buddha meditation

Deep in meditation, Buddha is a serene presence in this elegant portrait by Sakchai. The artist selects a monochrome palette of grey and white, except for the golden Urna between his eyebrows. It represents a third eye, permitting him to see beyond the earthly world and into the spiritual world. The artist focuses on the brushstrokes rather than color to achieve images with simplicity and clarity, in this case, suggesting Buddha's breath and emphasizing the ethereal nature of spirituality.

Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist nation, filled with breathtaking ancient temples, pagodas and other architectural wonders constructed to worship Buddha. In Thailand images of Buddha play an important role beyond mere decoration. They are traditionally placed within the home in special locations, such as shrines or pedestals, to help facilitate everyday religious worship.

Ryan Chappell aims his lens at hands in prayer holding japa mala rosary beads. According to Buddhist practices, 100 mantras are to be said during meditation, plus eight more to compensate for past errors. The monks at Bongeunsa Temple in Seul, South Korea, also hold fans for the long ceremonies. "They were celebrating Buddha's birthday with prayers and worship," explains Chappell. He prints the signed photograph on Fujicolor crystal archive paper. Arrives in a card paper mat board.

Luminous squares become earrings of elegant minimalism. Thailand's Pichaya crafts these sterling silver earrings.

.925 Sterling silver

Presented by Rujan Baidya in Thailand, this singing bowl produces a deep, rich tone when struck by the included raintree wood mallet. Crafted by Thai artisans from an alloy of five metals, the bowl features traditional Buddhist mantras written in Sanskrit: Om Mani Padme Hum and Om Ah Hum. A polyester cushion accompanies the bowl, completing the three-piece set with the perfect finishing touch. Please note that the color and pattern of the cushion fabric may vary.