THE GUY WITH THE BUDDHA TATTOO (A Personal Story)
I’m taking a brief departure from the usual poetry post this evening to share with you a bit about my personal life.
About five years ago I was waiting for my wife to get her nails done, killing time in a bookstore and discovered a picture in a tattoo magazine that called out to me. I wasn’t even considering getting a tattoo at the time but appreciated the artistry and felt an unexplainable connection to it.
The design of this tattoo was so striking I was driven to take a picture with my old iPhone 4. I kept this picture with me for the next five years, transferring it to three successive iPhones. Every so often I would glance at it and imagine a day when the planets would align and I could go through with getting it.
A couple of years ago, in 2014, the thought of finally getting the tattoo done began to nag at me. I had gone through a particularly challenging couple of years in my career and felt it would be a reward for overcoming those challenges. I sent the picture to, Greg “Grease” Lehman to get a price quote. Greg has been in the business for decades and has a reputation for being one of the best tattoo artists in the Twin Cities. At the time money was tight and my fiscally conservative side just wouldn’t allow me to spend that much on body art. I’m a born saver and have never been a spender so the process never came to fruition.
Fast forward to 2016, due to my success here on Steemit, my writing career has grown tremendously and when I least expected it. For the first time in my entire life I could justify a purchase like this as a reward for all the hard work.
It just felt like the right time so about three weeks ago I made an appointment with Greg, the same artist that I emailed two years prior. The day of reckoning was Wednesday, September 14th at noon. He said the piece would take about four hours in the chair. I arrived at his studio alone having no idea what to expect. The shop was very clean and organized with lots of things to look at. I was a little nervous, with this being my first tattoo, but Greg struck up a conversation right away and made me feel right at home.
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://s22.postimg.org/oedspgxr5/Tat2.jpg)
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://s16.postimg.org/b3te9l445/Tat3.jpg)
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://s16.postimg.org/oheycnv6t/Tat4.jpg)
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://s12.postimg.org/s3z21eot9/Tat6.jpg)
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://s16.postimg.org/6wvrwmvo5/Tat1.jpg)
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://s14.postimg.org/8v020uw0h/Tat5.jpg)
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://s18.postimg.org/z0ufjtnqx/Tat7.jpg)
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://s13.postimg.org/wu6eom8gn/Tat8.jpg)
At this point a rough sketch of the photo was drawn on a piece of plastic that transferred the drawing onto my arm. Greg began work with the tattoo gun. I was surprised at how little this hurt. It felt like little more than an electric pulse at this point.
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://s13.postimg.org/72lg7k8tz/Tat10.jpg)
After about an hour most of the outline was done. The tender skin on the inside of the arm hurt a little more than the rest but it still wasn’t bad at all.
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://s16.postimg.org/9xabodub9/Tat13.jpg)
Next came the filling in of the solid areas and more of the fine detail work. At this point a wave of pretty intense relaxation came over me from the endorphins my body was releasing. Many say this is one reason tattoos are addictive.
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://s18.postimg.org/j8lebn121/Tat16.jpg)
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://s21.postimg.org/7axfmsuev/Tat17.jpg)
About two hours into the process came the fine detail work. I typically have a LOT of energy and sitting anywhere for two hours is a challenge but I had so many endorphins rushing through my system by this point I was content.
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://s18.postimg.org/6n0au9nzt/Tat19.jpg)
Three and a half hours later most of the fine detail work is done, everything except the color.
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://s12.postimg.org/6blgl6nlp/Tat21.jpg)
Next Greg added purple to the lotus, signifying the crown chakra. For the color ink he changed to a wider needle (actually a grouping of several needles together). It wasn’t any more painful, maybe my arm was just numb by this point.
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://s12.postimg.org/awy6wg2xp/Tat22.jpg)
Then came the white ink for the highlights, to give a three dimensional effect. I’m not going to lie, the white ink stung a bit. He used a completely different style of needle for this color. What the white added to the overall look was well worth it, it really finished it off.
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://s14.postimg.org/6j7egp3hd/Tat_Side.jpg)
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://s18.postimg.org/iylqrbip5/Tat_Final.jpg)
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://s22.postimg.org/p3wwmzqq9/Charlie_Tat.jpg)
Greg sent me home with a bandage over the piece wrapped in plastic wrap and medical tape. He told me this could be removed after two hours. I got multiple packages of “Tattoo Goo” to keep it moisturized for the first week so it would heal properly. That night I was exhausted, likely from the rush of adrenaline and endorphins. I could barely finish my poetry post that night on Steemit and was ready for bed at 8:30.
He explained that the colors would begin to even out after a few days and the piece would have more contrast and look better and he was right. It looks much better now than it did the first day. For the first two days after I got it, I felt like I had a mild sunburn on my arm. Three days later there was no pain whatsoever.
I’m extremely happy with the Buddha tattoo and what it personally represents. In a way it feels like a talisman to me. For the rest of my life my Buddha will remind me of the importance of meditation and life balance, it will also be a permanent reminder of this true miracle that happened here on Steemit, and will be a tribute to my meditation student, Demanche, who recently passed away unexpectedly.
So from now on I'll be referred to as, The guy with the Buddha tattoo.
Have a wonderful evening everyone!
Great way to mark your recent success. Thanks for sharing.
You're welcome, thank you for reading!
great, that steemit can make our wishes come true! Congratulations! I have an old (15years ago) tattoo, its not so fine now, but utfortunately I dont know what I want, its great that you have your dream tattoo
Thanks, @withcraftblog! I've heard they can start to fade after a while. I bought special sunscreen for this one so hopefully I can keep it looking good for a while.
Now that's a post! Wow. The whole process, too. Thanks for sharing, Eric. :)
Thanks, @fairytalelife! 😊 It felt great to write something new.
Nice. I like the way the Buddha seems to be looking forward at whoever might be standing in front of you. :)
Thanks, @patrick-g. Greg explained that, in the business, it's a belief that a tattoo should never be facing backwards when it's placed on the side of your body. The belief is that anything other than forward-facing is bad luck.
wonderful experience, thanks!
that was a lot of work for one sitting...bravo!
Thanks. It went by faster than I thought it would!
Nice tatt, bro... Well done -- Congratulations!
Thank you, my friend! It already feels like part of me. 😊
Hopefully u could pay him with Steem "backed" Dollars :P! Excited to meet you in Amsterdam :)
Thanks, @cass! It'll be great to meet you all in person.
Thanks @theguywiththebuddhatattoo ;)
Beautiful image, I can see why you chose it.
And from a beautiful story about how the buddha, as a discourse on truth, held up a flower in silence .
As you say .. meditation is the way forward.
Love Peace Freedom.
Thank you for your very gracious comment @richhorn. You're the very first person to refer to me as "the guy with the Buddha tattoo." 😊 Peace to you.
Your comment prompted me to research this and I found the following story - https://www.buddhagroove.com/the-flower-sermon/. Beautiful.
Ah yes, as you say, so beautiful :)
Truth beyond words.
I write about Yoga/meditation and related things here.
:)
I'm just getting going actually ...
Love Peace Fredom
I'm glad for your success on Steemit and that you were able to get your dream tattoo. It sure is a nice one. Keep posting.
Thank you!!
Please read this for a moments,.
I need some help
https://steemit.com/life/@odyprabowo/we-need-your-help-please-read-it