"It's a journey through the heart of light"

Monk and philosopher, and the world's top photographer
Matthew Ricard was born into a prominent French family. His father was a famous French philosopher and his mother was an artist. Influenced by multiculturalism from a young age, he was talented and received his PhD in biology at the age of 26. He is not only engaged in biological research, but also has a strong interest in visual arts. He loves nature. He started his photography career at the age of 15, and was inspired by André Fatras, one of the pioneers of French animal photography. Instructed, a large number of landscape photography taken at the age of 26 were published in major journals. Since then, photography has become an important carrier for him to record his life and express his thoughts.
In 1972, Matthew settled in the hinterland of the Himalayas, where he lived for more than 40 years and photographed a lot of the world of the Himalayas. “Once, in Bhutan, after four days of hiking in the mountains, I saw a lake and a 7000m glacier. The sight reminded me of seeing the iconic photo of Ansel Adams at the age of 16 , there is a rocky lake in the foreground, the depth of field is very long, and extends to the depths of the mountains. The weather was bad and the wind was very strong, I told my friends that I would go to the bottom of the valley for the night, until the dawn shimmered slowly, the lake was like a mirror, quiet And deep. Four days of walking was well worth it because of this photo.”

Lake and Glacier 7000m above sea level Bhutan

His sincere approach to photography has made him a respected photographer in the industry. The famous street photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson once commented: "The camera and Matthew's spiritual life are one, and thus these ephemeral and eternal images emerge."
Matthew uses photography as a source of hope, capturing the beauty of harmony between man and nature. He once said: "My goal is to share the splendor, power and depth of the universe. I want to use photography to restore confidence in human nature and rekindle our curiosity about the splendid civilization of nature."

Portrait of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

A Journey of Light to Wisdom and Beauty
In 1979, Matthew became a Tibetan Buddhist monk and studied under Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, which gave him the opportunity to witness the extraordinary qualities of the great teachers and learn about the rituals of Buddhist monasteries and the mountains, wilderness and valleys of Tibet daily life of the villagers.
While making images for the photobook "Still Journey, Recluses from the Himalayas", he spent a year in seclusion to meditate at Pema Oser Hermitage (where the Lotus of Light) near Kathmandu, Surrounded by spectacular scenery, nestled among lush valleys and towering Himalayas, it seems as if waiting for the dawning light of awakening.

"Still Journey, Recluses from the Himalayas" photo album cover

He said: "Because I've been meditating in seclusion, but, from morning to dawn, and into the evening, I'm admiring the magnificent scenery, the Himalayas unfolding before my eyes. Sometimes, there is an extraordinary burst of light. Bright for a moment, it made me stare at myself in astonishment." This series of "magical moments" are all captured from Matthew's secluded patio or from dozens of meters away, with a frequency of one image per week, to the magnificent surrounding landscape. Immortality, the result of this long "waiting without waiting" merges the harmony of nature with the bliss of meditation.
For him, photography is a hymn of beauty, and he uses images to reflect the spiritual journey to wisdom and beauty, where spirituality is inextricably linked to everyday life.

Sometimes Matthew is immersed in the beauty, composition, ingenuity and light of an inspiring image for long periods of time, and he believes that successful photography never tires of seeing and provides a sense of positivity. He does not deliberately plan what to shoot, but at a certain time and place, when characters and light appear in a beautiful way, he will irresistibly cast his eyes on it.
In the film era of the 20th century, he didn’t have much money, so he could only save film rolls. For the best scene, he only took one shot, but it was also because of limited resources that he could have a keener insight into the changes of light. His friend Danielle Föllmi once told him that he was painting with light, which moved him.

Awakening Spiritually with the Beauty of Photography
Since he became a monk in 1979, Matthew has spent most of his time listening, thinking, and cultivating. Under the guidance of his master, he diligently comprehends Buddhist wisdom, and has written many books on his thoughts on Buddhism. The most well-known is the one with his father. Dialogue - The Monk and the Philosopher. Not only that, but in his TED talk he shared the secrets of happiness in life and the benefits of meditation. He is defined by the world as the happiest person in the world.

Himalayas in mist

As a photographer, he wants to use images to more intuitively show the harmony of natural space and the beauty of human hearts, so that more people can gain inner freedom, wisdom of love and spiritual awakening. He said: "When a photo strikes me in particular, I stare at it for long periods of time, absorbing it according to its beauty, its power or the message it conveys. It's an image that changes the photographer's perspective, opening up A new way of looking at the world that is more penetrating."

Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Golog, 2003

He argues that images of suffering, persecution, abuse abound and are necessary to raise awareness, but we must maintain a balance so as not to fall into the "bad world syndrome" that destroys our hope and makes us Believe that people are fundamentally bad. In fact, deep down inside of us, like a nugget of coal, has extraordinary potential for kindness, knowledge, and enlightenment. It is important to realize this potential, update it, and bring it to the sweet spot. This is what he has been trying to evoke through photography for 50 years.

Through photography, convey the spirit of altruism to the world
As a Buddhist monk, the spirit of altruism has become his lifelong pursuit. He has repeatedly spoken about the importance of altruism in public speeches. Although photographic expression has its limitations, Matthew sincerely conveys altruistic values to others through images. Matthew said: "The beauty of our world and life in all its forms encourages us to keep an open mind about inequality and climate change. In doing so, it fuels our motivation and inspires us to move towards a more altruistic world.

Even in August, the holy mountain of Animaqing is still covered with snow

Especially in today's era of globalization, where human beings are closely linked with nature and interdependent with other species, no one can escape the test of impermanence. As humans, we are the only species that can do good and evil. People have different views, attitudes, and motivations, depending on how we approach the world. Consideration and cooperation for others are key values in working together to build a better world, and contribute to economic solidarity and greater social justice. Nonviolence must apply to humans, animals and our natural environment.
We must dare to open our doors to others, to the interdependence between humans and nature, bearing in mind the fate of future generations and of all other species that, like us, seek to avoid suffering and live on forever. Let us dare to be altruistic and to put it at the heart of our decisions and institutions, especially at the heart of our thinking. "

Matthew has devoted his life to advocating altruism, compassion and spiritual awakening, and using multiple approaches to simplify life. From his photography, you can deeply feel the mystery of happiness conveyed by him and the tranquility and harmony of nature. When you are completely integrated into the light and darkness, you may suddenly find that you are born in nature and have never left.
"le présent est la seule chose qui n'ait pas de fin"
The "now" is the only thing that has no end

Sitting cross-legged among the valleys, the light penetrates the eyes, and the infinite scene is projected on the heart.
In a quiet place, there is no difference between you and me.

Article Source:迦入CHARU

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