Sr. John M. Soderberg, Ph.D. "The Flower Sutra" Bronze

Sr. John M. Soderberg, Ph.D.  "The Flower Sutra" Bronze on wooden lazy Susan base 22.5"H X 12"W X 12"D ed. 16/75 “The Flower Sutra,” was the longest creative gestation of my life- over 50 years. I sculpted it over 6 years, off and on, and finished last year. I first heard the story of the Flower Sutra when I was 12 years old, carving teakwood with the leading master in Thailand- a Buddhist monk. We would set up in old-town Bangkok near the giant reclining Buddha, and carve for hours, and he would tell stories. The one that most moved me was the Sutra, and I wanted, back then, to tell that story though art. Now I have. The Buddha was walking on the edge of a lake. Up ahead was a group of his followers, sitting by the water, waiting to hear him speak. He approached them, sat in front of them by the water, but did not speak- verbally. Instead, he reached out and plucked a lotus from the lake, then offered it to each person. They did not know how to respond, were embarrassed, tried to an