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Copyright Š 2015 by Satish Gupta All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. ISBN 0-9000000-0-0 Printed in the India First Printing, 2015 Published by
Z A Z E N S PA C E
ZAZEN SPACE E19, South City 1 Gurgaon, Haryana 122001 www.zazenspace.com www.satishgupta.com
Z E N W I T H I N
S P A C E &
W I T H O U T
These Zen Poems and Awakenings got inscribed over the last thirty years.
In a sense they are autobiographical as they trace my life’s journey and record its most transforming moments.
Precious moments lived in awareness, of pure joy – and pure pain.
I have chosen 72 and reproduced them in two portfolios of 36 each. They relive my life from within and without – a life experienced intensely in a Zen Space.
I can only point to the Ultimate Reality. Only a hint is the best I can hope for. A suggestion that may perhaps awaken something in the viewer – something higher – a step closer to Buddha.
SATISH GUPTA
Zazen Studio, 18 July 2015
The metal foiling on the prints has been done individually by hand to simulate the originals.
D E E P A K S E E I N G
C H O P R A
A F R E S H
-
F O R E W O R D
The real mystery of the universe is not that it exists, but our awareness that it exists. Life remains mysterious and the more we try to understand existence, the more mysterious it gets. Why is there breath or thought, or imagination, or creativity, or love, or emotions, or imagination? No one can really say for sure. Science tries to answer the how of things, but remains bewildered when asked, “why of things.” Art, on the other hand, speaks to our soul and delights in perpetual surprise and is willing to breakout of dogma and see the world with fresh eyes as if for the first time.
Going through Satish Gupta’s very evocative artwork in his collections called, Zen Space, I found myself seeing the world for the first time again. To read a few lines as in the following Zen like words, “It’s amazing – Ganga flows, Moon shines”, complete with artwork puts you in a state of surrender; but also, in touch with mystery. It becomes the matrix for which insight, intuition, imagination, and creativity emerge.
It is the true function of art and Satish Gupta has done an amazing job in this extraordinary art supplemented by beautiful writing.
Deepak Chopra is an Indian-American author, public speaker and physician. He is a prominent alternative medicine advocate and is described as a “controversial New-Age guru”. Through his several dozen books and videos, he has become one the bestknown and wealthiest figures in the holistic-health movement.
Z E N S PA C E > W I T H I N <
1
2
3
Winter, dawn, embedded prayers on the Dzong wall embrace the first light
Early morning in the monastery, a whiff of burning incense – drifting silently
From the Bo tree a golden leaf floats down – meditating in mid air
Thimphu, Bhutan
Luang Prabang, Myanmar
Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
4
5
6
Observing the silence in the prayer hall, even the butterfly – stops fluttering
It’s amazing, Moon shines Ganga flows
Drifting mist, sea breezing through my bamboo flute
Mandalay, Myanmar
Varanasi, India
Melbourne, Australia
7
8
9
Each person’s silence is unique, just like their voice
Don’t stop spider – the world may stop spinning
Creation is a two way process, God creates us and we create Gods
Isha, Coimbatore, India
Vancouver, Canada
Tirupati, India
10
11
12
Alone in the forest? Don’t feel lost – embrace the silence
There must be a way out of this maze – the open sky
Echoing in the silent waters, sound of the broken wave
Bali, Indonesia
Puducherry, India
Halong Bay, Vietnam
13
14
15
Water flowing, no time to pass judgment on uneven boulders
Pure, pure dewdrops, will they reincarnate? The holy river – the vast sea?
In this valley of dreams, no mountain is too high to climb – but isn’t reality a dream?
Kyoto, Japan
Kashmir, India
Mt. Popa, Myanmar
16
17
18
Miracles are happening all the time, we only notice them when we are in trouble
Swaying bamboos in the storm, straw by straw the sparrow keeps building her nest
Many, many paths lead to Buddha but the steps – are a bit slippery
Cincinnati, USA
Kaziranga, India
Rumtek, Sikkim
19
20
21
Between the bud and the flower, between the shadow and reflection, between the breath going in and out, is the abode of Buddha
Begging for alms with one’s bowl full – is a crime
Just a crude crow’s nest? Yet so precious – to the crow!
