"Karma Coin"

For every action, there is a reaction. You are born with past life karma and you create new karma with each thought and action. We carry our karma from life to life; so for example, if you were kind and generous to others in previous lives and have continued this behavior in your present lifetime, you create a future incarnation for yourself where you will receive kindness from others. The reverse is also true. Harming others attracts future harm to yourself. The law of karma does not exist to punish us, but to encourage us to behave well and avoid doing evil.

Chi-Jen Liu says, "Whether you meet miracles or disasters, do not forget to show appreciation. Heaven blesses those who appreciate openly." What does it mean "to show appreciation?" It means to understand the mechanics behind every experience we encounter, be it good or bad, and accept each one as an opportunity for self-improvement. Easier said than done! No one wants to suffer the effects of bad karma. However, the universe is composed of duality, which means there is both darkness and light in this world. What each of us can do, though, is to invite more light into our lives by actively caring for others as we would care for ourselves. His painting, "Karma Coin," is symbolic of the rewards you receive when you have made good karma.

A giant coin is anchored in the center of a cosmic vortex. It is filled with colorful nebulae bursting with stars and spirits swimming through space and time. Transcendent energies from all directions flow toward the coin. They are attracted to the coin's magnetic force –  or metaphorically speaking, the karma of prosperity – that has been created by diligence, generosity, and gratitude. Having "Karma Coin" before you can feel like seeing a mirror of your past good deeds. Every altruistic deed, however small, eventually brings heavenly blessings in return.

COIN SERIES

In the time of imperial China – more than 2,000 years ago –  silver or gold ingots, called "yuanbao," were the accepted form of money. With the arrival of standardized currency, the coin became most common. The ancient Chinese coin was round with a squared hole in the middle. A cord could be threaded through the coin holes, allowing payment or gifting to be efficient and easily carried.

The coin is universally accepted as a symbol for wealth. In feng shui, ancient Chinese coins and ingots are strategically placed around the home or workplace because they are regarded as magnets of financial success and monetary reward. Chinese ingots and coins are displayed during Lunar New Year festivities to represent the arrival of good fortune in the year to come. Sculptures of ingot-bearing deities can be found inside temples as well as household altars. In honor of one's ancestors and to wish them a rich afterlife, gold or silver ingots made from folded paper are burned as offerings during Chinese festivals.

In response to the wishes of his clientele during his many decades of work as a feng shui master, Chi-Jen Liu created an extensive series of paintings that embody blessings for the attainment of fortune. The "Coin Series" is laden with ancient Chinese symbols of prosperity. Coins are arranged in Taoist astrological patterns, given center stage like a radiant sun, or pictured as a manifestation of beneficent powers. This ever-growing series currently includes paintings from the past 20 years.