Sumeru is the mental journey completed by a zen master, though it’s depicted in a purely physical sense. This gorgeous series by Nick Pederson can be found on Behance, and depicts an amazing metaphysical test that every follower of Buddhism must successfully chart through. In this storyline, the Zen of Sumeru follows a man as he seeks to merge with the natural world whose spirit takes the form of a tiger for him. All of the images are done in black and white so as to show the stark choices that the mind must make in order to reach the final destination. This is a powerful series that shows the embodiment of an Eastern religion that many do not fully understand, but which is firmly rooted in the land of spirits.
The image above is named Thundering Silence, and is a place that many writers also know far too well. Go see the entire series and follow Nick’s own journey through the study of koan. Powerful, awe-inspiring, and brave.
That’s beautiful!