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Each calligraphy is mounted on a brocade holder and comes with a translation, explanatory sheet, and teaching commentary.

Teaching Commentary: A group of students were visiting the temple recently and I talked to them about Buddhist teachings. Afterwards there were questions and one student asked what the Buddhist way of life was. I said that it was to live each day most beautifully and most meaningfully. Then he asked what happens when we die. I explained that Buddha did not talk about such unknowable things as what happens after death. Philosophers may speculate about such things, but Buddha always said that the most important thing is here and now, how you live the present moment. This is important because all things are subject to change. Life is transitory; we should live each day the best we can. Then if anything happens there is no regret. Each day is complete in itself. Live every day sincerely because each day is the last day.

The Ven. Gyomay M. Kubose (1905-2000) was a pioneer in the Americanization of Buddhism. He himself is valued as a “Buddhist Treasure” and his life as a work of art. In Buddhism, a teacher’s writing is considered an embodiment of the teacher himself. To have the teacher’s writing on the wall is considered to be in his presence.

The calligraphies offered are exact color reproductions of the Ven. Gyomay M. Kubose’s original art. Each calligraphy is mounted in a beautiful brocade-covered holder (4 x 19 inches) for wall display. Each calligraphy is accompanied by an explanatory sheet that designates how the Chinese characters are read in Japanese and their meaning.

Each calligraphy is not only a beautiful work of art but contains a meaningful teaching. This teaching, from the Ven. Gyomay M. Kubose’s book, The Center Within, also accompanies each calligraphy.

The two calligraphies being offered were favorites of the Ven. Gyomay M. Kubose. His accompanying teachings reflect his down-to-earth expression of the Dharma. The “Gyomay” signature on each calligraphy is the Ven. Kubose’s Dharma Name and is translated as “Bright Dawn.”