Stone Lithograph

13” x 20.5”

2014

In creating this two-part stone lithograph, I was seeking to understand common practices or components of spiritual life from around the world. In examining various ways in which people come into contact with the Supreme Reality or Creator, I found “Meditation” and the act of giving “Praise” to be fairly consistent and integral parts of most spiritual lifestyles.

Praise, the joyful recounting of all that we have been provided with in this life, can take numerous forms. In Christianity, praise can be given in the form of singing, shouting, dancing, and playing musical instruments. Psalm 9:11 reads, “Sing the praises of the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.” Similar to these hymns are a Hindu form of praise, bhajan. Bhajan is any form of love-expressing devotional song, which could be as simple as a repetitive mantra or kirtan, or as complex and as lyrically rich as an entire story. In Islam, an a cappella style of vocal praise exists as Anasheed. This form of praise excludes any other instruments aside from the occasional accompaniment of percussion. As I continued my research, I came to realize that there was a fairly worldwide theme of praise being expressed as both vocal and instrumental devotional music.

As a key part of Buddhism, Christianity, Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, New Age Religion, Paganism, etc., meditation certainly holds a significant role in any spiritually inclined life. This practice, which is employed for various purposes, allows individuals to reflect on themselves, their actions, and sacred texts while developing a greater capacity for compassion, love, patience, generosity, and forgiveness in their daily lives. It is also commonly seen as a vehicle for coming into contact with God and finding liberation. The Christian Saint Pio of Pietrelcina stated, "Through the study of books one seeks God; by meditation one finds him."