The Double Truth of Joy & Suffering

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The Double Truth of Joy & Suffering

44” x 44”

Oil paint, White Gold-leaf on Canvas

2021

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When we pray, when we contemplate, it is useful to bare in mind the structure of the double truth: of joy & suffering, of relative truth & absolute truth. In Christian terms we can understand this by considering the double truth of the joy of God & the suffering of Jesus. According to Buddhism, there are two kinds of truth, relative truth (worldly truth) and absolute truth (paramartha satya). Both truths exist simultaneously. In the world of relative truth we have imperfection, time, and suffering. In the world of absolute truth we have perfection, eternity, and joy.

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This painting has a companion piece:

The Double Truth of the Relative & Absolute

44” x 44”

Gold-leaf on Black matte Canvas

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