Whenever my view on the world turns bleak, when the trials and tragedies of life seem to press in too hard, I often find it helpful to close my eyes and remember my place in the universe. Somehow, taking my mind to the outer limits of existence helps bring me back to center. I remember how fleeting life is, and at the same time, how the eternal is ever present in this moment.
Now, instead of closing my eyes, I can just go to YouTube for this inspiring video, courtesy of the American Museum of Natural History and the Rubin Museum of Art:
This video is part of the Rubin Museum's new exhibit, "Visions of the Cosmos," a collection that features representations of the universe as they emerged over the course of human history, both East and West.
Lee Lawrence summarizes for the Wall Street Journal:
About two-thirds of the works in "Visions of the Cosmos" are paintings and sculptures portraying Hindu, Jain and Buddhist worldviews, in keeping with the Rubin's dedication to deepening our understanding of Himalayan art. The last third, however, may come as a surprise: works ranging from 15th-century German and French manuscripts to a 21st-century video by the American Museum of Natural History.
Any casual student of Eastern wisdom traditions and the cosmology of modern physics would find it hard to overlook the striking similarities of vision that emerge in comparison. From relativity theory to quantum mechanics to string theory, science has continued to reveal models of the universe that align rather neatly with those described for centuries in the metaphors and myths of Eastern religions. This exhibit is a great opportunity to see those parallels in a new way. If you live in New York City and are in the mood for a contemplative afternoon, this might be your ticket. If you live elsewhere, you can still see some of the works on display in the slideshow on this page.