walking into the darkened room at the tate, the mute windows invite meditation. like a church, the the view from a mountain that's surrounded by clouds.

the scrolls that monks gaze at

the utter silence of a cave

it's not the same, but it's a reflection, a reminder, a small piece of peace, like the spark of divinity inside us that reaches towards the ocean.

we need museums, because of course you don't get this experience from a postcard or a picture in a book. the museum makes the space for it, we compose our minds till we are receptive, we walk in and experience a particular sensation. rothko anticipated this, but he doesn't totally govern each person's reaction.