Newark Museum Hosting Zen, Other Buddhist Treasures in New Exhibit

NORTH JERSEY RECORD
By Jim Beckerman

Portable Shrine with the Wisdom King of Passion Painted on the doors and back wall, from right to left: Monk Kūkai, Eleven-headed Kannon, Dainichi, Fudō, and Bishamonten, Guardian of the North Edo Period (1615–1868) Shingon religious order Polychrome wood, gold and metal

Zen comes to us from Japan. But its influence extends as far as outer space. That is if you count the Jedi master Yoda, who taught young Luke Skywalker such Zen-flavored maxims as: "Do or do not. There is no 'try.'" "Star Wars" is just one example of how Zen Buddhism — unique among Eastern religions — has made the leap into Western pop culture. It's become a kind of shorthand for peace, tranquility, mystic wisdom. I think Zen is a very popular word nowadays, which has come to mean a lot of things and actually doesn't even refer to the actual religion anymore," says Midori Oka, guest curator of the new art exhibit "Beyond Zen: Japanese Buddhism Revealed," at the Newark Museum through January 5. [More]