Shakyamuni Buddha Kadampa Art
Introduciton to Print
The Jataka tales is a large collection of Buddhist morality stories in which the Buddha recounts some of his past lives on his long road to enlightenment. Even though they’re a part of the Pali Canon (the Buddhist equivalent of the Bible) and contain words attributed to the Buddha himself, they’re more folktale than religious text and their popularity stems more from their entertainment value than their messages.
Inside each block are depicted the scenes of the hundred Jataka tales beginning at the top center and moving in a clockwise pattern around the central figures.
In Buddhist tradition there are many variations of the tales, which have come from retelling these stories over centuries.
How does Thangka benefit us?
It goes without saying that every detail of a painting has a symbolic meaning. Regardless of your religious affiliation, a thangka can help you on your path to enlightenment, whether you practice Buddhism or have other religious convictions. Thangkas are paintings that depict deities with various iconographic elements and symbolism that encourage meditation on the teachings of the god they depict. Any thangka is intended to aid in the removal of the film of ignorance, which is a significant barrier to the road to enlightenment.