Bagan, Myanmar
Boudhnath, Nepal
Antilia, Mumbai
22
23
24
Our precious dreams, just castles in the air but what treasures – within
Please wash your mind before entering – this temple
In the amber sky a flock of wild geese, the young one – out of step
Prague, Czech Republic
Bagan, Myanmar
Kamakura, Japan
25
26
27
Be still mind, let the Dervishes whirl
Why tell a lie when truth will do?
Humble roots bow deeply to Buddha sinking deeper and deeper into the earth – the glorious Banyan!
Konya, Turkey
Amsterdam, Holland
Zazen, Gurgaon
28
29
30
After praying to the Buddha for protection, they locked him away – behind iron bars
Not used to having his yoke lifted, the bull feels – insecure
The key to the ultimate reality is not a secret, just open your eyes and be – aware
Bhondsi, India
Kintamani, Bali
Delphi, Greece
31
32
33
It’s easy to give, receiving gracefully is much more difficult
My offering to the Wind Gods, a line sketched – across the sky
This road of destiny, does it lead you somewhere? or does it take you wherever you will it – to go?
Zazen, Gurgaon
Rumtek, Sikkim
Ladakh, India
34
35
36
While asking God to grant your wishes, don’t be greedy
A flash of lightning, cracks in the monolith – the fragility of eternity
In the mind Mandala there are Devils and there are Buddhas, the point is to make them – meditate together
Kathmandu, Nepal
Mingun Paya, Myanmar
Thimphu, Bhutan
SAT I S H GU P TA
A versatile artist, Satish Gupta is a painter, sculptor,
His works including poetry, drawings and calligraphic
poet, writer, printmaker, skilled draftsman, muralist,
writings, have been widely published, translated
designer, calligrapher and ceramicist all in one.
and commended and include his Zen book of
His work, honed through a deep engagement with
haikus ‘The Fugitive Moon’ published in Catalan by
mysticism & Zen Spirit, has been exhibited in 33
Bromera. Satish gives lectures and has participated
solo shows at important art galleries around the
in international camps, seminars and art events
world including those in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore,
including three poetry festivals in Spain.
Calcutta, Bahrain, London, Paris, Altea, Murcia, Amsterdam, San Francisco, New York, Washington,
Satish was invited to create a lithograph as part of
Ottawa, Vancouver, Singapore and Melbourne.
the official Beijing Olympic Portfolio as the only Indian artist, amongst others international artists-
Satish created a 13 feet high Surya sculpture in
Sandro Chia, Janis Kounellis and Mimmo Paladino.
copper, for The Indira Gandhi International Airport at New Delhi, while his monumental five piece metal
Known for their special meditative quality, Satish
sculpture inspired by the five primal elements, is
Gupta’s art, that he creates working from his studio
located in the atrium at the Jindal Centre in New
in Gurgaon on the outskirts of Delhi surrounded by
Delhi.
a Zen Garden of his own design, is held in important public and private collections including the National
Gupta’s sculptures, wall murals and paintings are
Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi and the Museum
the signature work at the Leela Palace Hotel in New
of Sacred Arts, Brussels.
Delhi and the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Bengaluru. He has also done a 30 feet long mural for the Bengaluru
In 2015, Satish delivered a TED Talk at IIT Roorkee
International Airport.
titled, A Flower Does Not Talk, which was received with great enthusiasm and excitement.
Satish’s Utsav Murti of the Goddess Devi for Sadhguru’s ISHA Foundation in Coimbatore resides
Satish lives and works in New Delhi with his wife
in the main temple and is taken out in a procession
Amita and son Ananda.
on full moon nights and venerated.
Zazen Studio, E-20, South City 1, Gurgaon 122001, INDIA email: zazenstudio@gmail.com, mobile: +91 9810039660 www.satishgupta.com