Tibet
19th century
Also known as vajra position, this posture is associated with meditation.
Tibet
19th century
The Indian scholar Shantarakshita was an important figure in establishing Tibetan Buddhist monastic and scholastic traditions in the eighth century. In this painting, which shows him surrounded by scenes from his life, his spiritual development is illustrated in the first three scenes, beginning just over his left shoulder, including his ordination as a monk, his receiving of the Gradual Path to enlightenment, and his own spiritual training leading to his realization of true knowledge.These episodes are the prologue to the story of Buddhism’s arrival in Tibet, which begins in the bottom-right corner where Shatarakshita is shown traveling to Tibet, laden with bags full of books. As we continue to follow the narrative, at bottom center we see him greeted by King Trisong Detsen (reigned 755–797) upon his arrival in Tibet. Later we see Trisong Detsen receiving teachings from Shantarakshita at Lungtsubchen Palace. At the lower left Shantarakshita performs a consecration ceremony at Samye, Tibet’s first monastery, and ordains the first Tibetan monks. The final vignette, at top left, shows Shantarakshita establishing Buddhist doctrine in Tibet. On the back of the painting an aspirational dedication wishes that the essence of the Gradual Path to enlightenment, which Shantarakshita embodies, is permanently preserved in this painting.
A vehicle for the preservation and transmission of knowledge. The Buddha’s teachings were originally passed down through oral transmission and storytelling, and stories of the Buddha’s past lives are considered an important source of inspiration and guidance.
The passing down of authentic Buddhist teachings from a teacher to a disciple or student, often in the form of a text in a ritualistic context.
The transmission of teachings from one generation to the next, from teacher to student, traced all the way back to the Buddha without interruption. A complete lineage is essential in Tantric Buddhist practices as it makes the blessings of the teaching more powerful.
Himalayan art includes portraits of legendary and historical humans, including accomplished religious teachers (lamas), the Buddha’s original disciples (arhats), and spiritually accomplished tantric masters (mahasiddhas).
Today, Tibetans primarily inhabit the Tibetan Plateau, situated between the Himalayan mountain range and the Indian subcontinent to the west, Chinese cultural regions to the east, and Mongolian cultural regions to the northeast. During the 7th to 9th century, Tibetan rulers expanded their empire across Central Asia, and established Buddhism as the state religion.
Get the latest news and stories from the Rubin, plus occasional information on how to support our work. You can unsubscribe at any time at the bottom of our emails. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions