Enlightened Beings: Buddhism in Chinese Painting at the Smithsonian

Enlightened Beings: Buddhism in Chinese Painting at the Smithsonian
Chögyam Trungpa on being an artist
Korean Version of Collected Works
VOLUME 9: 詩選集 SEON POEMS: SELECTED WORKS
International Tibet Network encouraging supporters to stand up for Tibet
Audio: San Francisco Zen Center at fifty

Posted: 30 Aug 2012 08:00 AM PDT

Courtyard of the Freer Gallery of Art

From Saturday through February 24, 2013, the Smithsonian Institution's Freer Gallery of Art will showcase an exhibition titled "Enlightened Beings: Buddhism in Chinese Painting." Containing 27 works, this exhibit will feature paintings ranging from the 11th to 19th century. According to the Freer Gallery's website, "The exhibition focuses on four main categories of enlightened being: the Buddha himself; bodhisattvas, devoted to the salvation of all sentient beings; luohan, who protect the dharma, or teachings of the Buddha; and eccentric Chan (Zen) monks and lineage masters. Fourteen of the twenty-seven works on display date to the Song, Yuan, and early Ming dynasties (1000—1400 CE), and the remainder are from the fifteenth to nineteenth century during the later Ming and Qing."

For more details on the exhibit, see "Buddhism in China: An Enduring Legacy on View at the Freer" by Leah Binkovitz, at the Smithsonian's blog.

Photo: Public Domain

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Chögyam Trungpa on being an artist

Posted: 30 Aug 2012 07:00 AM PDT

From Ocean of Dharma comes this quote from Chögyam Trungpa's True Perception: The Path of Dharma Art.

In the experience of awareness, you do not just get hold of one chunk of mindfulness and stick with it, but you experience the mindfulness and its shadow, the environment around it. There is a tremendous appreciation of life and of how to conduct one's life. So awareness practice is not just formal sitting practice or meditation-in-action alone. It is a unique training practice in how to behave as an inspired human being, or an inspired sentient being. That is what is meant by being an artist.

For more about inspiration and artistry, see our Art and Buddhism Spotlight Page. You'll also find many more teachings from Chögyam Trungpa on the Chögyam Trungpa Spotlight Page.

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Korean Version of Collected Works

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 04:00 PM PDT

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VOLUME 9: 詩選集 SEON POEMS: SELECTED WORKS

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 01:00 PM PDT

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International Tibet Network encouraging supporters to stand up for Tibet

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 12:00 PM PDT

As the number of Tibetans to self-immolate in protest of Chinese occupation surpasses 50, the International Tibet Network is encouraging supporters to take political action to bring an end to the crisis.

Earlier this month, Congressmen James McGovern and Frank Wolf sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, proposing cooperation with other countries to create a plan to get the Chinese government to improve the situation in Tibet. You can read their letter here, and you can click here to send an email to 10 world leaders, urging them to work together to put pressure on China.

"Together, we can make a difference and change the political landscape for Tibet," said Alison Reynolds, executive director of the International Tibet Network. "Together, we can help Tibetans realize their dreams for freedom and for the return of His Holiness to Tibet."

Reynolds is also urging supporters to spread the word about the campaign by visiting its "Tell A Friend" page. The Tibet Network is also accepting donations, which can made here.

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Audio: San Francisco Zen Center at fifty

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 10:00 AM PDT

San Francisco Zen Center celebrates its 50th anniversary this summer, and earlier this week, California NPR station KQED hosted a discussion about Shunryu Suzuki Roshi's vision for the center, its history, and its plans for the future. Norman Fischer, Steve Stücky, and Susan O'Connell joined Forum host Michael Krasny for the panel, which you can hear below or at KQED's website.