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No Mud, No Lotus
H: 52.25” x W: 48.25” x D: 3”
Framed in a plexi-glass box
This collage arose out of a Guru Yoga practice that begins a session of traditional meditation. The student in pure devotion and trust connects to and unifies with the enlightened essence of the master (teacher) and all those who have gone before him/her.
Using inspiration from images in my mind of waterfalls and the folds of monks’ robes, I began carving out a remnant piece of cardboard. Folds spontaneously turned into lotus buds attached to long stems.
Ancestral Spiral
H: 58” x W: 49”x D: 3”
Framed in a plexi-glass box
While immersed in a week long retreat practicing the Five Warrior Syllables, we were asked to extend the sound healing to our ancestors and any karmic traces that might have appeared. Within the non-judgmental space of the seed syllable A, the seed syllable RAM was sung, over and over again, to extend the warmth of its illuminating fire to all those in need whether alive, dead, known or unknown.
This meditative experience, and a trip to Joshua Tree in California shortly after, were the inspirations for this diptych.
Inklings
H: 49” x W: 40” x D: 3”
Framed in a plexi-glass box
According to the buddhist teachings, we all have karmic imprints. These imprints, comprised of traces of energy, thoughts and reactivity remain within the mindstream of the individual influencing every moment of experience positively and negatively.
In the self-transformative journey, the practitioner embraces and ‘hosts’ one’s imprints in the protected sanctity of Inner Refuge. These traces can show up as an habitual tendency, desire or aversion to something or, a blockage of some sort.
Donde El Cielo Y El Mar Se Unen (Where The Sky Meets The Sea)
H: 39” x W: 27.50” x D: 2.25”
Framed and matted in white frame
This collage combines 2 meditative practices in Bon buddhism- that of the primary Dzogchen practice of abiding (resting) in the Inner Refuge, and of the Five Elements practice of connecting to, retrieving, and embodying the essences of the elements found in nature.
THE ART OF GROUNDLESSNESS - h:48" x w:45.5" x d:3"
The origins of Bon’s causal roots are in the shamanistic practices of ancient Tibet. For the Bon practitioner there are varying practices directed towards “harmonizing the relationship between the individual and the environment by working with non-physical beings and the sacred energies underlying nature”. (Tenzin Wangyal Rin-poche)
The Cliffs Of Newfoundland - h:47” x w:39” x d:3”
H: 47” x W: 39” x D: 3”
Framed in a plexi-glass box
While meditating one day during a vacation to Newfoundland, it felt like the wind would blow me off the island, it was so fierce and forceful. The waves of the sea were dashing against the rugged cliffs and even the seagulls were having a hard time staying airborne. Then, within an instant, the weather changed - the wind vanished, the sea became calm and a clear stillness emerged.
Eventual Play - h:57.75” x w:48” x d:3”
H: 57.75” x W: 48” x D: 3”
Framed in a plexi-glass box SOLD
This triptych encompasses the Five Elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space) that are used in the Bon causal meditative practices. These elements are always present within us to varying degrees and if needed, by doing specific practices, can be increased or decreased, to restore harmony and balance physically, mentally and spiritually.
Fruits Of The Heart H: 41.5” x W: :20.75” x D: 2.5"
In Tibetan buddhism, heart and mind are not separate entities, they are one.
This collage came out of a Five Warrior Seed Syllables practice with the emphasis on HUNG- the sound associated with the heart chakra- and DZA- the sound asso-ciated with the secret (sacred) chakra. In the top center of this collage, out of a bril-liant blue sphere representing boundless space, the three primary channels, or med-itative pathways of light, travel downward, disappearing into the heart chakra.
Plugged In
H: 48.5” x W: :40” x D: 5.25”
Framed in a plexi-glass box
This collage is a visual meditation on the transformational work associated with OM- one of the Five Warrior Seed Syllables. These syllables are termed ‘warriors’ because they have the power to control and overcome negative emotions, prob-lems, and dilemmas that we face in our daily lives.
Undertow - H: 44” x W: 82” x D:3 ”
This triptych was inspired by a retreat I did on the coast of Massachusetts where the emphasis was on the Five Warrior Seed Syllables. We had been focussing on the sound syllable DZA- which supports spontaneous manifestation of positive ac-tion in the outer world. As soon as I returned home, I started working on this col-lage.
Taking It To The Cushion H: 41” x W: 47” x D: 3”
There are 4 sections to this diptych. The first layers that were applied to all setions were the blues, greys and greens to depict what is referred to in meditation practice as the mother space- kunzi (tibetan)- the base of all.
In the bottom left quadrant, the ego’s drama is represented by a conglomeration of colourful shapes and a map that has an ‘X’ on it. The map represents the feeling of being lost or disconnected. Hovering on top of this structure that represents “me” (you), is an outline in the form of a Buddha, encouraging the practitioner to embrace one’s challenges (pain) by ‘taking them to the cushion’ in meditation.
Holding On To Summer's Last Kiss - H: 40.50” x W:2 8.75” x D: 2”
While working on this piece, I found myself thinking about meditation practice and some of the obstacles one is cautioned about. For example; when the practitioner experiences a ‘good’ practice, the tendency can arise, to want to prolong the ‘good’ feeling for as long as possible or effortfully and intentionally try to reproduce the same feeling the next time one practices.
Union - H: 46.50” x W: 39.50” x D: 3 ”
The inspiration for this piece came from the last of the 5 minimal instructions of the great Bon Dzogchen teacher Dawa Gyaltsen: Vision is Mind
Mind is Empty
Empty is Clear Light
Clear Light is Union
Union Is Great Bliss
Aquafire - H:5 8.75” x W: 48.75” x D: 3”
Snorkelling off the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, I was transfixed by the brilliance of the turquoise waters and the hidden world of the coral reefs below the surface that teemed with life.
At the time, I was reading a book by my Bon Dzogchen teacher Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche called Form, Energy and Light. He described Dzogchen (an advanced from of the meditative state) as the great knowledge of space and light.
Earth Is My Witness - H: 26” x W: 39” x D: 2.25”
While looking at a beautiful picture of a Buddha that I had taken in Thailand, I remembered the story of the moment of Buddha’s enlightenment while sitting in meditation under a bodhi tree. The demon Mara challenged his spiritual accomplishment and cried,“Who will speak for you?” and at that moment the Buddha touched the earth with his right hand and the earth roared, “I bear you witness”.
Deconstruction of Ego - H: 49” x W: 76.25” x D: 3”
This collage is about attachment (clinging/grasping) and non-attachment; and the courage and trust it takes to begin the journey in meditation of looking at and dismantling the seemingly solid structures and identities that make up so-called ‘ME’.
In the central panel of the collage is a shaman that is both male and female representing transformation. He /she, set in a cradle of chaos composed of hexagonal shapes and body parts, is suspended in the ‘mother space’.