Walking into Still Thoughts Hall
Gratitude Hall
Ting Yu
Gratitude Hall, a memorial space in remembrance of generosities from all walks of life, is located on the first floor. It is to keep records by way of sculpture, calligraphy, painting, etc., on touching deeds of many Tzu-Chi groups who made donations without any complaints and asked for no returns. It is for newcomers to recall the stories of the predecessors who set up good examples of extending life of wisdom in Tzu-Chi. So far, we plan to display much more impressive deeds by multimedia for prompt and instant presentations.
Art Ceramic Lamp
author: Pon Ya-mei
Oringinality: It is begun with a “seed of love”, which is extended by lines without disconnection, meaning bearing fruits and propagating yearly. A good will is just like a best seed that generates thousands of dharmas. The cubic arc of the seed enhances its strength, and the eight arc lines represent Tzu-Chi’s eight major missions to light up the whole world. Turn on the lamp and eight beams will appear on the wall.
The significance: At the highest state of tranquility, everything becomes clear and transparent. Our mind should be as broad as the empty space and keep it unwaveringly for infinite eons; innumerable ways of striving for enlightenment will apprear before our eyes allowing us to penetrate the truth of all things.
The charateristic: There are ten holes in total, and each is located in different surrounding.
Lotus Sea Paintings
When sitting on the floor lotus tiles in Gratitude Hall on the first floor, you may envision the cause of many Tzu Chi volunteers getting together on Tzu-Chi’s 35th anniversary (The year 2001).
Looking at the lotus tiles piece by piece carefully, you can find they are different from common tiles.
And what are the differences?
Because every tiles on the floor was made through complicated process, they drew the outline carefully on the tile blanks first, then painted it little by little. The bearer of the task – Brother Kao Min-san said: “There’s no body painting lotus like this way. And since the picture was done on the floor, the difficulty of compositing the it is very high. And every different angle on the floor must be considered. So far, we still keep the record-breaking.
Brother Kao sponsors the finance and keep inventing, hoping the lotus mosaics will meet master’s ideal. In addition, Brother Kao orders a special kiln for producing lotus tiles.
About the conception of paving lotus tiles, Brother Kao said: ”Early in 1996, Master had the idea, and as a disciple, I will do my best to take all tasks to meet master’s ideal. Let every one coming to Tzu Chi Hall feel like standing beside the lotus pond to read the touching deeds of honorary board members and Tzu-Chi’s predecessors kept in Gratitude Hall.” Brother Kao continued sincerely “We organized a team in 1991. We painted the tiles piece by piece just like master’s step-by-step dharmas.”
Master requested the lotus tiles to be wearproof and the lotus must be translucent. To reach the target, Kao and his team members kept continuous R & D with many experiments, and after one year preparation, production was started finally.
In order to make the tile to be wearproof, they put in wear-resisting materials during manufacture process. In order to let the lotus look translucent, they invent special painting process. Brother Kao, good at ceramics and Chinese painting, expressed: “Glazing on painted tiles through Chinese painting process to present the mute feeling of lotus by colors’ lightness or thickness to make the article alive. Only glazing directly on painted tiles can make the tiles alive.” After brother Kao’s explanation, we realize no wonder the lotus pond in Gratitude Hall is unusual; it seems to spread fragrance far and wide, as if we are standing on the lotus pond.
The vapor diffuses on the pond. Some lotus are in buds and some in blossom; each is different. Through the artists’ skill, the hard and cold tiles were made alive.