Mapping the Trikaya
Once Upon a Time...
in June 2017, I co-taught Practicing Art/Practicing Dharma at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, with Stephen Batchelor. I was living in a really lovely little house on the edge of the woods, not far from a litter of fox kits and their mother. Each day, I made one three by seven foot drawing on tarpaper, using oil pastels, exploring one of the aspects of the Trikaya, or triple-body of the Awakening Ones (basically everyone giving themselves half a chance). These are, roughly: the Dharmakaya, or body of unobstructed space; the Nirmanakaya, or body of ancestors and descendants (aka physical body); and the Sambhogakaya, or enjoyment body.
Each day, someone from the retreat community would trace the outline of my body onto the tarpaper. Each day, working outdoors on the edge of the woods, I would make my drawing, completing it before sharing it with the group at that day's evening session.
I have proposed a version of this project for the 2018 Art in Odd Places: Body public art festival in Manhattan.
Each day, someone from the retreat community would trace the outline of my body onto the tarpaper. Each day, working outdoors on the edge of the woods, I would make my drawing, completing it before sharing it with the group at that day's evening session.
I have proposed a version of this project for the 2018 Art in Odd Places: Body public art festival in Manhattan.