![Enso With Diamond Sutra Calligraphy -Let Your Mind Be Free, Clinging To Nothing, Framed Print[metaslider id=5128]so With Diamond Sutra Calligraphy, Let Your Mind Be Free, Clinging To Nothing, Framed Print](https://www.theartofcalligraphy.com/wp-content/uploads/1-enso-no-clinging.jpg "Enso - Clinging To Nothing, Framed Print.")
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| Go to the zen art gallery |
In my Zen art gallery of the no-brush stroke I show my own Zen artwork, modern Zen calligraphy and Zen painting.
Within the world of Zen art, Zen calligraphy is a genre in itself.
I understand Zen calligraphy in two ways:
1. Zen Calligraphy as Spiritual Messenger by Enlightened Masters
Imagine an enlightened Zen master picking up the brush. When she or he moves the brush there is
no Zen master
no brush
no calligraphy
Only the perfection of calligraphy!
When Zen calligraphy flows from the brush of enlightened Zen masters they teach with their brush rooted in enlightenment, there is a transmission from mind to brush, and as such they store wisdom within ink for generations to come.
You could say there is a direct transmission of their enlightened mind onto paper. And Zen is about the direct transmission of the Truth, not explaining it but pointing to it. And Zen calligraphy is not different.
Enlightened Zen masters leave marks of Buddha Nature on paper for the spiritual pilgrim that comes along the way.
The Japanese Zen Master Hakuin Ekaku (1686 – 1768) was one of those exceptional Zen masters, who taught with his enlightened brush.
His Zen calligraphies and paintings leave a great impact on one’s heart, it is Zen art from a mature Zen master and artist, Zen Art that has ripened over many years within Hakuin’s heart, that bursts open like a ripe fruit —generous, direct and impressive.
It is said that on one occasion the young Hakuin saw a calligraphy of the Zen monk calligrapher Daigu Sōchiku, others say it was Ungo Kiyo, and he was so impressed that upon returning to the temple he burned all his calligraphies and brushes. Only at an advanced age, when he was about 58 years old, he picked up the brush again and for 15 years he masterfully expressed the truth of Zen in powerful Zen calligraphies and paintings.
What was it that struck the young Hakuin so much in the calligraphy of Daigu Sōchiku or Ungo Kiyo, that it compelled him to abandon all his artistic and creative activity?
I would say that it was the first time he saw the no-brush stroke and until he himself was able to produce a similar brush stroke, he found it a waste of time to brush any calligraphy or painting.
What is a no-brush stroke, where does it come from, where does it go, and what is it?
In Zen terms it comes from emptiness, returns to emptiness, and is no-thing at all.
If you try to describe its characteristics you could say that the no-brush stroke is unconstructed, non-fabricated, truthful, vast, bright, and natural.
With the same qualities we could describe the awakened mind —vast, clear and unobstructed. Indeed in the no-brush stroke we find enlightened activity and this spiritual dimension makes the no-brush stroke stand out above all brush strokes.
Thus, in addition to the Zen teaching expressed in an enso, or a koan calligraphy or a painting of a Daruma or a flower, there is in all Zen art, and above all in Zen calligraphy, the inner quality of the no-brush stroke that makes Zen art into what it is, a visual embodiment of the awakened mind. The no brush-stroke, with its inner awakened quality, is there to communicate with our true Mind, the Buddha inside…
and always with directness and simplicity.
2. Zen Calligraphy as Crystallization of the Artist’s No-brush Stroke
Secondly, Zen calligraphy born from the artist’s vision of the no-brush stroke.
I approach the no-brush stroke with my baggage of sitting meditation, sutra copying, Japanese calligraphy and brush painting and express the no-brush stroke found in my heart.
My Zen Art gallery opens with my calligraphy of the punchy Zen saying “Directly Pointing To The Human Mind; Seeing Into One’s Nature, Becoming Buddha” that appeals to enlightenment, to the Zen way of the direct experience of one’s Buddha nature.
