"MILAREPA'S CAVE"
60 x 80 cm.
Acrylics, pigments and Indian embroidery on Belgian linen.
Milarepa is known as the greatest Tibetan Yogi. Born in 1052 he was soon seduced onto the path of magic in order to avenge his abused family.
Later on he becomes aware of the falseness of his deeds and starts looking for a master. Finally he meets Marpa. After his first studies and many severe hardships, Marpa sends him to the Himalayas in order to deepen his meditation.
There he will stay for many years, meditating in secluded caves. When his small food supplies are finished his only nourishment are the nettles he finds around the cave. From these nettles he prepares a simple soup in his cooking pot, his only possession. Milarepa´s biography tells us how gradually his skin and hair turned into a greenish shade.
As such, traditionally Milarepa is depicted in a greenish colour, always accompanied by his cooking pot. Just as on this painting as well.
Milarepa´s cooking pot can be found at the bottom of the outer square, representing the body and physical nourishment. In the inner cave we see the meditating Milarepa, surrounded by light. On top of this inner cave we find a small Aum sign, symbolising the spiritual “food” for his inner being.
