Written by admin on 03 April 2011
china – buddhism figure
Image by Chez Cåsver
Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC. As seen on wikipedia.
From Hebei, China. Tang Dynasty.
河北唐代造像
Seated Buddha, Tang dynasty, China. ca. 650. Dry lacquer with traces of gilt and polychrome pigments; H. 38 in. (96.5 cm); W. 27 in. (68.6 cm)
Rogers Fund, 1919 (19.186)
Buddhist images executed in dry lacquer were highly valued by the Chinese because of their costly and time-consuming process of production. There are so few surviving examples that this seated Buddha is especially precious. To fashion the body of the image, the craftsman made a rough form of the sculpture in clay and then applied at least three layers of hemp cloth, each secured with a paste made of raw lacquer (the sap from the lac tree, Rhus verniciflua) and a fine powder of bone, horn, shell, ceramic, stone, or carbon. Each layer had to dry thoroughly before the next could be added. The clay core was then removed from the lacquered image. The head and hands were likely modeled separately, using the same technique as that used for the body, and then attached to the sculpture. The surface was finished with several coatings of pure lacquer and then painted. Portrayed as a youthful figure, the Buddha sits in the full lotus position, with his legs tightly interlocked, though the lower part of the sculpture is missing. The position of the damaged arms suggests that the hands performed the "contemplation" gesture.
The columnar form and lean gracefulness of the figure recall the style of Buddhist sculptures of the late Six Dynasties, but the attempt to render anatomical differentiation and, in particular, the emotional impact of the Buddha’s expression are distinguishing features of early Tang style. The traces of brilliant red and blue, vividly combined to form a stylized floral pattern in the hem of the undergarment crossing the chest, and the remains of shimmering gilt on the surface are evidence of the sumptuous effect of this once colorful figure.
Tags: Buddhism, china, figure
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Written by admin on 03 April 2011
Monks eagerly awaiting the Lama’s arrival, So very happy! Lam Dre, Tharlam Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal
Image by Wonderlane
Tags: arrival, awaiting, Boudha, Buddhism, eagerly, happy, Kathmandu, Lama's, Monastery, Monks, Nepal, Tharlam, Tibetan, very
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Written by admin on 03 April 2011
理塘寺一角（Litang Tibetan Buddhism Monastery，Sichuan，China）
Image by utpala ॐ
Tags: Buddhism, Monastery，Sichuan，China）, Tibetan, 理塘寺一角（Litang
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Written by admin on 03 April 2011
Leshan Sights (BUDDHA/BUDDHISM/CHENGDU/SICHUAN/CHINA)
Image by Chi King
Giant Buddha sculpted into the cliff at Leshan
To approximate what we saw, I would ask you to view this in large
Tags: BUDDHA/BUDDHISM/CHENGDU/SICHUAN/CHINA, Leshan, Sights
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Written by admin on 03 April 2011
His Holiness Dagchen Rinpoche’s hand holds a vajra drawing lines that close the Hevajra Mandala, after the empowerment, Tharlam Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal
Image by Wonderlane
Tibetan-American lama, H.H. Jigdal Dagchen Rinpoche’s hand holds a vajra drawing lines that close the Hevajra Mandala, after the empowerment, Tharlam Monastery, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal. Now 80 years of age (as of 2009) the senior Tibetan Lama Dagchen Rinpoche co-founded The Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, in Seattle, Washington, the first Tibetan Monastery in the United States in 1979. The original Sakya Monastery was founded by his forebearers more than 900 years ago.
H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche received the Hevajra Anuttarayoga initiation in an unbroken Khon Lineage transmission from the great founder of the Sayka School, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092- 1158), through the last Sakya Throne-holder in Tibet, His Holiness Trichen Ngawang Tutop Wangchuk (1900-1950), Rinpoche’s father.
Hevajra is the most important meditational practice in the Sakya tradition. It matures disciples through planting seeds for the realization of the four bodies of the Buddha, empowers one to practice the Shri Hevarja Sadhana, and is a necessary prerequisite to receiving many other teachings such as the Vajrayogini Initiation.
This is the physical plan for the dieties’ palace, just like a blueprint.
Somehow this looks like the world from outer space to me … where the circles are in the sand mandala – vases of victory have been removed.
The additional light is coming from another person’s flash which fired similtaneously; I try to avoid using flash because it is disturbing to the eyes.
Two senior lamas – monks are holding Dachen Rinpoche’s hand up above the mandala so that the technical requirements of the closing are upheld.
This is a huge sand mandala, and was actually used for the intiation – those fortunate few who view this image are very blessed. He gave permission for this image to be made public. Anyone who sees this is said to be granted blessings. It was taken just as he began closing the door, so some of the holy vibration is still to be felt.
So congratulations! to you fortunate ones.
‘jigs bral ngag dbang kun dga’ bsod nams
sa skya phun tshogs pho brang bdag chen rdo rje ‘chang ngag dbang kun dga’ bsod nams
Tags: after, Boudha, Buddhism, close, Dagchen, drawing, empowerment, hand, Hevajra, holds, Holiness, Kathmandu, lines, Mandala, Monastery, Nepal, Rinpoche's, Tharlam, Tibetan, vajra
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Written by admin on 02 April 2011
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