Open Your Heart

How can we be truly happy? Most happiness in this world we experience is temporary; they come and go. Sometimes they change drastically. There is no way we can really rely on any external object for true happiness; it has to come from somewhere else.

In Chinese, there is a term for feeling real happy: "開心" (pronounced as kai xin) - it literally means: "to open your heart." Only through opening your heart, you will be able to taste the juice of life as it is - the preciousness of this moment. The full joy without prejudice. Then, you can rejoice; you can have a great time.

Let us open our heart. So we can see each other, appreciate each other. We all share our lives together on this planet, in this universe.

開心 - Chinese calligraphy. Sumi ink on paper. The size is 11 by 18 inches.

Joyful Dance

After the rain,
The cardinal is jumping in the yard and looking for worms;
Birds still sings,
Even the sun is hiding.
I am doing my little dance in the room,
It is OK nobody sees.

Joyful Dance. Acrylic and gold wash on paper. The size is 14.5 by 15 in. Purchase this original work

Walking Towards Sun Valley

It has been a long way, it is a long journey;
We walk towards the sun valley, the sun is our only direction.
Like night waits for day, seasons wait for seasons,
We patiently wait for next step, one step at a time.
No complain, but lots of sweats,
Walking towards the sun valley.

Acrylic on paper, the size is 15 by 11 inches.

Four Directions 02

"From the center to the four corners of the world, the rays of Shambhala are luminous and victorious."

Acrylic on paper. The size is 22 by 15 inches.

Patience

Patience, endurance. It is one of the six pāramitās 波羅密 — the six practices of a bodhisattva 菩薩, which leads to the achievement of the final stage of liberation.

The six pāramitās are:
* Generosity 布施 (dāna), or giving, including teaching the truth to others;
* Discipline 持戒 (śīla);
* Patience, endurance. 忍辱 (kṣānti);
* Effort 精進 (vīrya);
* Meditation 禪定 (dhyāna), meditation and/or contemplation;
* Wisdom 智慧 (prajñā), wisdom.

Chinese says the word "patience" has a knife on top of a beating heart (as you probably know, Chinese is a pictographic language). So there is a great enduring quality involved. Here it is. You see the blade, and the vulnerable, naked heart beneath it.

Sumi ink on gray color board. The size is 6.5 by 8.25 in. The seal is an image of a bird.

Thinking of You

The Sixth Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso, who was enthroned on the golden throne in the Potala palace in 1697, had a very special life. Outwardly, he wrote many love songs, and died tragically. However, many people consider his love songs were more than love songs. The longing is not just for lust. Whatever it really was, it is timeless.

Below are some love songs from the Sixth Dalai Lama:

"Over the eastern hills rises
The smiling face of the moon;
In my mind forms
The smiling face of my beloved."

"Sleepless I am
Because I am in love;
Fatigue and frustration overwhelm
When day brings not my beloved to me."

"Spring flowers fade in the fall;
It is not for the turquoise bees to mourn.
I and my sweetheart are fated to part;
It is not for us to cry."


Chinese calligraphy, "thinking of you, missing you." 思念. Sumi ink on paper. The size is 21 by 14 inches.

The Sound of Water Dropping 03

Even if I want to,
I cannot stop it;
It comes, it goes,
It falls, it vaporizes.
It gathers again...
The sound of water dropping.

Sumi ink on paper. The size is 11 by 14 inches.
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The Sound of Water Dropping 02

No expectation,
No compliant,
No plan, no map;
Being and joyful -
The sound of water dropping.

Acrylic on paper. The size is 15.5 by 15 inches.
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The Sound of Water Dropping

Spring rain,
Shy frog,
An early dragonfly -
The sound of water dropping.


Acrylic on paper. The size is 11 by 15 inches.
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Practice Is the Only Way

Calligraphy on Japanese masa paper. The size is 21 by 31 inches. The Chinese wordings are: "何以解憂，唯有修行" - The only thing we can do to release us from all the worry is to practice (meditation).

