dorjeshugden.com
About Dorje Shugden => General Discussion => Topic started by: dsiluvu on January 12, 2014, 06:20:06 AM
-
Enlightened Art: From Paper to the Streets
([url]http://www.dorjeshugden.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/DsArt-14.jpg[/url])
Below is a short interview with never2501 in celebration of his creative and artistic expressions of Dorje Shugden!
Q: You are based in Italy?
A: Yes
Q: When did you start painting?
A: I started painting when I was 15 years old. I started with pure graffiti letters on trains.
Q: Who inspired you to paint?
A: I was inspired directly from city environments and from an old VHS that I saw back in the day. A VHS about TDK, a famous old school posse in Italy.
Q: You paint on paper, canvas and street walls. Any other materials?
A: I paint on everything… I don’t like limits.
Q: How did you develop the line style of painting which is now your trademark? Am I right to say this?
A: Yes, the line style is my trade mark and it evolved after a long period of working on patterns in general.
Q: Do you have a special name for this contemporary art form?
A: I call it new muralism.
Q. Are you a full time artist or do you have a day job and do this as freelancing?
A: I’ve been a full time artist since 2007.
Q: What or who inspired you to paint the Dorje Shugden mural?
A: I was inspired directly by Dorje Shugden.
Q: Where and when was the Dorje Shugden mural painted and how long did it take you to paint it?
A: The Dorje Shugden painting was done in Richmond, Virginia, USA and I was invited to paint several walls for a festival called G40.
Q: Any particular reason why you decided to paint Dorje Shugden?
A: It has been a long time that I wanted to paint Dorje Shugden, so I just decided to do it.
Q: Are you a Buddhist?
A: Yes I am.
Q: Who is your teacher if you don’t mind me asking?
A: My teacher is Lama Gangchen .
Q: And how long have you been his student?
A: I have known him since I was 10 years old more or less, and I became his disciple when I was 16. So right now it has been more than 15 years.
Q: What does your Guru say about your work?
A: He likes it! I asked Him to kind of authorise and give me the approval before I started painting Buddhist divinities, and He likes the idea so I started to do it!
Q: Do you know about the Dorje Shugden controversy and ban?
A: Yes I know!
Q: And what do you think about it?
A: I think it is a kind of political problem inside the Tibetan Buddhist community. I’m not sure if it is something that really involves western people. However, I totally trust Lama Gangchen and He practices Dorje Shugden so maybe one day I will practice it. I don’t practice too much, to tell you the truth. I was born in the middle of Buddhism and for me it is a big part of my culture. It was natural for me to become Buddhist. I also think that any type of church is kind of strange so for me the most important thing is your guru, the person that is transmitting you the knowledge.
Q: What is your goal/purpose/dream?
A: Have a happy life and grow as a person. Be free from samsara.
Q: Do you have your own art gallery/studio? Website?
A: I have my studio in Milano and this is my site: [url=http://www.2501.org.uk]www.2501.org.uk[/url] ([url]http://www.2501.org.uk[/url])
Q: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? What do you wish to achieve?
A: I don t think of me in 10 years… I think or try to think about myself day by day. The present!
Full article and awesome pictures here: [url]http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/enlightened-art-from-paper-to-the-streets/[/url] ([url]http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/enlightened-art-from-paper-to-the-streets/[/url])
See what he says about his TRUST in his GURU, Lama Gangchen Rinpoche. And wow... many western people do not know much about the BAN and thinks it doesn't really involves them much! This calls for the NEED TO EDUCATE them more so they can VOICE it out MORE! If they knew how bad it is and can affect them, they will start shouting BACK OFF CTA!!!
WISH we can have more STREET ARTIST painting the our city streets with such creative murals of Dorje Shugden... it would definitely grab media attention more and benefit those who lay eyes on DOrje Shugden, they'll be imprinted!
-
Dorje Shugden is inseparable from Manjushri hence you have many many sentient being who are highly creative find themselves drawn to Dorje Shugden. It is also a tell tale sign to tell you that people who are Dorje Shudgen practitioners are forward thinking, ready to innovate and bring new things to the table. Quite a sharp contrast to those who wishes the Dorje Shugden to never see the light again.
This probably the start of the golden age for Buddhist art and it is inspired by Dorje Shugden, how apt for Dorje Shugden to heard in the current times.
-
Thanks for sharing.
