Postcard from Raymond: “Monk’s Posture”
Dear friends,
Below is a photograph that I would like to share with all of you. It won the first prize in the China category of National Geographic’s 2017 photography contest. To some, it may just look like a photograph of people sleeping on a fast-moving train in China, but it has deep significance. Sprawled around in the picture are men, women and children sleeping, but what is remarkable is the beautiful Chinese Mahayana monk, sitting crossed-legged in meditation posture with his head slightly bent.
As the accompanying commentary explains, there are many different levels of meaning and themes that the image explores. Take a closer look and contemplate what the photo represents:
- Discipline: Buddhism provides us with a sense of discipline. This is not just on a physical level but more importantly, on an inner mental level as well. Too often we are overcome and influenced by our negative emotions, but the Buddhist path provides us with ways to control our minds so that we can make better choices in our actions.
- Becoming a Buddha: No matter who we are or what we do, we always need to remember that we have the potential to become an enlightened being if we choose. This is not just something said to give us hope but is truly an achievable possibility.
- Remembering death: Just like the train that speeds its way to its destination, likewise we are all hurtling towards our deaths, driven there by our accumulated karmas. When we remember and meditate on this, and stop acting like we are going to live forever, we will realise how we react to situations, and our relationships with others will improve for the better.
Images like this one are not only artistically-stunning but are also inspiring spiritually as they capture so much meaning in them. Take a look below and see what else the image evokes in your mind, and share your thoughts with us. Take your time to internalise its meaning, and you will see your life change.
Humbly,
Tsem Rinpoche
Postcard from Raymond: “Monk’s Posture”
By Teahouse | November 23, 2017
“Monk’s Posture.” Photo by Ding Zuhe. Click on image to enlarge.
This image, shot by photographer Ding Zuhe and called, “Monk’s Posture,” won first prize in the China category for National Geographic’s 2017 photography contest. Here are six people, all in some form of sleep, lethargy, stupor, or unconsciousness. There are two women (the one in the foreground looks older), and four males: a child in the foreground, a teen or young adult to the far left, and a young man plus a slightly older one in the right corner. Ding leaves open to interpretation how they feel; for all we know they might be comfortable. However, it doesn’t look like as if they are. Then we have the monk: sitting in a classical Zen posture, his head slightly bowed, cross-legged, dignified, a noble contrast to the six sloppy engines of flesh splayed out around him.
The photo sparked discussion on the Chinese web, with some netizens marvelling that in an age where religious values and spiritual authenticity have been displaced by mainstream materialism and cultural chaos and alienation, the power of religion remains leagues above what its worldly counterpart can offer. At a shallow level, it might be speaking of the sloppiness of laypeople juxtaposed with monastic discipline and purity, although this is rather lazy to me. It’s easy and common to castigate the laity as too distracted or uncaring to tend to religious matters when in reality some of the most devoted and wise Buddhist practitioners are householders.
I’d like to offer a different interpretation. This photo is not about external appearances or even the contrast between the monk’s meditative dignity and the passengers’ outward sloppiness. This is a snapshot of the human interior. The monk is the Buddha Nature that is always present in every train, every engine of flesh that hurtles towards death. There is no alternative but to crash and burn, eventually, no matter how happy or fulfilled one’s life has been. Most of our interior being is asleep. Our inner selves have been like this train cabin for generations; our alienation with ourselves and each other cuts across gender, class, and age. Yet is the monk himself meditating, or actually asleep too? If he is asleep, he might represent the germination of awakening that brings the members of the cabin to true life.
There is also the theme of exhaustion. Comfortable or not, everyone in the photo, except perhaps the monk, look totally shattered, knackered beyond expression. Is this the gradual wearing down we all experience in the experience of samsara, which really just amounts to a terribly, awfully long journey over billions of lives and eons? When and how will the monastic wake them up from their slumber? When can we get off this train?
