Meditating Daruma 

Enji Torei created this ink drawing of Meditating Daruma during the 18th century. The subject is represented by a simple outline that resembles a gourd or a bell. Daruma, the founder of Zen Buddhism, is often depicted as a stern figure due to his legendary nine years of wall-facing meditation. Yet here, his form is reduced to an almost comical, incomplete outline. This draws to mind the Zen concept of emptiness, or "sunyata," a profound notion that recurs across cultures in varied guises. The hollowness of the Daruma in this work reflects the Buddhist belief that true understanding comes from recognizing the emptiness of inherent existence. This is an image that transcends its immediate representation, inviting us to contemplate the cyclical nature of symbols and their ability to carry multiple layers of meaning across time.