A Spiritual Moment: Reaching Nirvana
In my picture, I have tried to capture a person reaching Nirvana (from the Buddhist religion), by using some spiritual symbols used in the religion. The main focus of the picture is the pink lotus flower , which is in bloom. The lotus flower has many meanings in the Buddhist religion. The opened lotus flower symbolises a person who has been enlightened. Buddha is sometimes seen sitting on a lotus flower. In my picture, I have drawn a picture of a human, sitting within the lotus flower, which signifies the person having attained enlightenment.
The person's head is outlined with a dark colour, which represents any impurities (such as worries, negative feelings and illnesses) in his/her's mind. As the being grows nearer to the state of Nirvana, the dark outline grows thinner, which shows the person's mind being liberated from these impurities. When one finally reaches Nirvana, one's mind is free from any worries and all suffering is emitted from life. I illustrate the individual's mind in a state of Nirvana, by colouring it whit; white represents cleanliness (your mind is cleansed from all suffering and distresses when you achieve Nirvana) and is untainted by the stresses and strains of life.
The silhouettes, of the humans head, symbolises the individuals mind , progressively, attaining Nirvana. The word Nirvana literally means "blowing out the flames". I have drawn the silhouettes as though they are being blown away- symbolising the extinguishing of the three fires of desire - greed, hatred and ignorance.
I have drawn music notes encompassing the enlightened being, which symbolises the mind being in harmony when in Nirvana. (In music, certain notes played together simultaneously, produce a harmonious sound)I chose to colour the background blue to indicate the water, in which the lotus flower grows. The shading starts off dark blue; shaded in a crisscross pattern to represent the turmoil, chaos and suffering one's mind experiences before entering Nirvana. As you climb higher up the page, the shading becomes lighter and smoother, which symbolises the tranquillity, perfection and ecstasy one attains in Nirvana.
Hannah, girl, age 14
