Dionysus and Apollo

DIONYSUS AND APOLLO BASINS

Tathagata visualises in the mirror a lake of Lotus whose water is made of crystals, transparent like lapis lazuli, where the petals are radiant like variegated diamonds. He sees Buddha radiating compassion and bliss through a void that encompasses all, penetrates all - with forms or without forms. All crystals, minerals, stones, gems, plants, trees, birds - flying or frozen, living or non-living - that constitute the garden, are emitting radiation. The evening light is streaming forth like the power of a roaring golden lion tearing with its paws the darkness of ther mind and turning everything in the world as glittering jewels. In these rays wanderer’s mind is floating beyond the senses, outside the boundary of time.

Through the streamlets , where the Maenads had washed their hands, he watches the movements through the multiple mirrors , that he himself is. The mind is glowing in these streams, emotions are glittering as rays of rubies and sapphires, the will is mirroring itself in a void without any mind, under an azure sky that has no weight, or measure. In the mirrors they are appearing as ideas, visions, apparitions, without structures and forms. Beside these streams, the entwining vines, made of azure jewels, are winding up in the mind and decorating the tree under which the nymphs are carrying the baskets of flowers to the sun. He himself is this tree. On one side of it there exists the male and on the other side stands the female. On one side the Dionysian emotions and impulses, unconditioned by the ideas, are arising and forming through reflections in the moving images borne by the thoughts. On the other side there exist intelligence, intellect, reason - the characteristics of the mind conditioned by the ideas that come from nothing. On one side time, judgement, understanding, and comprehension in logical reason flow as streams of the rational mind. On the other side there is no logic, no reason, no principle. On one side there is love, and Eros - the female- while on the other side the male is radiating its power, with which the unconditioned world - the invisible - is becoming accessible to awareness and thought. In lines , colours, sounds and speeches are emanating in the perceptible world as poerty , songs, and music of the Muses accompanied by the swans.

Around it , a serpentine psychic energy is moving upward and downward as the serpents of Hermes’ caduceus , that brings memories, create thoughts and overflows the mind with colourful visions. Inside it the bull is being torn: Its blood is being transfigured into flowers and fruits; the frenzies and ecstasies are turning into words; symbols and signs are transforming into notes and letters sung, played or written. Muses are another aspect of the frenzied Maenads; Apollo is the other half of Dionysus; and Dionysus and Apollo are one.

Apollo Basin

APOLLO