 黃檗禪師, 9th Century Chinese Zen Master, and the teacher of Lin-chi (Rinzai) during the Tang Dynasty.

Permanent sumi ink on textured Chinese rice paper. 12" by 18". Signed with the seal of the artist: "Heart of the Buddha." The calligraphy itself is professionally double-mounted on another piece of acid-free paper, the surface is totally flattened. Ready to be put into a frame.

The Virtue of Gentleness

Chinese calligraphy: "The Virtue of Gentleness" in semi-cursive style. Original work. Unframed. 

"With gentleness you can accomplish everything; with aggression you can only accomplish something." Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche.

Permanent sumi ink on textured Chinese rice paper. 14" by 16". Signed with the seal of the artist: "Heart of the Buddha." The calligraphy itself is professionally double-mounted on another piece of acid-free paper, the surface is totally flattened. Ready to be put into a frame.

Home

Home is love. Love is home. Sweet and tender; happy and sad. Always.

This original ink painting is done with sumi ink on rice paper, mounted on paper. The size is 13.5 by 11 inches. The red seal is an image of a little fish. The Chinese wording is: "Cat".

Hope

Chinese calligraphy: "Hope" in semi-cursive style. Original work. Unframed.

"Now abide, faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is Love."
- I Corinthians 13:13

Permanent sumi ink on textured Chinese rice paper. 9" by 12". Signed with the seal of the artist: "Tao, the Way."

Feel Good!

We are basically good, always good! Everything is fundamentally possible and workable. Sunday morning, let's feel good!

Original Chinese Calligraphy. Sumi ink on rice paper, mounted on paper. The size is 9 x 12 in. Signed with the seal of the artist: "good fortune, wealth, and longevity."

Fear Not

Chinese calligraphy: "Fear Not; Fearlessness" in semi-cursive style. Original work. Unframed. 

Permanent gloden ink on textured Chinese rice paper with black color ground. 9" by 12". Signed with the seal of the artist. The calligraphy itself is professionally double-mounted on another piece of acid-free paper, the surface is totally flattened. Ready to be put into a frame.

Offered this calligraphy to warrior who may want to own it 

Bravery

Life is difficult at times. Yet your bravery - willing to face it, is like the gold in the darkness. That is extremely precious! We have to know our own worth.

Chinese calligraphy: "Bravery" in semi-cursive style. Original work. Unframed.
Permanent gloden ink on textured Chinese rice paper with black color ground. 9" by 12". Signed with the seal of the artist.

Dust Storm

Dust Storm. The storm of life. Let it blow... Enjoy!


"Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy."
Rabbi Abraham Heschel

Mixed media on rice paper, mounted on paper. The size is 22 x 15 inches.

Organic Forms

This world is organic; we are organic. We are human with a beating heart; we are surrounded by living beings.

Original work. Mixed media on rice paper, mounted on paper. The size is 22 x 15 inches. (Click to see a larger image.)