Source: http://teahouse.buddhistdoor.net/postcard-from-raymond-monks-posture/
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Truly a Buddhist practitioner who not want to waste time even on a train where most of the travellers were fast asleep . He had a quiet, peaceful sitting posture meditation. He was captured on camera and won in category of National Geographic’s 2017 photography contest. This pictures tell us a thousand words. Deep in a meditation , all I can say …..a beautiful pictures.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
The process of taking photographs is so easy, so common. Yet, for certain people, when the situation and circumstances are just right, taking photographs can be a special experience.
Thank you for the sharing of an award wining photograph that worth a thousand words. This picture is one of the best that captures reality in life of a monk’s discipline and the effort of his vows to his guru. The monk found his right time to do his meditation has the rest of the people in his compartment seem to be faraway sleeping without knowing what will happen to them in next second.
I’m sure the monk would have done a protection prayers to all the people in the train for a safe journey.
Thank you for sharing such a nice and meaningful photo with us.It may look normal photograph but it has deep significance.
This is a snapshot of the human interior .The monk is the Buddha Nature that is always present in every train ,every engine of flesh that hurtles towards death.Images like this also have inspiring spiritually as they capture so much meaning in them.
I really like this shot from Ding Zuhe, the monk does represent our Buddha nature and are the beacon and compass, for humanity and sentient beings. It is by this buddha nature that we will wake up from our stupor and really find a way out from samsaric existence.
Thank you, Rinpoche for sharing this. This is very inspiring and challenges us to think about the things that we are doing now in our life.
There is a monk being in meditative posture despite the people around him who are in all different sleeping positions. This is a contrast that has a deeper meaning that we can contemplate on. This is my understanding.
1. Discipline: It is obvious that the monk has more discipline than the rest of the passengers because even though he is tired, he still maintained his posture and let letting himself loose. In Buddhism, we train ourselves strictly to control our minds and not let our negative emotion rules us
2. Becoming a Buddha: This reminds us of the situation that we are in which is samsara. Everybody is letting themselves loose and enjoying samsaric pleasure. The monk strives for enlightenment and hence remain discipline even at the time where everyone around him is relaxed.
3. Remembering death: The fast train with blurry images out the window shows us how fast life can go by. While we are relaxing just like the passengers around the monk, Life shoots by without us even knowing. Only the monk is engaged in meditation training himself to be enlightened. The final destination will be death and we will not even know what hit us if we continue to relax.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this simple yet meaningful photo with us which tell us a thousands words. The rest of the people seems to be soundly asleep but not a peace of mind whereby the monk is more peaceful with a calm mind. The monk sat all alone to find peace within himself. And a peaceful mind will however be unaffected by whatever outside circumstances. Learning , practicing Dharma and doing meditation will definitely helps to transform our mind more peacefully. A profound teachings for us to ponder deeply.
Thanks again with folded hands.
Looking on the surface, the Mahayana monk is certainly in the most comfortable posture compared to all the rest of the people in the picture.
The adults might look like they are deep asleep but likely they will wake up with stiff necks and back pain from the posture they chose to sleep in.
Even the kid looks squashed up as he has to curl up to fit the size of the chair.
Whereas the monk looks the most comfy and serene in the lotus position.
New practitioners might develop cramps sitting in the lotus position, but with time and practice the cramps will not develop anymore. Monks can sit in the lotus position comfortably for long hours !
The posture with the back straight and slightly bent head allows the best flow of the “chi” in our bodies. Almost as soon as one gets into the correct lotus position , one will feel how natural the body feels coupled with a calm peaceful feeling all over the body.
The breath flows naturally and smoothly further calming the mind.
It might take a little bit of time to develop this natural state of body and mind, but it’s definitely worth practicing.
This is the same for the practice of the mind based on Buddhism. The same logic applies to the practice of the mind; the more one puts the Dharma into real practice, the more calm and peaceful the mind becomes.
We will experience endless phenomenas in our lives, both good, bad and neutral. Thoughts flow endlessly in our minds, in out in out in out, endlessly……..
