Tibet
19th century
Tibet
19th century
This painting represents the field of accumulation of merit in which all of the teachers of a specific tradition, their teachings written in religious texts, deities that are the focus of practices in that tradition, and its protectors are visually arranged as a one large gathering. Such depictions are meant for devotional practices and also represent the Three Jewels of the Buddhist Faith. This field is arranged around the central teacher Tsongkapa (1357-1419), the founding teacher of the Gelug tradition. He is surrounded by teachers, meditational deities, and protectors, shown below. The practitioner would identify with a monk depicted in the lower right, who was probably the donor for this painting.
In Buddhism merit is accumulated through engaging in positive actions that lead to positive results, such as better rebirths. Buddhists gain merit by making offerings, donating to those in need, reciting mantras, and other good deeds.
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.
A virtuous feeling and deep respect toward an authentic teaching, teacher, or path. Buddhists believe that expansive study, analysis, and meditation are essential steps for cultivating a healthy and enduring devotion.
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.
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