Diamond in the Rose Drawings
Each individual rose is produced over months of painting or drawing while absorbed in an ancient meditation on compassion called Tonglen which is known as “Diamond in the Rose.” Through the practice of Diamond in the Rose,* the brush stroke and pencil line become infused with the practice of meditation resulting in a continuing body of artwork that offers peace and well-being to the world. The word “Tonglen” is a Tibetan term that translates as “giving and receiving.” Tonglen practice belongs to a great corpus of Buddhist teachings called Mind Training. Based on contemplation, meditation, and active compassion, this spiritual path trains the mind to be more empathetic and awake.
*Diamond in the Rose (DITR) artworks are depicting “Tea Roses", and there is a mandala painting hidden under each rose painting. The mandala represents through the cosmic process of transforming the universe from one of suffering into one of joy and happiness, the possibility of world peace and the healing of Mother Earth, including all beings -- creatures, plants and humans from all communities. The DITR symbolic artworks belong to an ongoing archive called "World Tea Party.” (WTP) and other Tea archive art activities comprise a collaboration with artists Daniel Dion and Bryan Mulvihill since the early 1980s. WTP has joined artists worldwide in the collective effort to produce artworks that build community together. WTP’s intention is to produce artworks and activities that nourish our world humanity as well as strengthen and build peaceful communities. Please see “peace in a cup of tea”, another series from suschnee.ca that belongs to the WTP archive.