Buddhist Minister, Greg Gibbs Interview

A couple weeks ago I attended a Buddhist Temple service for my World Religions class and had asked a couple questions about their faith. I decided to interview the Minister this time to not only get to know him, but understand what role art plays in Buddhism.

Interview with Greggory Gibbs from the Oregon Buddhist Temple

Minister Gibbs reading from a Buddhist script or sutra.    

What is the role of someone who follows Buddha, but wants to be an artist?

In order to practice the teachings of the Buddha, a Buddha image is not compulsory: Buddha did not encourage people to develop a ‘personality cult’, but taught that Buddhists should not depend on others, even on the Buddha himself – for their salvation. 

The image of the Enlightened One embodies the realization of potentialities that lay latent (existing, but not yet developed or manifested) in every sentient (able to perceive or feel things) creature. The ultimate responsibility for gaining that realization rested on the shoulders of each individual.

What role does art play in this temple?

This temple is based from Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, which offers many training methods, including the arts, for guiding individuals towards enlightenment, and all traditional Buddhist arts are intended to be reminders and inspiration pointing the individual towards the ultimate nature of phenomena and the ultimate nature of mind. 

The most basic role of Buddha images is to convey the feeling of calm and detachment that reflects proper mental discipline with control over the negative emotions of fear and greed. The Buddha’s serene appearance sets an example for his followers.

Main Shrine

What vision do you have for the arts?

I see the arts in a traditional sense. Traditional Buddhist art forms are made to complement and enhance traditional practices found in temples, monasteries, the homes and places of retreat. Wood, metal and clay are mostly used to make ritual or sacred objects. More recently actually, photography has been used to make inspirational records of pilgrimage sites and principal teachers.

Have you been personally moved by or affected by art?

Scroll painting inside the temple

Yes I have been moved by a piece of art when I first turned to Buddhism and it was a painting that portrayed a little boy in the presence of Amida Buddha or "The Buddha of Infinite Light." The little boy was looking right into the eyes of Amida Buddha with no fear. Then I thought: what would I do if I had a face-to-face encounter with Amida Buddha as well? Then I started to cry because I realized I would be frightened, which we as Buddhists try not to show. We try to detach ourselves from fear and greed. 

I believe in order to make truly sublime work, it helps if one meditates and has the right view and intention from the outset.

Does the temple collect, buy or make artwork?

Our temple has a small collection. The temple has bought the two main Buddha shrines, scroll paintings, and several other sculptures. This temple does make artwork. It is not necessarily intended to be displayed in the temple though.