This week’s meditation session is led by Lavina Shamdasani and the theme is Open-Mindedness. The guided meditation begins at 11:00.

This sculpture depicts Atisha, a well-respected Buddhist master, who demonstrated open-mindedness by embracing the path of the dharma. Atisha was born in India to a royal family, but he relinquished his noble lifestyle because of his deep spiritual curiosity. He searched far and wide to find spiritual mentors, eventually becoming a pivotal figure in Tibetan Buddhism. His teachings are encapsulated in the Bodhipathapradīpa, Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment.

Atisha is portrayed wearing his signature attribute, the hat of a scholar (pandita’s hat). His garb does not appear to be that of an Indian monk as the collared vest is a standard part of Tibetan monks’ robes. The expression on Atisha’s face, painted in golden pigment, is thoughtful. He is gazing forward, apt for a teacher giving a discourse, as indicated by his hands held in a teaching gesture (dharmachakra mudra).

This remarkable example of Tibetan wooden sculpture was made with a combined method of solid wood carving and composite construction similar to its pair, a sculpture of Atisha’s principle disciple, Dromtonpa. Both have the same size and painted decoration and were probably part of a larger set that represented the teachers of the Geluk tradition.