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EXCERPT: published in Feb 2007 for the Source Weekly, Bend, OR: from original, unedited submission. ...Alok describes Zen emptiness as a concept similar to 'unconditional love' in a Judeo-Christian perspective. The Zen practitioner seeks to experience all phenomena in a state of choiceless awareness, having no personal investment as to expected outcome. In this mindset, everything is accepted, is celebrated in some fashion. This includes accepting the discomfort of emotions, thoughts, actions, daily phenomena. This is very scary territory. Who are we if we are not trying to control our environment and others? So koans stimulate the loss of self, things get done without the do-er running the show. This evolves into the primary element of Zen calligraphy, the use of empty space in balancing the composition. The traditional koan "Just
Enough" promotes a value of simplicity that is outrageously eloquent.
Alok paints just enough to completely shift your point of view, to silence
the cacophy of voices in your head running judgment on everything that
happens. Alok's ability to intuit the energetic qualities of the beings
he is painting ( individual, couple, or working cohort) creates just enough
to mirror his subjects with gentle compassion. He is not-doing and he
is on your side, because all the sides are one anyway. So much for Zen
playfulness, non-doing. Can you come out to play? contact Alok Hsu Kwag-han
at www.zencalligraphy.com. DVD and video of workshop are |
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