TITLE: Seeking Enlightenment - The Mosquito Nets

An enclave of 1,000 monks and nuns live scattered along a hillside in a remote, heavily forested region of southeast Myanmar. They meditate 8 ½ hours a day, often covered in mosquito nets, even during the dry season when there are no biting insects. While meditating inside one of these cocoon-like enclosures, I noticed it muffled sounds and emanated a distinctive scent. I suspect that for many of the monastics, meditating while enveloped in a mosquito net provided a sense of familiarity, security and comfort, which enhanced their ability to maintain focus as they sought enlightenment.

AUTHOR: jon kolkin (United States)

Jon Kolkin, M.D. is recognized on a national and international level as an artist, physician, health coach, humanitarian, philanthropist, mentor, and speaker on topics related to art, stress reduction, and life balance. His artistic projects tend to focus on themes that are relevant to achieving greater physical and emotional well-being, often serving as a springboard for conversation during exhibitions and presentations.

Jon’s artwork has been featured in numerous solo gallery and museum exhibitions worldwide. As an example, the Inner Harmony series had its international debut as a solo exhibition at The Dalai Lama’s World Headquarters in Dharamsala, India, followed by an exhibition at the India International Centre (IIC) Gallery in New Delhi, sponsored by the Dalai Lama Foundation, Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, and the IIC. Inner Harmony then traveled to Bhutan, followed by a solo, multi-sensory, interactive, 5-room exhibition at the St. Louis University Museum of Art.

Jon’s photography has won numerous awards and been featured in many prestigious magazines. His artwork is held in private and corporate collections worldwide. Clients include Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, 20th Century Fox, Bank of America, Ritz Carleton Hotels, and others.

He has served on the faculty of the prestigious Maine Media Workshops and is a frequent guest lecturer at conferences, major universities, and other venues worldwide. Presentations often center on topics such as, “Life Balance for Busy Professionals”, “The Creative Process” and “Strategies for Creating a Successful Portfolio”.

He both initiated and co-chaired the Dalai Lama - North American Museum Summit, "Fostering Compassion & Universal Ethics Thru Museums", the Dalai Lama - City of Raleigh initiative, and the State of North Carolina’s Museum Compassion Initiative. He presently leads the international, traveling, museum exhibition project, The ART of COMPASSION.