Find Peace at Home with Mandalas and Other Sacred Objects

I love the way certain artwork — particularly sacred objects — can instantly bring me to a peaceful state of mind by gazing upon it and by remembering the story of how they came into my family’s life. One such item is an object for meditation called a Mandala* that I bought in India one year while visiting my daughter Lizzie on her college study abroad program. During that trip, I also visited the Leela Palace in Goa which had many exquisite sculptures on display in the lobby, such as a large cow, which are revered in India. I was embarking on a two- year project to promote Leela in the US, as part of my hotel public relations agency.

[*A Mandala is one of Himalayan Buddhism's most ubiquitous symbols and created as an artistic aid for meditation. Depicting a realm that is both complex and sacred, the Mandala is a visualization tool meant to advance practitioners toward a state of enlightenment.]

There is also an exhibition of ancient Mandalas on view now through January 2010 at NYC’s Rubin Museum of Art (RMA) –a place that has been oasis of peace for me for many years. And just last week as I was thinking about this particular blog entry, The New York Times ran an article about the Rubin museum and its new exhibition in the weekend Travel section.

I bought my own Mandala on my very first trip to India, when I visited my daughter in Mysore (two hours south of Bangalore). Lizzie and I found it in a little shop where the owner had hundreds of authentic sacred paintings from Tibet and India.  Also that day, we bought a quilt (stored in the attic to someday be displayed), but the Mandala holds a special place in our living room and my heart. Our beautiful Mandala is similar to the ones on display in the Rubin museum. It is an old painting and you can actually see the spots, oh so faintly, where the monks threw their rice in devotion. Upon bringing it home, we mounted and hung our cherished Mandala in a stunning gold leaf frame and it is now the most beautiful piece of art in our house.

Another special sacred object in our home that gives me great serenity is a wood-carved Buddha  (found in Florida at a large gift and housewares store), which rests on an antique chest in my bedroom with a cushion in front for meditating. Also on the chest are a small pair of praying hands made of metal which opens up, a small incense holder, a candle and a shell. I also have another Buddha on our porch table, surrounded by plants and flowers.

I love being inspired by my travels for my luxury hotel public relations company. But finding inspiration at home with peaceful beautiful artwork that brings so much serenity to me –and my family– is one of life’s luxuries that anyone can afford.

Much luxe,
Lorraine Abelow
President and Founder, Abelow Public Relations
www.abelowpr.com

ART NOTE: The Rubin Museum of Art (RMA) is home to a comprehensive collection of art from the Himalayas and surrounding regions. The RMA collection consists of paintings, sculptures, textiles and mandalas. The artistic heritage of this vast and culturally varied area of the world remains relatively obscure. Through changing exhibitions and an array of engaging public programs, RMA offers opportunities to explore the artistic legacy of the Himalayan region and to appreciate its place in the context of world cultures. Although works of art range in date over two millennia (over 2000 years old), most reflect major periods and schools of Himalayan art from the 12th century onward (or, 900 years and less).