It’s great to know that more people are drawn to Dorje Shugden as he has always been so helpful to all of us.
However, ageed disluvu that we need to educate more western people about the ban so that we have more voices to support to lift the ban! We need to let them know that due to the ban, the Tibetan Shudgen practitioners are facing sarcasm and not able to have their basic human rights to social, medical and education. Due to the ban, although it may not affect them directly in Western, lesser people know and practice Dorje Shugden that may make a different to their lives. What a pity right?
-
Very well said DharmaSpace. Peoples who believe in Dorje Shugden are normally quick and intelligent. The creativeness came smoothly, this including myself.
The artist never2501 is devoted to his Guru so much and he have been benefited from Dorje Shugden for his work.
Rejoice on this news
-
I wholeheartedly agreed that we should care people who practices Dorje Shugden under severe circumstances where they're harmed and abused from holding on to Dorje Shugden practices. Why is it so? Without these practitioners who have strong faith, including your guru, you wouldn't have meet your guru today. Defending and voicing your disapproval of CTA is repaying your guru kindness. Why? CTA is doing non-dharmic actions to these Dorje Shugden practitioners.
-
What a bold piece of art. I love it. It is true that the ban does not affect the Westerners much although they have heard about it. However once the matter involves politics, many people would shy away because it is an uneasy issue to handle and to be honest, most feel that politics are the games played by unscrupulous parties, no one is really "clean". Therefore, re-focusing Dorje Shugden to the field of arts and creative expressions may attract more people to ease into this beneficial practice and actually support the lifting of the ban. ;)
-
I would like to add that if one is devoted to one's guru who practices Dorje Shugden then there is no harm in voicing support against CTA anti-Shugden actions. Italy is a free country. A very good example is how PETA is voicing support against cruelty towards animals. One can give freedoms to others who are unable to do so, in this case, the Tibetans who don't have the means to voice and gain support for continue practicing Dorje Shugden without interferences from CTA. CTA are bent on stopping Dorje Shugden practitioners by any means in including violence and harm. The Dorje Shugden Lamas have been very kind to persevere in upholding the teachings of Dharma and transmitting them in very difficult circumstances to everyone in the world. This is our way of saying thanks and paying back them their kindness.
-
Wow amazing! I like his art concept of using lines to create the paintings and murals.
He truly is a talented artist, it is great to see such huge murals of Dorje Shugden and even Buddhist motive paintings. I wish we have more artists like him that would paint modern Buddhist art, it would certainly appeal to the modern people of today and at the same time hold the same blessings it would in it's traditional form whenever someone sees such a blessed art.
-
I think on a religion perspective many westerners like myself doesn't really care much about the ban. For example, in Australia I have my religious freedom and hence I'm not bothered with the ban. To me it's about what I feel comfortable practicing.
It is not so much the actual ban I think that will catch the westerners attention as oppose to the humanity aspect caused by the ban. The violence and animosity against the DS practitioners, now that can create a lot of support and awareness of this issue in the international community. I think the international community in general supports religious freedom globally.
-
" I totally trust Lama Gangchen ...." what a strong Guru Devotion from a Italian. Really happy to know this. Hope he can get to know more and practice Dorje Shugden in no time.
-
I'm glad that the protector practice is being promoted in the West, as the embodiment of Manjushri, it is really needed. Western culture is sufferings, a lot of which can be negated through practicing the dharma and compassion. It is beautiful that these practices have been adapted to modern life as we can see in this artists wonderful representation of the Dorje Shugden and his views on the ban.
-
Thank you for sharing. It is great to know that more people come to know about Dorje Shugden. The protector of our time as we all know is here to help us. Everyone will have to do their part to help make the imminent lift of the ban to come really soon as not only Tibetans are now facing extreme sarcasm as we speak. With no human rights, social and even education welfare at stake.
-
I think it is a kind of political problem inside the Tibetan Buddhist community. I’m not sure if it is something that really involves western people.
Of course it does. Dharma (and whatever affects it) is not the private property of any ethnic group. An ethnic approach might apply to racist religions and priestly castes, not to Buddhism.
-
It is not so much the actual ban I think that will catch the westerners attention as oppose to the humanity aspect caused by the ban. The violence and animosity against the DS practitioners, now that can create a lot of support and awareness of this issue in the international community. I think the international community in general supports religious freedom globally.
