There are usually some very clear attributes, symbols and colors that help identify the Buddha or deity in front of us. We’ll tell you here how to recognize the 10 most significant figures of Tibetan Buddhism. The painting of Buddhist figures is subject to strict formal rules. Artistic freed...
Even as the “ideal image” of Buddha became well known, some Buddhists were concerned that these works of art did not properly honor the deity. Buddha was opposed to the idea of using himself as a prop for his teachings, and artists of the time were apprehensive about doing anything that...
The area surrounding the temple is often called Gunbaha, meaning 'recreational forest place' in Newari. The main temple is a three-storied pagoda building constructed carefully with the utmost attention to detail. The statue of the goddess Vajrayogini is located inside the temple. The statue ...
In the Kamakura period the area was filled with Shinto and Buddhist buildings and could be called the One Hundred and Eight Inner and One Hundred and Eight Outer Shrines. In 788 AD Priest Saichō 最澄 called upon the deity to act as the guardian of his temple, which became Enryakuji 延暦...
Recently, I re-arranged my little meditation area to allow for standing, posing and moving practice. I still have a chair, but rarely use it now, even for Highest Yoga Tantra Visualization Sadhanas. Fortunately, in my case, the practice I visualize is an...
Chokey Geundun (or, Kundun which means “the presence” ) was set upon by raiders, the family had to flee leaving behind the little child. When they returned the following morning, they found the baby guarded by a pair of crows. To this day, crows figure among the symbols...
Figure 2.8:Stūpadrawing A indicated byhand drawing.Figure 2.9:Drawing of astūpaB at site 13.28Ingo Strauch If we compare these drawings with the numerous depictions ofstūpasfoundalong the Upper Indus Valley at the Karakorum Highway–and in particular inthe area around Chilas–their parallelism...
Above, another triad of sacred jewels rests on an open lotus, flanked by Chinese symbols of the complementary forces of sun and moon. Originally a blood-sucking man-eating demoness, Dakiniten was converted by Vairocana (Dainichi) Buddha into a powerful life-engendering deity. In the complex ...
“The triple-bladed ritual dagger essentially symbolizes the powerful Buddha-activity of the wrathful deity…”, writes Robert Beer in his Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols. [2] Like Tara — only more wrathfully — the Phurba represents the activity of the Buddhas. ...
There is a wealthy family in the area when the man first arrives, but they are cruel and crafty. The master tells the bearer that he will show how to prevent the wealthy family from being stingy. Therefore, the last part of the story shifts into a narrative on being generous. The ...