San Jose, CA, U.S.A. (Originally In Au Lac Language)

The Beauty - Painting By Supreme Master Ching Hai

Oil Painting - 70.9X55.6cm - Costa Rica Center - February 1991

The big hill within the boundaries of the Costa Rica Center is transformed into a vast purple ocean with thousands of rolling waves. Two giant trees of a light brownish-orange hue, with large branches full of leaves, rustle in the wind. Puffs of cloud grace the distant sky. The trees and grass, the ocean waves, and the puffs of cloud, all seem to be frolicking merrily on the canvas. The purple color of the wild flowers speckled with similar shades, ever changing, combines all the hues of real wild flowers: unusual yet charming, regal yet romantic. In this painting, the longing to return to Truth, virtue and beauty is naturally revealed, and the inner world is suddenly brightened with joy, like a bird soaring high in the blue sky.

With its large area of orange branches, the tiny dots on its purple hill of wild flowers and its bluish-gray floating clouds, "The Beauty" painting indeed projects a grand symphony of sounds in a wild forest full of fascinating mystery. Through the exceptional beauty of nature depicted in this work, viewers can also perceive the creativity of an enlightened painter - the two firm trees with luxuriant branches were "planted" by Her on a carpet of purple flowers. And through this, the sky, clouds, flowers, leaves, plants and grass come together to form the scenery, revealing the cohesive link between God and humankind throughout creation.

If we observe closely each bloom of wild flower with a tranquil mind, we may be able to hear the heartfelt expressions of each flower, each branch and leaf - the entire scene sings joyfully in the wind on the vast open Earth. The colors of "The Beauty" remind viewers of the tranquility of a peaceful country with many golden memories of a long-gone youth. It is similar to an angel who has spent his time in fun, and found himself lost in a vast, strange land, who suddenly recalls the brightness of the moon and stars within, and remembers, "Oh! My Homeland is so beautiful. I must return!"

Supreme Master Ching Hai makes use of materials already existing in the human mind - symbols - to remind us of a perfect Homeland, creating paintings, music and poetry that all serve to remind us to return to our Home of Truth. This Home does not exist in outer space, but is the Home of Truth that resides within us all.

In one Au Lac folk story, a traveler visits all the famous places in the world, and upon his return, the people of his village ask him which place he visited was the most beautiful. He replies, " Our own village is the most beautiful place of all."

The oil painting "The Beauty" may be classified as Realistic, due to the authentic colors of its wild flowers, the living hues of its plants reflecting the February sky of Costa Rica, and the elegant colors of its precious trees.

It also may be classified as Impressionistic, because of the vibrant light, radiating on each branch, leaf, flower and the distant horizon. In addition, it may be classified as Surrealistic, because of the patches of sporadic purple color on the hill of wild flowers, the brownish-orange colors of the two giant trees, and the bluish-gray of the shifting puffs of cloud in the distant sky. The painter Supreme Master Ching Hai is totally successful in the painting "The Beauty," because it bursts open the seal of yearning in the viewers, enabling them to return to the Home of Truth.