On May 1st, the humanities art exhibition “Prajna’s Flowing Light, Ten Thousand Scrolls’ Beginner’s Mind” opened at the Donghua Zen Temple Calligraphy and Painting Institute in Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province. Organized by Donghua Zen Temple and co-organized by Lu Yi Studio, this public benefit exhibition deeply integrates Buddhist culture, traditional calligraphy and painting, and contemporary art. Inspired by the concept that “with a single thought, all things arise,” the exhibition revolves around the theme of “One Thought.” Through over 100 meticulously crafted artworks, it builds a bridge between the wisdom of Buddhist teachings and modern aesthetic appreciation.
The opening ceremony was held in the early morning of the same day, with Venerable Wanxing, the abbot of Donghua Zen Temple, leading a group of monks to the venue. Humanist artist Lu Yi, curator Zhizhi, cultural scholar Tu Zehuan, and other distinguished guests from various fields gathered at the Calligraphy and Painting Institute of Donghua Zen Temple. Curator Zhizhi explained the curatorial concept with the phrase, “Nowhere to see Buddhism, yet everywhere it is.” Artist Lu Yi shared his original aspiration to transcribe the Heart Sutra ten thousand times and spread the Dharma through art. Venerable Wanxing delivered a teaching on “Entering and Realizing the Way through the Heart Sutra,” expressing his hope that the exhibition would inspire everyone to practice the belief: “Remain true to our original aspiration and we will succeed.” During the event, Lu Yi donated a silk scarf artwork themed on the Heart Sutra and a portrait of Abbot Wanxing to Donghua Zen Temple. In return, Abbot Wanxing presented a shell sculpture of the Buddha and issued a certificate of honor, symbolizing the virtuous connection of “art supporting the spiritual path, while Buddhism nurtures the inner self.” After a group photo, the attendees entered the exhibition hall. Abbot Wanxing and Lu Yi participated in a calligraphy session together, with over 100 Heart Sutra works displayed simultaneously, officially marking the opening of the exhibition.
The exhibition breaks away from conventional formats by adopting a cross-disciplinary approach to display, featuring a variety of media including calligraphy, installations, sculpture, and immersive experiences. Among the many highlights are Lu Yi’s original works, including his “Calligraphic and Painting Blessing Heart Sutra Series,” “Fingerprint Heart Sutra Series,” “Portrait Scripture Series,” and a contemporary abstract acrylic Heart Sutra collection. These pieces reinterpret classical texts through innovative artistic expression, infusing them with modern vitality. A major attraction is the large seal script installation wall measuring 13.3 meters by 3.3 meters, which reconstructs the 260 characters of the Heart Sutra in the calligraphic style of Wu Changshuo, drawing numerous visitors for photos. The interactive “Portrait and Dharma Co-Creation Zone” engaged hundreds of participants, with teenagers writing down their wishes and families bonding over activities such as the Fingerprint Heart Sutra project. The integration of MOZOO trendy figurines and graffiti illustrated the inclusive spirit of Buddhism, and Venerable Wanxing also participated in the photo session. During his tour, Venerable Wanxing praised the exhibition for “honoring tradition while embracing innovation,” noting that Lu Yi’s works masterfully blend painting and calligraphy—where “words embody images and images conceal words.”
During the exhibition, art and Zen spirituality intertwined profoundly. Using a tree branch as his brush, Lu Yi created a secondary work on Abbot Wanxing’s piece, embodying the Zen idea that “nature itself is ink and brush, while the inner spirit defines the art.” The exhibition also featured collaborative pieces by Abbot Wanxing and Lu Yi, which integrate the philosophy of Donghua Zen Temple to interpret Zen culture. In addition, Lu Yi led a thematic lecture on “Calligraphy and Zen Practice,” offering advice on how to deal with the stress and confusion of modern life from the perspective of inner awareness. The session concluded with a recitation of the Heart Sutra.
The entire exhibition is presented as a public benefit initiative. Lu Yi vowed to write 10,000 copies of the Heart Sutra during the Spring Festival of 2025. This exhibition features a selection of 100 works on a touring exhibition. It is planned that the 10,000th copy will be returned to Donghua Zen Temple upon the conclusion of the tour. Visitors actively engaged with the exhibition by leaving messages and prayers, creating a harmony between artistic beauty and compassionate spirit. The exhibition will run until May 15th, inviting the public to reflect on the wisdom of Buddhism and find inner peace through the art of calligraphy. (translator: Jiang Renfeng)