Thus, unfortunately the Dalai Lama's reputation and peace image is fast waning in the West. To arrest this issue, CTA needs to lift the ban and restore peace.
-
My take on this:
a. The artist who painted the murals loves Dorje Shugden and listens well to his guru, Ganchen Rinpoche. He even seek permission to paint DS on any suitable wall to project the practice and bring more exposure to the Western public. The artist also believed in Dorje Shugden.
b. We MUST bring down the BAN on Dorje Shugden as it is related to the violence incited by the CTA and the Dalai Lama. This is definitely NOT dharmic actions that holy beings. Why should Dorje Shugden practitioners be side lined from social injustice.
c. Many sangha are undercover practitioners as they no longer believe in the Dorje Shugden ban any longer. We seek for justice, not injustice.
d. Social media to educate the West and other sangha of the Dorje Shugden BAN to bring to light the deeds of DS practice and the suffering of its undercover practitioners.
-
This is special and unique paintings and murals. I believe with this kind of paintings and murals can create curiosity to public come to know more about Dorje Shudgen. Not many people know about the ban against Dorje Shudgen has been created a lot of sufferings to the practitioners. The ban bring no benefits to anybody but harms and against the concept of harmonious, humanity, peace, equanimity. I hope more people get to know about Dorje Shudgen and could voice it out the harms of the ban towards the practitioners.
-
What a bold piece of art. I love it. It is true that the ban does not affect the Westerners much although they have heard about it. However once the matter involves politics, many people would shy away because it is an uneasy issue to handle and to be honest, most feel that politics are the games played by unscrupulous parties, no one is really "clean". Therefore, re-focusing Dorje Shugden to the field of arts and creative expressions may attract more people to ease into this beneficial practice and actually support the lifting of the ban. ;)
Very well said Manisha... it is true that the Dorje Shugden ban is political, and no one really likes getting involve in politics especially if it is not directly happening to them or to their neighbourhood. And sometimes knowing too much politics can also have a negative side effect, it can also bring those who are lazy to investigate further to think forget about "Buddhism" altogether.
This is a very clever and smart way of spreading of Lord Protector Dorje Shugden practice to those who are not keen on politics but is rather interested with the benefits! Indeed it is a creative approach in making Dorje Shugden global, and it is far more peaceful and less intimidating for most people.
On the other hand it also tells me that many of the westerners are quite basic in their Buddhist practice and probably are not exposed enough about the ban. If they love their Guru, has that much Guru devotion like nerver2501, they would definitely FIGHT and VOICE out if they knew their GURU's life is literally at stake because of the ban and well it can in fact bring down their centre, their hard work, their people's effort in spreading the Dharma too which is what's been happening to so many centres all around the world that's being affected by this ridiculous ban and one centre is the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT). They are also affected with many hate websites and blogs written about them. Not to mentioned their Guru as well as Gangchen Rinpoche is on the top list of wanted and posted like enemies of HHDL which we all know is NOT TRUE. Their lives are in danger, including the current Trijang Rinpoches life and they are forced to have armed body guards around them all the time because they've received so many death treats.
When we start educating the west in this way and to point out the fact that they are also in fact very much involved because the ban threatens their very own spiritual practice and growth, then I am sure they can see why in does involves them, as it will shape their future as well. Hence we must skilfully always explain with logic because with logic, CTA's twisted campaigns and actions can be clearly and easily sniffed out!
We must work smart in bringing this injustice news to the western people's attention and social media like twitter and facebook seems to be a good tool to use.
-
Never2501 said he doesn't practise much. This is not true! It may not be apparent to him, but his trust and reliance on his guru Lama Gangchen is already a complete and profound practice! His depiction of holy Buddha images in the form of Dorje Shugden murals skilfully plants seeds of enlightenment in the mindstream of any sentient being that sees these murals. That's the best form of giving Never2501 had given to others, the gift of Dharma.
His lack of awareness of the controversy and ban on Dorje Shugden can be overcome easily. Bear in mind he is a devoted student of Lama Ganchen, one of the greatest Tibetan lamas of this age. Furthermore, he was inspired by Dorje Shugden to draw these murals!
Thank You Never2501 for manifesting such awesome and breathtaking Dorje Shugden images!
-
I think on a religion perspective many westerners like myself doesn't really care much about the ban. For example, in Australia I have my religious freedom and hence I'm not bothered with the ban. To me it's about what I feel comfortable practicing.
