Buddhis

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BUDDHISM
Buddhism is a family of beliefs and
practices considered by most to be a
religion and is based on the teachings
attributed to Siddhartha Gautama,
commonly known as "The Buddha" (the
Awakened One), who was born in what is
today Nepal. He lived and taught in the
northeastern region of India and most
likely died around 400 BCE.
Buddhist Thangka Paintings
A thangka is a complicated, composite
three-dimensional object consisting of:
a picture panel which is painted or
embroidered, a textile mounting; and
one or more of the following: a silk
cover, leather corners, wooden dowels
at the top and bottom and metal or
wooden decorative knobs on the
bottom dowel.

thangkas are intended to convey

iconographic information in a pictorial
manner. A text of the same meditation
would supply similar details in written
descriptive form.
Buddhist Thangka Paintings
Only rarely do thangkas express the
personal vision or creativity of the painter,
and for that reason thangka painters have
generally remained anonymous as have
the tailors who made their mountings.
This anonymity can be found in many
other cultures.

There are, however, exceptions to this

anonymity. Rarely, eminent teachers will
create a thangka to express their own
insight and experience. This type of
thangka comes from a traditionally trained
meditation master and artist who creates
a new arrangement of forms to convey his
insight so that his students may benefit
from it.
Buddhist Mandalas
There are various forms of mandalas
with distinct concepts and different
purposes. The Cosmic Mandalas,
which transmit the ancient knowledge
of the development of the universe
and the world-systems which
represents a high point among
Mandalas dedicated to meditation.
The symbolism of meditation
Mandalas has a rich tradition. The
outer form of these so-called holy
circles is a geometrical diagram, a
Yantra, and each detail of its
construction has symbolic meaning,
but there are mandalas to suit all
levels of consciousness: for the
spiritually highly developed, for
average people and for people not
yet developed.
Buddhist sculpture
Buddhas are often depicted in
the same way, despite being
created over thousands of
years and thousands of miles
away:
Seated, usually posed in a lotus
position with balls of the feet
straight up
Elongated ears, generally
frontal, symmetrical and have a
nimbus, or halo.
Helpers known as
bodhisattvas are usually near
the Buddha, sometimes
attached to the nimbus.
Buddhist sculpture
Buddha has many moods, but
is often depicted in a calm,
meditative look. His actions
and feelings are usually
conveyed through hand
gestures called mudras.
The head has a top knot, or
ushnisha, with tight-fitting curls.
A predella can feature images
of donors or teachings from his
life
Seated Boddhisatva – 16cBhutan
Buddha’s head , 2c Pakistan