All Zen calligraphies and paintings in this gallery are for sale. If you would like to buy an artwork, please click on the thumbnail of the work to see more details.
Buy Zen Artwork, Zen Calligraphy Art, Zen Ensos and Zen Calligraphy Scrolls.
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| Zen Enso Circle In Black Ink Buy Original |
Namu Dai Bosa Zen Calligraphy Buy Original |
| Buy Enso Circle Print | Buy Namu Dai Bosa Print |
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| Shingyo, Heart Sutra Calligraphy Buy Original |
| Buy Heart Sutra Print |
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| Sitting, Standing, Walking, Kore Nanzo, What is This ? Buy Original, Koan Calligraphy |
Contemporary Enso Calligraphy Buy Zen Enso Hanging Scroll |
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| Buddha Born from the Heart Buy Original |
Remember Compassion Buy Original |
| Buy Buddha Kanji Print | Buy Compassion Kanji Print |
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| Zen Calligraphy Scroll Directly Pointing To The Human Mind |
Zen Painting Pointing Directly To The Human Mind |
Zen Painting Seeing Into One’s Nature Becoming Buddha |
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| Zen Enso Circle | Mushin Zen Scroll | Namu Dai Bosa |
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| Heart Sutra Mantra | Heart Sutra Scroll | Diamond Sutra Verse |
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| Who will share a glass of wine? | Zen Skull Painting | Zen Riddle Calligraphy |
Buy Zen Calligraphies, Originals That Are Not Mounted
In this section I sell originals of my Zen calligraphy that are brushed on rice paper but are not framed, to use the Oriental technical term, they are not mounted yet. I don’t know if you are familiar with rice paper, but when you brush on it, it absorbs the ink and it wrinkles. Therefore the original artwork is uneven and needs to be mounted, which means it is stretched and flattened to take the wrinkles away.
In the Asian tradition of brush painting and calligraphy it is common for artists to sell their artwork without having it mounted. The buyer itself takes care of the mounting of the artwork and has it done the way it suits her or him best.
If you buy one of my original calligraphies that are not mounted, what you will receive is an original calligraphy brushed on rice paper, and the paper will be wrinkled. But don’t be alarmed, this is normal. Just as the Western framer takes care of the final touch of your artwork on Western paper, in the same way the Oriental mounter will take care of flattening the artwork and mount it so that it can be framed.
Here are some general details about mounting. The most common ways of Oriental mounting are :
Mounting ready to be framed in the Western style. The mounter stretches and backs the calligraphy with a backing paper so that it can be framed in Western style.
Another option is to mount the artwork as a traditional scroll. In this case the calligraphy is mounted onto a Chinese/Japanese scroll which is ready to be hung on the wall. You can see several examples of hanging scrolls below.
I can recommend you a mounter in California, US, that offers a good service and has reasonable prices. Please be aware that I cannot take any responsibility for the mounting.
Not-Mounted Original Calligraphies
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| Meditation And Wisdom Zen Calligraphy | Enso – Clinging To Nothing |
Related pages
In The Dance of the Zen Brush I invite you to join me on a spiritual journey through my Zen calligraphy and painting.You might also be interested in my Zen T-shirts with original Zen calligraphies. Browse my vibrant collection of and Zen T-shirts.
| The Dance of the Zen Brush, Zen Art Book |
| Heart Sutra Mantra | Diamond Sutra Verse Scroll | Heart Sutra Scroll |
| Zen Calligraphy Becoming Buddha | Zen Enso Circle |
| Zen Calligraphy Scroll Mushin | Namu Dai Bosa Scroll |
| Zen Skull Paintng | A Glass Of Wine? |
| Koan Calligraphy | Seeing Into One’s Nature |
| Theartofcalligraphy Home | Shodo Art Gallery | Buddhist Art Scrolls |
| Brush Painting Gallery | Kanji Art Gallery | Sutra Copying |
| About the Artist |
