Module 1
Every window has its own story, these windows represent the vicissitudes of life. In this painting, I painted a lot of windows, alluding to different lives. The yellow and purple walls imply the yearning for an ideal and romantic life, and the bright blue windows represent a good and happy life. I drew a figure in the middle of the window. Her big eyes stared at the ever-changing landscape outside. She seems to be telling the audience that there are you, me, and us in these windows.
Module 2
After studying Buddhism for many years, I understand the meaning of life. The Buddha believed that life is full of troubles and pains. Birth, old age, sickness, death, love and separation, and resentment all bring endless troubles and pains to people. The cause of these troubles and pains comes from people’s excessive attachment to themselves. from this arise various views of discrimination, various cravings, and desires. For example, those who have already won are reluctant to give up, and those who have not won are desperately fighting for it, thus creating endless disputes. If people cannot let go of their attachments, they will live in pain forever.
“No-self”, in Buddhist terminology, is also “emptiness”, that is, “purity”. “Pure” means that human nature is inherently pure. If people can understand this truth, then all kinds of troubles will not arise.
After practicing Buddhism, I understood that everything is caused by cause and effect. I was no longer so attached. I jumped out of the vortex of troubles, got rid of the predicament of attachment, returned to my own nature, and gained inner peace and happiness.
I use this work to express some of my insights and reflections on learning the Dharma.
Each Chinese propaganda picture is a microcosm of history. I used propaganda pictures from the 1960s and 1970s to reflect my childhood. My childhood was spent in an idealistic red atmosphere. It was my dream to wear a red scarf back then! Because it is an honor, only students with three virtues can wear red scarves. Three virtues refer to good character, good study, and good health. Patriotism education is an important part of the classroom. Serving the people is the spirit of Lei Feng. Lei Feng was a soldier of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. Lei Feng died in the line of duty. He was only 21 years old. Learning from Lei Feng and taking Lei Feng as an example is our learning purpose. I had an innocent, motivated, and happy childhood.
To add decorative touches to the picture, I painted some yellow dots and blue patterns on the dark purple background.
This painting is my childhood memory.
Module 3
Curves, ovals, flowers, stamens, and pure orange, purple, blue, and green, these elements make up the painting. Colourful primary colours excite me, I love colourful life and yearn for exciting moments. Curved stamens, oval flowers, and petals make me feel soft. This softness calms me, it’s like appreciating and being grateful for everything, and it makes me feel warm and happy.
This is what I realized when I painted this picture.
Module 4
“Scenes of the Hells” display the truth of human suffering after falling into the vast depths of hell and demonstrates that all human suffering is self-inflicted, rather than being imposed by the adjudicators in the hells. Almost every city in China has a City God Temple. There must be a temple of the King of Hell in the temple of The City God along with pictures of hell in disguise. Those pictures of hell in disguise make people very shocked. The Hell scene painting also makes people dare not do bad things in their lives. The city God is a place for karma education in China. Parents often take their children to the Temple of The City God to let them know the true nature of karma from an early age and to remind them to be good people.
I try to use this collage work to restore some scenes of hell and introduce some traditional Chinese education models to the audience. Chinese traditional education is so vivid and profound, I am very impressed.
