March 31, 2015
Painting Enlightenment (A Preview): The Art and Science of the Heart Sutra

In an Advanced Buddhist Studies Lecture on Friday, April 24, Dr. Paula Arai will exhibit and discuss paintings by a Japanese contemplative scientist that meld insights from scientific expertise with the Buddhist tradition of contemplative calligraphy. Integrating the sacred words of a Buddhist text prized for its liberative power with images both microscopic and cosmic, the Zen ink paintings on exhibit offer visual counsel on how reality can be perceived through the lens of wisdom to see the realm of compassion. (See full description of lecture.)

Below are some examples with enlarged details from paintings by Iwasaki Tsuneo (1917-2002), whose work will be discussed in the lecture on April 24.

Atom (plus detail), and DNA (plus detail).

Atom (plus detail), and DNA (plus detail).

 

Big Bang: E=mc2

Big Bang: E=mc2

 

Lightning (plus detail), and Lotus Dew (plus detail).

Lightning (plus detail), and Lotus Dew (plus detail).

__________

Don’t miss Painting Enlightenment: The Art and Science of the Heart Sutra, part of the Advanced Buddhist Studies Lecture Series at City Center, with Paula K. Arai, PhD, on Friday, April 24, at 7:30 pm.