Unadorned Lotus Dharma Studio is a Buddhist practice in West Michigan. Art studio, meditation, and Buddhist teachings combine to form an intimate dharma practice that embraces and nurtures the natural creativity in all, while engaging the Buddhadharma.

Art Practice, or Dharma Art, engages the space where awareness and action meet. In the Dharma Studio, we connect to our innate creativity through meditation practices, and explore ways to nurture and strengthen awareness and Buddhist practice. Drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, creative writing, and mixed media are all processes we have engaged.

Linking creativity and the arts to Buddhist practice carries a long tradition. At Unadorned Lotus Dharma Studio we bring that tradition to the forefront of practice.

Recommended related reading:

Zen and Creativity, John Daido Loori

The Path of Dharma Art, Chogyan Trungpa Rinpoche

How the Dharma Studio Got Its Name

The lotus grows from the dark watery mire and remains completely unstained by it. It is a major Buddhist symbol of renunciation, purity, and freedom from the suffering of cyclic existence. The lotus is primarily an emblem of Amitabha Buddha, whose qualities of discernment represent the transmutation of passion into discriminating wisdom. It is also an emblem of Amitabha’s main Bodhisattva, Avalokiteshvara, who bears an unadorned lotus in his hand, representing his perfection of compassion. Wisdom and compassion: the Buddha taught that to realize enlightenment, a person must develop these two qualities. These are sometimes compared to the two eyes that work together to see deeply.

Unadorned Lotus Dharma Studio is a non profit organization for Buddhist practice. The monks and teachers at the Dharma Studio receive no compensation for their work. Fees, donations, and the contributions of the teaching clergy support the practice.

Teachers

Venerable Lianghua Su Jill Eggers. Lianghua Su Jill Eggers is an ordained lineage holder in the Buddhist Hua Yen tradition with training in Dzogchen. She is the founder of Unadorned Lotus Dharma Studio. She is a lifelong practitioner with over 30 years experience as an art professor and art educator.

Venerable Deok Wun Sunim is a fully ordained Bhikkhu in the Hua Yen Buddhist tradition and is a frequent guest teacher at the Dharma Studio. Formerly the founder of the Grand Rapids Buddhist and Zen Center, he currently live in New York and Pisticci, Italy.