Sunday, February 19, 2012

Alone in the World


As much as we don't want to see the truth, we are here, we experience everything on our own. We do have love ones, and we do share everything with them, but everyone has their own lives, their own karmas, their own joy and sorrow, pain and happiness to bear. That is the fact of existence. We are alone after all.

Alone, but not lonely. We can be experiencing all things alone, but not feeling lonely or abandoned.

This Chinese calligraphy, "Alone in the World", extracts from "Sutra of Immeasurable Life", 無量壽經 - 人在世間,愛欲之中,獨生獨死,獨去獨來 - roughly translated as "As a human being, we live in the love and desire realm. We are born alone, we die alone; going and coming alone." Sumi ink on rice paper. The size is 28 by 24 inches.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

The Beginner's Mind


Don't forget your "beginner's mind", always go back to the beginner's mind. The first moment of freshness, the first inspiration, the first touch, the first sight, the first love - remember that!

In Shunryu Suzuki Roshi's book: "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind",  he said: "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few.”

This work - Chinese calligraphy, "Beginner's Mind" - 初心. Sumi ink on rice paper, mounted on board. The size is 9 by 12 inches. The seal is an image of a bird, and my name "Chin".

Purchase this piece on Etsy