This is the first of an occassional set of Dharma articles which are intended to be short teachings.
When I was a young monk in the early 2000s I was asked to finish off the side shrines after the re-decoration of the ceremony hall. Part of this was to paint a dragon on an incense stand that stood before the Achalanatha shrine. Having an art background this request involved a mixture of letting go and memory. I came up with a design which I took to Rev. Master Daishin, the Abbot, for discussion. As I was talking to him about the picture and the project I could feel past attachment getting in there and starting to muddy the waters. It was obvious that my sense of self was still mixed up in this. Was it good enough, can I explain myself clearly to him and also, very simply, is it enough. My previous experience of showing paintings in exhibitions was all mixed up in this. I found that I still related to what I did in the monastery in terms of what would it be like hanging in a gallery. To see this of course was invaluable and I was grateful be in a position where it was highlighted. The koan arising in daily life was never more pertinent. As Rev. Master listened to me get all tangled up he could see very clearly my dilemma. In his wise and compassionate way, which as the years rolled on I was to experience again and again, he looked at me and said, ‘ Remember, you are painting a dragon for the Buddha’. This short sentence exploded the whole thing open and the anxiety melted away. If you translate this into your own life and situations see that what we do is not separate to the dharma, To paint a dragon for the Buddha is eating rice and drinking tea. Painting is Dharma and Dharma is painting.