It is not so much the actual ban I think that will catch the westerners attention as oppose to the humanity aspect caused by the ban. The violence and animosity against the DS practitioners, now that can create a lot of support and awareness of this issue in the international community. I think the international community in general supports religious freedom globally.
Yes it is true that we Aussies have the liberty to practice our religion freely. We are not affected by the ban but the Tibetan community is affected and have been suppressed for years. The Lamas who are practicing Dorje Shugden are also being sidelined. Imagine if there are no ban being imposed, the Dorje Shugden practice would have spread even faster and wider and benefit more people. People have suffered from this ban and it opposed the Buddhism teaching of being compassionate and being kind, as promoted by the Dalai Lama throughout the world.
I must say that Never2501 has done a lot of justice to the world by painting this mural as it represents the freedom of religion and this mural will and have benefitted a lot of people by just viewing this DS image. Dharma seeds are being planted everyday!!! Thank you for your contribution and a step further in the liberation of the ban.
-
It is great to know that the Italian artist has such strong guru devotion for his guru ~ Lama Gangchen. Even though he does not know much about DS but with his guru's blessings he painted Dorje Shugden which he likes so much.
Maybe more people can follow his modern muralism art all around the world to promote DS in a modern way to the newer generation.
-
Thank you for sharing these wonderful street drawings! I totally love it, and more so, I love the short and simple interview! What he said is straight to the point: trust the Guru and follow the Guru, because He is the one who transmit the knowledge.
I hope the artist can do more of these special kind of arts to increase the awareness of the sufferings of Dorje Shugden practitioners (especially practitioners in Tibetan community), and I also hope more artists will do street arts like these!
-
Wow! It's really neat to have Dorje Shugden depicted in this manner. It would be great if many more artists would come to depict Dorje Shugden in their own respective styles as long as it is respective of the subject matter. This would plant the seeds of Manjushri to so many people who would otherwise would have little to no contact with Manjushri. It would also spread the name of Dorje Shugden far and wide too. I love the fact that the audience of such art scene is basically worlds apart from those who practice Dorje Shugden and Buddhism. That means people would come in contact with the practice and controversy. Perhaps, someone would do something about the plight of the Dorje Shugden ban.
-
"muralism", a new term for me I must admit, I understand it as an art that is between the graffiti culture and a more established sense of art ( I am assuming this from the "-ism" used here).
Thus, between a culture of non-conformism and anti-system and the culture of the establishment, of art galleries, and museums.
Now, I think this is interesting, because Dorje Shugden is an established Buddha, proven so, and yet he is made to venture in the realms of "non-conformism" and "anti-system" because of the ban enforced by the "system", while, eventually he will be recognized by all and will achieve the place he deserves, just as graffiti has made it into the world of recognized art forms, or "-ism's".
-
I love this painting of Dorje Shugden. It is modern and unconventional. To me it is not just a beautifully done piece of art but an expression of the freedom of religion. This artist has managed to depict an enlightened being in a style that is unique and totally out of the box which to me is synonymous to freedom of expression. He is bold and daring. And this is the right of every being: freedom to choose their religion and spiritual path.
-
Wow this painting is unique! This unique mural can create curiosity amongst the public to want to know more about Dorje Shugden and everyone who see this will be planted with the seed of Enlightenment. How powerful! Even though the artist does not have much knowledge in Buddhism yet he has such strong guru devotion with his Guru, Lama Gangchen and with his Guru's blessings he is able
-
I'm very glad and proud to know that there are actually Dorje Shugden practitioners out there who care about the ban and who are willing to do something about it. Most of us just sweet talk and there's no action, but this awesome guy here has proved his devotion and samaya through his actions. I rejoice! :)
-
Sounds like Tibetan Buddhism may one day change name if this trend continues and Tibetans themselves can no longer practice the pure form of Tibetan Buddhism from Guru Rinpoche and Je Tsongkhapa days. The pure form will be practiced outside Tibetan communities.
Is H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama clairvoyant or what? He has foreseen the degeneration of Tibetans, as can be seen on FB where the use of language was most foul, the loyalty was most blind and the mind most dull. To keep the purity of the religion it must be sent outside of Tibetans' reach and the Tibetans can degenerate quietly in exile, fighting amongst themselves with no land to call their own. Their political leaders have failed them, they must exit from the face of this earth, quietly. Adieu!