Bodhipaksa
Sep 15, 2012
Jesus meditating
Somewhere on the web I came across this interesting rendition of Jesus sitting in meditation posture.
I’m normally turned off by modern pictures of Christ, either because of the crucifixion aspect, or the general sappy vibe that a lot of them have, but I rather like this.
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Update: Thanks to Steven (see below) I now know that this image comes from the Old Temple of the Vedanta Society of Northern California.
According to Vedanta Press:
The story goes that Sw. Trigunatita had a dream or vision of Jesus Christ and asked one of his disciples to paint it according to the scene he remembered. The result is a classic painting of value not only to those who see a synthesis of spirit with Christ and the East, but to the Christian community as a whole.
It’s very typical of Hinduism to try to co-opt figures from other religious traditions. They’ve done this with the Buddha, who they claim was an avatar of Vishnu, although of course the Buddha did not see himself as being the avatar of any deity.
Comments
Comment from Steven Smith
Time: September 16, 2012, 8:32 am
That is a beautiful painting. I’d love to know who the artist is. Any idea?
Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: September 16, 2012, 8:53 am
I did a search but didn’t find the author. It’s on the cover of a 1992 book, Sermon on the Mount According to Vedanta, by Swami Prabhavananda, but that hasn’t helped me identify the artist.
Comment from Steven Smith
Time: September 16, 2012, 9:19 am
I found it! http://www.vedanta.com/store/christ_the_yogi.htm?__utma=1.413519345.1347801470.1347801470.1347801470.1&__utmb=1.6.10.1347801470&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1347801470.1.1.utmcsr=vedanta.org|utmccn=(referral)|utmcmd=referral|utmcct=/about-the-vedanta-society/bookstores/&__utmv=-&__utmk=235580929



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