Last week, we visited the Peranakan Museum for the ‘Serenity in Stone : The Qingzhou Discovery’ exhibition. Featured are 800 years’ worth of buried treasures only unearthed recently. This great discovery is the missing link that connects the evolutionary leap in Buddhist art between the Gandhara and Tang period. (The first is when Buddha images were created, while the latter marks Chinese Buddhism’s Golden Age.) In the museum, one can almost sense the excitement of the archaeologists, historians, artists and even Buddhists.
That night, I entered as a Buddhist seeking some serenity. There are 35 pieces showcasing in the museum. Technically, any form of art emulating enlightened beings is ‘imperfect’, simply because our imperfect minds can never depict perfection. But no matter how ‘imperfect’ these artpieces may be, they are certainly perfect in the eyes of many beholders and probably the satisfied sculptors. Each piece narrates a different story to different people. I’d heard of the story of the Buddha picking up a flower with a smile. No words were spoken, but that moment has been conceived to be full of the essence of the Dharma ever since.
As the statues smile like ones who have found great treasure,
I smiled because I treasure the treasure.
An open secret that hides from no one,
That I wish everyone could appreciate.
Like Him, I want to be still and fearless.
Like Him, I want to be serene and perfect.
Like Him, I will be compassionate and wise.
No layers of dirt can hide that glowing smile.
For what does the serenity shine?
None other than the ensconced heart of yours.
:woot: I have a friend who went 4 times already. He said there’s something really special about the statues… :bandit: