‘Where are all the dark paths now? The Pure Land itself is near’ – Zen Master Hakuin. Ratnagarbha explores the Buddhist Pure Land tradition through a painting from old Tibet.
Category Archives: Visual arts
The Old Straight Track
Stourbridge Common – tracks to nowhere, the iron bridge, memories of the fair… Stourbridge Common is the nearest piece of semi-rural land to where I live in Cambridge. It is only a five minute cycle ride away but on dark winter afternoons it can take on an epic doom-laden appearance… The straight track across itsContinue reading “The Old Straight Track”
Watercolour is alive and well
Some fine water colour paintings by Buddhist artist Sudhi S. Pooniyil. He finds inspiration in the village life of his native India, as well as scenes in the UK. More on his website at https://sudhispooniyil.com
Backstreets of academe
Some recent sightings in the backstreets of Cambridge, not exactly dingy but not well heeled either. Raffish encounters with odds and ends… Golden tunnel to nothing good
Littoral Fringes of the New Forest
Many of us would like to have a corner of the earth with which we have a special connection. But I suspect I am not alone in finding myself pulled in two directions: there is the place where I was brought up, on the fringes of the New Forest and the edge of the largeContinue reading “Littoral Fringes of the New Forest”
New Post – striking mythic drawings based on ancient slavic beliefs
We feature the fascinating mythic art work of Marek Hapon based on the ancient slavic beliefs of his pagan ancestors. “My first contact with ancient Slavic beliefs occurred while spending summers at my grandmother’s farm in eastern Poland. It was there that I discovered the world of supernatural beings — some frightening and others wondrous. OneContinue reading “New Post – striking mythic drawings based on ancient slavic beliefs”
In Search of Nine Wells
There is a local beauty spot just next to Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambs, called Nine Wells. Here in a small wood several springs rise from a chalk aquifer and wind their way through hidden water-courses amongst beech trees and scrub. A magical place, but these days very close indeed to ‘civilisation’ – an entire city ofContinue reading “In Search of Nine Wells”
A ramble in South Cambs
Coton, pronounced with the first 0 long as in Seb Coe, is the nearest village to Cambridge on the west side. Beyond the village wide, lazy cornfields open out, glowing in the morning heat at this sultry end of July. After a mile or so a small wood closes in: amber shades frettingsContinue reading “A ramble in South Cambs”
A Berkshire Wood in Spring
The Berkshire Downs, not open country but deep woodland scaling the hillside. Just after rain, wandering through the heavy feast of rain soaked boughs, green shadows dripping all around me, festering silence, rich but a little sinister. Solitary dog walkers loom out of the stillness, a black labrador bounds up, then disappears into the resinyContinue reading “A Berkshire Wood in Spring”
Just posted in Culture and Society: Ruskin’s Seven Lamps and the power of art
Just posted a talk given by Ratnagarbha on the art critic John Ruskin and his relevance to people who believe in the power of art to transform self and world. Find the talk here: Ruskin’s Seven Lamps
Urthona – Buddhism & art 