Whether its good, bad or neutral, our minds should train to achieve a state of equilibrium. When sad, don’t let it wear you down to no return. When good don’t be overjoyed, as a storm might develop next !
Congratulations to the photographer for winning an award for this image !! Rejoice for you !!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing it with us !! A picture is worth a thousand words …. indeed it does !!
Thank you for sharing this photo with us. Indeed, there is a deeper meaning in the photo than just a photo with a perfect set up. There is a monk, and then people of different genders and ages.
Everyone seems to be laying down comfortably inside the train except for the monk who is sitting upright on a cushion that is slanted down. He is not disturbed by his surrounding at all and looking at ease. A Dharma practitioner can find peace in an environment that is full of chaos. A non-practitioner might be in their most comfortable environment but yet there is no peace of mind.
We are born into this chaotic world by the power of our karma. With Dharma practice, we have the chance to find the real comfort and peace of mind no matter how difficult the situation is. Without Dharma, we will live in delusion and continue to suffer.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
The Photo reminds us of peace , calm and free from attachment and we can control our mind if we want to.
The first thought that came to my mind was one of the Lord Atisha’s advices?
“You remain in samsara through the power of laziness, therefore ignite the fire of the effort of application.”
(To me) Eventhough he’s asleep, he looked poised and ready to practice. Then I remember the advice that Rinpoche mentioned ~ Be diligent and consistent.
Yes, I agree that this picture is one of the best that captures reality in life where discipline is paramount. On top of that, the speeding train represents samsara where once we’re born, we all are racing to our death. Everyone of us, including the monk. Hence, it reminds me of impermanence of life and imminent death. Inescapable. These are my thoughts Rinpoche.
Thank you.
This beautiful picture reminds me that with practice, we can exert greater control of our body. In fact, with deeper Dharma practice along with consistent effort, we can even rein in our monkey mind. Hence, with control of our mind, it is easier to attain contentment and happiness.
For the lay people in the photo, they represent people who apply no effort in controlling their minds, their attachments and desires. Hence, they are in various bodily postures that are unsightly and have no control of how their attachments and desires control their lives and thus, it will make them suffer. Hence, a simple picture can have a powerful teaching if we understand Dharma well.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the postcard photo of “Monk’s Posture” with the commentaries that explain the Buddhist’s teachings as indirectly shown by the monk meditating in the train. The high speed train resembles the current advanced technology developed through the intelligence of human beings and yet, the advanced technology alone is not able to guide peoples’ body, speech and mind to a higher level of inner self-improvement with full control but moving backwards instead by being influenced by the outer worldly physical factors such as greed, ignorance, hatred and delusion. The ancient wisdom passed down by Buddha Shakyamuni through His 84,000 teachings will never be outdated for us to learn, study, contemplate and practise continuously until we are awaken with the realization of emptiness that nothing we can own permanently in this world except our mind, which will be transformed to another kind of life at the point of our death. Hence, practicing Buddhadharma 24/7 regardless of any condition or situation will never betray us but give us higher assurance that we can be landed on a good hand in our next rebirth so that at least, we will not fall into the three lower realms with continuous suffering within the cycle of samsara.
Thank you with folded hands,
kin hoe
This is a very extraordinary picture caught on camera with this mahayana monk sitting up with such posture that shows so much discipline and dignity. Not sure if he is awake or asleep. But i truly respect him for holding himself up so well while other lay people are slumping left and right sleeping away. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful picture. ???
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this picture and explanation. I have another view on it. I see the monk as the person who will be the guidance of the 6 persons. He is their Guru.
The guru’s discipline and effort can be seen when he will remain a proper and discipline pose even when he rests. Years of training and effort in holding to the vows can be seen here. While the students relax and show their sloppy side, the guru still remains disciplined and proper. This means that the Guru will not be influenced by the students. Just like those dharma teachers who live in the cities where everything is geared to push us towards samsara. The highly attained Guru will remain as he is, unpolluted while residing in the heart of samsara to bring his students towards spirituality and enlightenment just like a lotus in a muddy lake.