Equilibrium is taken for granted in everyday life by many who may fail to understand its importance. Equilibrium, which literally means “a pound on either side”, has a nimbler equivalent in balance, as in walking a tightrope or juggling our duties and pursuits, often too many, in our modern day life.

For the monk aspiring to maintain his equilibrium, he is actually practicing his balance through constant minute to minute adjustments in muscle tension, angles, breathing and meditation. A calmness befalls the observer who longs for stillness and balance. The monk’s control speaks to the heaviness of mismanaging our lives and sings a song of freedom through control.

Steeped in Chinese tradition, this painting serves as a powerful message that simple things may turn out harder than imagined, but fortunately also that hard things may become easier over time.