Wherever Master stays, the surroundings become harmonious and serene, as if touched by a gentle spring breeze. Under the golden sun, drooping buds prepare to unfurl toward the light, while the cacti rejoice in the warmth – as if whispering loving stories and sharing their innermost thoughts with one another.
Great paintings are cherished treasures in the world. Each brushstroke captures history, culture, expression, and even blessings, enriching the soul’s experience of the past, present, and future without physically experiencing them. As a world-renowned spiritual teacher and artist, Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan) edifies us not only through Her spiritual guidance but also through Her extraordinary artistic works.
Today, we’ll walk through Heaven’s Art Gallery, created by Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan). Master’s artwork fully presents the beauty of Heaven, bringing blessings to the world and reminding us of the celestial creation of the Heavenly abode.
Master: And perhaps, when passing by my painting for a moment, the onlooker might remember his own spark of spirituality within. That’s just the aura that the painting or my art creation carries. But we must remember that this kind of celestial art is still only a copy of the real celestial creation of the Heavenly abode.
f1: These works of art transcend the widely perceived values of portraying the artist’s demeanor. The creativity in Her paintings evokes the pristine beauty in our soul and engraves our heart with the message of vegan living, a lifestyle for peace.
f2: I don’t know if it’s just me, but when I go to group meditation at the Brighton Center, it’s like I can… I see You sitting in lotus position right at the front of the room, and I know You’re always there with us. (Yes.) At every group meditation, You’re right there at the front. There’s a painting, but I know it’s not just the painting. (It’s not.) I can see You there as well. (You see the manifestation body.) And I just want to say thank You that You’re always there.
Today, let’s embark on a spiritual journey to discover the soul’s hidden beauty and light. We begin with the extraordinary “Tien Shan Cactus,” a symbol of life’s incredible endurance, which leads us to the graceful harmony of “Tender and Tough.” These works reveal a limitless life force that thrives in every situation. In the “Desert Flower,” we see the vibrant green heart that sustains life. Ultimately, through “Growing Together,” we find our path, celebrating the inner resilience and strength that unite us all.
The painting “Tien Shan Cactus” was created during Master’s stay at Santin Ashram in Hong Kong in 1993.
Wherever Master stays, the surroundings become harmonious and serene, as if touched by a gentle spring breeze. Under the golden sun, drooping buds prepare to unfurl toward the light, while the cacti rejoice in the warmth – as if whispering loving stories and sharing their innermost thoughts with one another.
In many cultures, the cactus symbolizes endurance and protection. It uses minimal resources to store life-giving water, enabling it to thrive in any situation. Indigenous communities even revere it as a “spirit helper” or guardian that guides and protects the soul.
Through the swift strokes of pastel pens, the harsh environment and the cactus's vibrant life are outlined. The work reflects the spiritual symbolism of a hermit practicing in silent solitude; through enduring harsh conditions, they eventually bloom with rare and precious flowers of wisdom.
The next painting further explores the profound theme of “Tender and Tough” through the orchid’s elegant form.
It took Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan) just thirty minutes to complete this painting of the orchids growing in front of Her residence. Interestingly, the petals of one orchid were originally half white and half red, but She decided to paint them entirely red, creating a more powerful balance of tenderness and strength. Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan) said that every time She finishes a painting, She never feels that it was She who had painted it. This was because, when She was young, She could not paint a picture of a person with a three-dimensional effect or a clear expression. But now, even the orchids She paints have distinct expressions and characters. Look! These orchids seem to be whispering to each other, as if they are sharing some secrets!
In the painting, two delicate orchids sprout from the cracks in hard rock. Who could imagine that such fragile lives could break through the rock's hardness and draw nourishment from the stone? Compared with the tenderness of these blossoms, the tough rock itself appears elegant, guarding and supporting them. The orchid growing out of stone embodies formidable vitality, inspiring us to find the determination to overcome any difficulty we encounter in life. This is the essence of “Tender and Tough.”
A famous painting may possess a unique style or creativity, but its true value lies in the message it conveys. We believe this next painting has a profound impact on our practice, especially when we find ourselves in the winter of our spiritual journey. It strengthens our inner self, transforming pressure into motivation for cultivation in adversity.
We can feel this spiritual yearning in a poem from the Silent Tears collection by Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan):
While I am athirst in the desert of existence, You’re drinking Nectar somewhere in the heavenly abode! If only I knew the road, I’d go up there and snatch it immediately. O Master, Gloriest of all Glory! Wouldn’t You consider it fair To spill down just a few drops For me?
The profound spiritual yearning in the desert of existence comes to life in the extraordinary painting “Desert Flower.” A noble soul finds beauty in everything – even these humble blossoms can bring joy and comfort.
The use of color in this work is remarkable. The harmony of deep and light brown, yellow, blue, and green pops with vibrant energy. Master’s paintings don’t merely depict the surface; they reveal an underlying truth. Although these petals appear dry because of their rusty-red color, this is merely an illusion. Within, they’re vibrant and green.
Just as people raised in different environments develop distinct personalities and habits, our outer character may appear different or even weathered. Yet the inner soul – that eternal and indestructible nature – remains beautiful, like the desert flower. As Master describes:
It’s called Desert Flowers; they’re very rare. You have to go to the desert to see them. And not all deserts have this kind of flower. Different deserts have different flowers. Most deserts have only one kind of flower; it’s a bluish kind of flower. Only one place has these rusty-red flowers; they’re beautiful. They look like the real ones we have at home. These flowers look very dry, but they’re not. Just their color looks dry, but they’re not dry. The plants are still very green inside; when you break them, they’re still green. That’s the way some desert flowers are. All flowers, when they’re in different conditions, have different colors and different forms. We are similar. All people in different situations and different circumstances appear different from the outside and sometimes from the inside. I don’t mean the inside soul or the original, eternal person. I mean the character of the person: the personalities and habits he or she acquires through contact with the environment or his/her background. But they are still beautiful, just like desert flowers. So whenever I paint, I don’t just paint an impression of the objects or the scenery; there is some meaning behind it. So desert flowers are like things in some of those different environments, like people who look strange, look a little bit peculiar, don’t look like us, or just maybe look like me. These are similar to desert flowers.
Master’s insight into the desert flower’s inner beauty reminds us that our eternal nature is always beautiful. This realization of our shared essence leads us to another heartwarming work, “Growing Together,” where this beauty blossoms in unity.
This one was drawn after “Tender and Hardness”. At that time The Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan) was very enthusiastic and completed several pastel drawings in a row, which was a feast for the people around. The picture depicts a bunch of wildflowers in front of Master’s lecture platform. The colors of the flowers in the picture are harmonious and delicate, and they look so sweet as though they are trying to convey their rich feelings of love towards each other. The Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan)’s brush strokes were so fluent, sweet, and beautiful that the loving relationship between all beings in all of the Creation is aptly depicted in a purely natural way.
The entire painting is rendered on a light yellow background, with the light brown ground transitioning seamlessly through a gradient watercolor technique. Master’s brush strokes are fluent, sweet, and beautiful.
In this purely natural way, the loving relationship among all beings in Creation is aptly depicted. The flowers seem to grow and meditate together, strengthening themselves both inside and out.
This is a truly great work of art with unparalleled expressive power. It conveys a timeless message and a heartfelt wish from Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan): it reminds us to love one another and grow together, for we are all one.
