Chan Sheng-Yao

Chan Sheng-Yao (), known as Master Shen-Long, otherwise known as Master Sheng-Yao, is a contemporary Chinese artist, calligrapher, writer, poet, philosopher, Chan/Zen Buddhist master and founder of the Enlightenment Power Mind School. His courtesy name is Xiao Yao (), and amongst others his courtesy names are Shen Long (), Tai Yi (the great purity) (), Tai Chu (the great beginning) who seeks enlightenment (), and so forth.
Buddhist Lectures.
Master Shen-Long is a Chan/Zen Buddhist master. In 2013, he lectured on Buddhist philosophy at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and in 2014, he lectured on the topic of "Time, Space and Infinity" at the Loyola University Museum of Art.
He has conducted public talks on many Buddhist scriptures including the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch Huineng (六祖壇經), the Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra (心經), the Sutra of Infinite Life (佛說大乘無量壽莊嚴清淨平等覺經), the Buddha speaks of Amitabha Sutra (佛說阿彌陀經), the Essential Annotation on the Amitabha Sutra (彌陀經要解), the Great-Strength Bodhisattva (Great Strength; Mahasthamaprapta) Chants/Mindfulness Amitabha in Perfection to Become Buddha from the Surangama Sutra (大勢至菩薩念佛圓通章), the Surangama Sutra (楞嚴經) and the Vimalakirti Sutra (維摩詰經). His recent Buddhist publications include Wisdom of the Heart Sutra (2011), Amitabha (2013), Prajna, volumes I & II (2013), and the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch (2014).
Art.
He has exhibited his artwork in solo and group exhibitions throughout North America and Asia [see exhibitions]. As a multidisciplinary artist, he works in many styles and media including ink painting, watercolor, oil painting, sculpture, and photography. He is a contemporary master of Chinese painting, poetry and calligraphy. As observed by Chinese art historian Dr. Chu-tsing Li (), Chan Sheng-yao's art is totally self-motivated, and he has attained his achievements without any teacher. He combines ink and other media together with techniques such as spraying and dripping to create abstract and semi-abstract paintings. His paintings can be viewed and displayed from both sides. He attempts to express the energy of the universe and the eternal state of ultimate harmony between humans and nature as advocated in Buddhism, Daoism and Confucian philosophies. His personal artistic theory and philosophy of “enlightenment power,” is grounded within these classical philosophical concepts of creation and human existence. He coined the term “enlightenment power” to describe the pure inherent nature of all beings to create their universe. He elaborates on this theory in “A Manifesto on the Use of Enlightenment Power and Enlightenment Ability in Art Creation” (覺能藝創).
"Chan Sheng-Yao - An Artist Very Different From The Others" by Dr. Chu-Tsing Li.
In Dr. Li Chu-Tsing Li's article “Chan Sheng-Yao – An Artist Very Different From The Others” (2000), he discusses the historical trajectory of Master Shen-Long's art. He notes that Master Shen-Long's art, from when he was a child until now, has been totally self-motivated, having attained his achievement without any teacher. Li writes that at present, Master Shen-Long's work has reached full maturity for he “has been able to synthesize his poetry, essays, calligraphy, painting, philosophical ideas, and Buddhist thought all into a unified expression attaining the level close to perfection”, and that Master Shen-Long has the facility to achieve whatever he wishes in his mind. Dr. Li notes that Master Shen-Long has absorbed the Chinese basic cultural elements of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, as well as Western influences, and modeled them together into a unified body of ideas; furthermore, that the great majority of his recent works have become milestones in the course of his artistic development. Dr. Li concludes the article by writing that Master Shen-Long's paintings have continuously presented new faces and new developments, which is the basic characteristic of a very creative artist and is also the best proof of Master Shen-Long's endless latent talent as a creative artist.