Buddha's Smile at the National Gallery Victoria

After a bit of a delay I am finally getting back into having an Adventure Day every week, to explore what my city, Melbourne has to offer.

I always like visiting the NGV with it's impressive waterfall entrance and it's amazing Grand Hall with it's spectacular stained glass ceiling.

National Gallery Victoria - St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

The magnificent waterfall entry to the NGV.  
The first time I ever visited this gallery I thought the water ran down between two sheets of glass. It wasn't until I put my face and hands on it and I got drenched I realised it didn't. 

The Grand Hall was opened on August 20, 1968.

This magnificent ceiling is the world's largest stained-glass ceiling
and was designed by Australian artist Leonard French.
The ceiling is high 13.72 metres and a  vast 60.9 x 15.24 metres.

The 224 triangles of diamond-cut primary colours weigh 300 kilograms each.

This latest venture was to the National Gallery of Victoria to see the Buddha's Smile Exhibition. Anyone who knows me and my obsession with Buddha's would instantly know this is one exhibition I would have to visit.

11 Headed Bodhisattva

A delicate but powerful piece

It was hard to get a great photo of this statue as it was behind glass.
But for some reason it mesmerised me. 

 The explanation in the NGV information brochure is "Explore the story of Buddha in his multitude of incarnations, from Buddhist-inspired works of art and Zen philosophy to Buddhist costume, religious symbolism, painting conventions and historical narratives. Buddha's Smile reveals the unique style and mediums of art throughout Asia with a focus on the tranquility and silent transmission of Buddhist philosophy through simple gestures of a smile."

Liu Xiaoxian
Our God, Laughing Buddha
Digital print on aluminium

The Our God, Laughing Buddha work is actually made up of
thousands of photos of Jesus, as shown in detail above.
The artist also made a corresponding piece of work of Jesus made
up up thousands of photos of the Laughing Buddha. 

I did have a little feedback from a friend that they thought the exhibition was just OK. From my perspective I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it very informative with some amazing pieces of art.

KHMER
Ceremonial hanging and covering... 19th Century
Depicting the life of King Ashoka -Buddha

"The Buddha smiled and varicoloured rays of light extended from the smile, up to the gods in heaven and down to the various hells, where warmth brought relief to those suffering in the cold hells and it's coolness brought relief to those in the hot hells'..........
......Adaptation from The Legend of King Ashoka

Crystal Castle and Shambhala Gardens

We spent our last day in the Tweed area going for a drive to Byron Bay. When I was younger Byron Bay was always known as a "Hippy Town" with lots of people living an alternative lifestyle. I hadn't been there for many years and was interested to see how this town had evolved. Sadly I was very disappointed as the town has grown so much it doesn't seem to have that hippy feel at all. There were so many people and so many cars I felt like I was in a city rather than a country town. A good friend of mine had also told me, if I was in this area to go and spend some time at the Crystal Castle. Thank you so much for your recommendation Vicki it was one of the most magnificent places I have ever been. Back in 1985 Naren King was inspired to create a crystal business when visiting a building that was positioned where the earths energy lines, or lay lines, intersect. After a number of years and setbacks his dream was starting to take shape. He not only created a crystal business he has created a very spiritual place indeed. Crystal Castle and Shambhala Gardens is a private botanical gardens with thousands of extraordinary crystals, the magnificent "Fountain of Piece", a superb "Trompe l'oeil mural with two amazing amethyst geodes at its entrance. There is also a Labyrinth, a Damanhur Spiral, numerous Buddhist and Hindu statues and the most amazing Buddha I have ever seen. As you may all know I am a little partial to a Buddha!! But there is so much more as well, words cannot describe the magnificence of this place.

This is only a tiny example of the thousands of pieces of Rose Quartz on the property.

The Bamboo Walk

A Rose Quartz mountain surrounded by a reflexology circle

The most magnificent Buddha I have ever been in the presence off

Crystal Castle is also the home of the "Kalachakra World Peace Stupa". To explain what a Stupa is I have quoted what is written in the Crystal Castle brochure. "The World Peace Stupa" is an extraordinary construction both architecturally and spiritually. A stupa is a sacred monument built by the Tibetan Buddhists to represent universal divinity. These intricate structures are assembled under the precise guidance of a Tibetan Lama and every part of the design is endowed with special significance. Inside is a treasury filled with sacred objects and at the heart of the structure is the Tree of Life, a wooden pole covered with thousands of mantras written in gold. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has also visited this totally amazing Stupa.

Kalachakra World Peace Stupa

I know that if I am ever back up this way I will definitely spend some more time at Crystal Castle.