THE BARDO OF MEDITATION

From her latest series, States of Consciousness: The Six bardos, Judith explores Buddhist idea of the six bardos or transitional states in a continuous cycle of consciousness. The Bardo of Meditation (Samten bardo), is Judith's interpretation of the third bardo which is described as a deep state of meditative absorption. Usually practiced by advanced meditators, this bardo is another subset of life used to stabilize the mind and experience the ultimate nature of reality directly.
 
I wanted to create time for myself to meditate, reflect and consider my own death. As I approach this evitability, the Buddhist's understanding of death as but one transformational state leading to an experience of reality as it actually is, is quite exciting! I am deeply interested in spiritual texts and traditions that seek to make sense of our lives - texts that offer answers to the questions: Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I when I am not here? 
 
These texts expand, zoom out, take a macro perspective of existence that allows us to escape our tiny insignificant subjective selves and enter into an all encompassing collective experience of the universe and our mysterious and inexplicable place in it. This series of paintings invites mediation, reflection and consideration of this complex, interconnected and chaotic experience we call life and our place within it.