Deconstructing the Puppeteer, 12x23 oil on board... We go through our lives viewing the world through our ego perceptions, perceptions that are nothing more than our preferred views, and we tend to believe that our view or perception is the correct one, so we feel empowered, and in control, we feel safe. In Buddhism we are encouraged to eliminate the power of the ego in our lives. The concepts of me, I, and mine belong to ego, and are merely an illusion, as there is no me nor I, merely a group of opinions, or views which make up our personality. The personality is not who we are, but simply a display of our ego's needs, wants and desires. Without the influence of our egos, we are able to see the world as it truly is, free of our judgements, views, opinions, likes and dislikes. Without the ego, we are able to see everything in our lives in its ultimate reality, in its simple beauty, and accept it as such. This state of being brings about much happiness, dispels suffering, and is what is called enlightenment. This painting shows someone on the path to deconstructing that ego, and finding Nirvana. She is cutting the ego strings that have kept her imprisoned in a world of illusion.
