SANCTUARY OF ENLIGHTENMENT

Sanctuary of Enlightenment
72” x 72”
Acrylic, Mixed Media on Canvas
Christine Adele Moore

Sanctuary of Enlightenment is a companion piece to my earlier work Dharma Wheel. Both paintings share the same monumental scale and spiritual ambition. In this work, a serene Buddha figure is encircled by a richly detailed ornamental framework, anchored by pairs of sphinxes — ancient symbols of protection.

Throughout history, sphinxes have stood as guardians of sacred spaces and knowledge. In the Buddhist tradition, they are known to protect the Dharma, the teachings of wisdom and compassion. Here, they serve as sentinels to the meditative stillness of the central figure.

The Buddha’s body is painted in deep blue, a color traditionally associated with healing and transcendence. It also speaks to the idea of impermanence, that our physical form is both ephemeral and deeply interconnected with the cosmos. The golden mask of the face, by contrast, represents the immediacy of this present, human moment. It reminds us that our early existence, while fleeting, is sacred and essential — one part of a vast, unfolding universe.

Sanctuary of Enlightenment is an invitation to stillness, to reflection, and to honoring the sanctuary within.