Our Buddha thangkas are uniquely painted with confident brushstrokes, a vibrant color palette, and meticulous detailing. The iconographic parameters are pre-defined and these thangkas usually depict the more popular Buddhas such as the Shakyamuni Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, Vajradhara, etc. The traditional Tibetan thangka’s essence is preserved whilst expanding its horizon through experienced artistry.
Buddha: The Enlightened One and the Path to Liberation
Background and Significance
The meaning of the term "Buddha" is "The Enlightened One" or "The Awakened One." Although there have been several Buddhas, the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, is the most well-known. It was predicted that Siddhartha, born into royalty in Lumbini in the 5th century BCE, would become a great ruler or spiritual leader.
Protected by his father from the miseries of the outside world, he was deeply affected by his experience with the "Four Sights"—a dead body, an old man, a sick man, and an ascetic. His quest for solutions to alleviate human suffering ultimately drove him to give up his life as a prince. He became the Buddha after undergoing years of austere training and meditation under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya.
Attributes and Teachings
The "32 Marks of a Great Man," which include the ushnisha (a protuberance on top of the head symbolizing wisdom) and long earlobes (symbolizing his royal past and the weight of his understanding), are physical traits that are frequently used to depict the Buddha in statues and paintings. His teachings, summarized in the Four Noble Truths, identify attachment and desire as the root causes of suffering (dukkha) in humans and suggest the Eightfold Path as a means of achieving Nirvana and ending suffering.
This route places a strong emphasis on correct comprehension, intention, speech, behavior, livelihood, effort, awareness, and focus. The Dharma, or teachings of the Buddha, highlight the transience of existence, the interconnectedness of all beings, and the potential for enlightenment that exists within every one of us.
Associated Stories and Legacy
Many stories from the life of the Buddha illustrate his teachings. Angulimala's story is one such tale; he used his victims' fingers as a necklace. The Buddha addressed Angulimala fearlessly despite his horrible crimes, which resulted in Angulimala's transformation and ultimate monastic ordination.
This tale demonstrates the Buddha's conviction that every person has the capacity for growth and atonement. The Buddha attained Parinirvana, or ultimate Nirvana, in Kushinagar after forty-five years of teaching, leaving a legacy that has persisted for thousands of years. His teachings proliferated throughout Asia, giving rise to several Buddhist schools and lineages, each with its interpretation and application of the Dharma.
Countless people have been motivated to pursue a path of reflection, compassion, and wisdom by the Buddha's journey from a secluded prince to an enlightened teacher. His teachings, which place a strong emphasis on achieving inner peace and easing suffering, are still highly relevant in the complicated world of today, elevating him beyond the status of a historical figure to that of a timeless source of wisdom and hope.