Centered

Centered; no fear; completely grounded. See clearly; balanced.

Acrylic color on paper. The size is 11 by 15 in.

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Simplicity 02

Simplicity in life brings lots of joy.

Simplify our belongs; simplify our emotions; simplify our thoughts.

When the mind is simple, it holds more.

Acrylic and silver ink on paper. The size is 11 by 15 in.

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Moon Dance Night

The full moon is high,
The spring is in the air,
We can have a moon dance,
It is just about time!

Moon Dance. Acrylic and silver ink on paper. The size is 11 by 15 in.

Mother and Child

The heart and mind of a mother and child are inseparable. 母子連心。

Chinese calligraphy. Sumi ink on paper. The size is 18 by 24 inches. The seals are an image of a lotus and my name: Chin.

Happy Mother's Day to All!

A Dancer

A dancer's movement. Free and spacious.

Acrylic and gold color on paper. The size is 11 by 15 inches.

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Present Moment 02

Present moment is powerful. It is full of all kinds of possibilities. It is explosive - Your mind has the potential to accomplish anything.

Chinese calligraphy wording: Present Moment - 當下. Acrylic and gold color on paper. The size is 13 by 19 inches.

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Right picture: details.
(click to enlarge)

Petals of Spring

Petals of spring fly all through the city
From the wind in the willows of the Imperial River.
And at dusk, from the palace, candles are given out
To light first the mansions of the Five Great Lords.

寒食
春城無處不飛花， 寒食東風御柳斜。
日暮漢宮傳蠟燭， 輕煙散入五侯家。

Poem by Han Hong 韓翃 (Tang Dynasty)
"After the Day of No Fire", from "300 Tang Poems".

Chinese calligraphy wording: Petals of spring fly all through the city - 春城無處不飛花. Acrylic and gold color on paper. The size is 13 by 19 inches. Purchase this original work

Gentleness 02

Gentleness 02. Chinese wording: Gentleness 柔. Acrylic and gold color on paper. The size is 19 by 13 inches.

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No Hesitation, No Doubt

Fortunate Birth

In the kingdom of children
Every one of you is this child,
An innocent being
Who jumped out of heaven
And landed in Shambhala.
Fortunate birth is who you are–
Everything is perfect in your world.

Your clothing is the mist of heaven,
Your feet covered by dragon’s breath,
You are the most fortunate beings on earth.
You are the children of dharma.
Nothing can close your open heart.
Other children suffer, caught in perpetual dilemma–
Because Buddha has touched you,
You are fortunate.

Be dharmic now,
Be powerful now,
Be benevolent now–
Not for me, not for others–
But because that is your blood.
When you feel privileged, use it.
When you feel ashamed, pounce.
Consume that hesitation–
It’s only a flicker of your imagination.

You are the blessed people on this earth.
Every atom of your being is Buddha–
What’s left is joy.
You have no excuse;
Don’t sulk.
You can be sad, for sadness is
the most genuine expression.
Expression of goodness is who you are.
Being a child of dharma is dilemma.
Being a child of dharma is freedom.

Consume this hesitation of not knowing.
Never doubt,
Only walk forward.
Love everything,
For that is why you are here.

~ A Poem By Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
1 July 2002. Halifax, Nova Scotia. From his book: "Snow Lion's Delight"

Chinese calligraphy: "no hesitation; no doubt" - 去疑無惑. Sumi ink on paper, 18 by 24 inches.

A Poetic Form 04

Sometimes we feel tremendous heavy burden from life - we feel pressured, suffocated, cannot breathe... If we can only stop for a moment, look at the sky - even it is gray, it is very vast, open and full of possibilities... Then we will know we don't need to be so hard on ourselves, and others. We can be kind.

A poetic form 04. Acrylic color on paper. The size is 11 by 15 inches.

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