Gallery Showings:

Photography of Laos:
Lincoln Gallery
Naropa University
2130 Arapahoe Ave.
Showing: March 5 - May 11

Photography of Thailand:
Shambhala Meditation Center
1345 Spruce St.
Showing: March 1 - April 30

Events:

  • Buddha and Psyche: Lecture and Slide Presentation

    Buddhist iconography has saturated the countryside and cities of Southeast Asia for well over a thousand years. Sculptors who create the form of the Buddha strive to imbue three essential qualities in his face - tranquility, kindness and enlightenment. When the eyes are painted, as a final step in the artistic process, the Buddha is said to come to life. The lively, earthy and transcendent qualities of the ancient Buddha statues will be shared in photographs taken by Deborah from a recent excursion with her husband to Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. From a Jungian perspective, a corresponding talk will offer reflections on the power of sacred symbols to saturate and shape the human psyche. Deborah will share observations from their cross cultural experience and speculate about a subtle fourth quality observed in some of the colorful images - humor. The audience is invited to contemplate and discover their own direct experience of the face of the Buddha.

    Sponsored by:
    Boulder Friends of Jung
    2650 Table Mesa Dr. (UCC Church)
    Friday, April 11
    Registration 6:30 p.m., Lecture 7 - 9 p.m.
    General Admission $15 / Seniors and students $10

  • The Image of the Buddha: Shaping the Social, Ethical and Psychological Landscape,presenting lecture and slides at the 2008 Symposium of the International Association of Buddhist Universities, Sept 13 - 15, 2008, Bangkok, Thailand.  Visual image is a predominant factor in teaching ethical attitudes to the vast majority of people throughout history. The image of the Buddha is no exception and is one of the most recognized symbols of wisdom manifest in society today. The sitting posture of the Buddha embodies a balance of attention and calm abiding necessary for the development of compassionate action based in clear awareness. Conveying a state of mindfulness based in a discipline rooted in the body, the Buddha image teaches societal values of both exertion and nonviolence. The paper, lecture and slide presentation explores the transpersonal and sociological implications of the proliferation and destruction of Buddha images worldwide. The cultural inspiration of artistic renderings of the Buddha will be discussed as well as the hazards of externalizing the teaching of impermanence and awakening in color and form. As part of the presentation the audience will be invited to contemplate photography of Southeast Asia where artists strive to imbue the image of the Buddha with three essential qualities; tranquility, kindness and enlightenment.