Buddha in Paradise: A Celebration in Himalayan Art

The human mind has reached continuously over millennia for visions of realms beyond suffering without death, pain, longing, or ignorance. In many cultures, terms used to describe such places share the root meaning of “paradise,” a “walled garden,” and corresponding notions of protection, delight, and contentment. This publication lays out in sculptures and paintings the concept of “paradise” in Tibetan Buddhism, understood through different approaches and teachings, the most radical of which confronts us with the realization that paradise is all around us if we are able to perceive it. Poetry and writings by Buddhist masters, including texts that guide the passage from death to rebirth, are provided to accompany the visual communications of these ideas in painting, textiles and sculpture.