#enlightenedbuddha

[dharmasculpture]

http://www.dharmasculpture.com/ This beautiful African coral wood Buddha statue is depicted in abhaya mudra also known as the gesture of protection. This is one of the most popular hand gestures of the Buddha which is said to transmit the energy of protection, peace and a sense of strong, deep inner security. This wood sculpture is a one of a kind statue, hand carved by the very talented artists of the beautiful Kingdom Cambodia. http://www.dharmasculpture.com/category/new-arrivals.html

[dharmasculpture]

This Dipankara copper figure offers a gesture of charity (varada mudra) with his left hand and a gesture of protection (abhaya mudra) with his right. Like all other Buddhas, Dipankara has the same external features as Gautama: a top knot (ushnisha), a mark on the forehead (urna), long earlobes, short curly hair and a monk's robe. Dipankara is considered to be the one who first brought the light (the Buddhist teachings) to the world. According to some Buddhist traditions, Dipankara was a Buddha who reached enlightenment eons prior to Gautama Buddha, the historical Buddha. Generally, Buddhists believe that there has been a succession of many Buddhas in the distant past and that many more will appear in the future. Dipankara, then, would be one of numerous previous Buddhas, while Gautama the most recent and Maitreya will be the Buddha of the future. Dipankara is regarded as an icon of charity throughout the Buddhist pantheon. A high level of craftsmanship is seen in this work’s intricate casting, the repeating lotus patterns on the base, the details of the garment and its edges as well as the beautifully carved robes with the lower robe pleated in the manner of a flowering skirt. Dipankara derives from 'deepa' meaning lamp. He is the most celebrated and the first of the twenty-four Buddhas. Dipavati is the name of his capital city. In a past kalpa (a long period of time, aeon in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology, generally between the creation and recreation of a world or universe) this is where King Arcishtra lived. Dipankara was a Bodhisattva in Tushita heaven during the same kalpa. When the time came for him to descend he entered the womb of one of the spouses of the king as the king was thought most suitable to be his father. When the queen was in the throes of childbirth she asked the king to send her to a lotus pond. As soon as she reached the spot, an island sprung up in the midst of the pond for the Bodhisattva to take birth. It is said that large number of bright lamps manifested miraculously, thus his name. Dipankara Buddha is believed to have lived on this earth for over 100,000 years. He kept on finding someone worthy of hearing the divine truth. Then he decided to convert the world and caused a miracle which appeared in the form of a great city that materialized from his lamp and became stationary in space. Fierce flames emitted from the four walls while the people of Jambudvipa (the name of the southernmost of the four great continents of traditional Buddhist mythology) gazed upon the miracle. Their hearts were filled with fear and they looked for Buddha to save them. Dipankara came forth from the burning city, descended, and seated himself on a lion to teach the Buddhist law. Sculptures of Buddha Dipankara are relatively rare. This sculpture was hand crafted by the very talented artists of the beautiful Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal! http://www.dharmasculpture.com/category/tibetan-nepali-statues.html

[dharmasculpture]

This magnificent Cambodian Buddha statue was carved from an antique piece of wood. Lord Buddha is standing on a round double lotus flower base. His hands are held up in abhaya mudra also known as the protection gesture. The ushnisha, protuberance above his head also referred to as a topknot, symbolizes His wisdom and openness as an enlightened being. The ushnisha is also said to symbolize the loose connection between the mind and body of a Buddha. The Buddha is always depicted with elongated earlobes, a vestige of his life as a prince, when he wore extravagant jewelry.

[dharmasculpture]

Green Tara, Harit Tara, the Buddha of enlightened activity is Tara's most dynamic manifestation. In sculpture, Green Tara is portrayed in the same form as White Tara but she has a water lily (utpala) on her right. She is depicted in a posture of ease (lalita asana) with her right leg extended. The left leg is folded in the contemplative position on the beautifully gold plated, hand painted, double lotus throne. Her left hand, in the gesture of refuge, holds the stem of a lotus that floats over her left shoulder as a symbol of purity and power. Her right hand is in varada mudra or the boon-granting gesture because she is quick to respond to those who seek her aid. She is adorned with five jewels symbolizing the five Dhyani Buddhas. She wears six kinds of ornaments including necklace, earrings, bracelets and so forth, symbolizing her perfection of the six paramitas. Her left hand makes the refuge gesture by pressing the thumb and ring finger together, symbolizing the unity of wisdom and compassion; the other three fingers denote the triple jewels, namely the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.