Buddhas & Bodhisattvas of Britain

[bixaorellana]

Okay, so I played a little fast and loose with the title.

These are photos from the Asian collections in the British Museum and in the Victoria & Albert Museum.
(Both of which are in London, which is in England, which is in Britain ~ see?)

We'll start in the British Museum, with this white marble statue of Amitābha Buddha ~

[bixaorellana]

          

[bixaorellana]

[bixaorellana]

[bixaorellana]

Now, on to the Victoria and Albert ~

~ all done ~

[Deleted]

These are fabulous Bixa.


I can't wait to share them with T. who assuredly will have much to remark on.


(There are so many different schools or sects of Buddhism to boggle the mind. One cannot simply say, "I'm a Buddhist",. Well, actually one could but it gets so very confusing).


You have rendered some very fine photo representations of some incredibly fine art.


Out of curiousity, what drew you to go and view this exhibit?

[bixaorellana]

Thank you so much, Casimira! I thought about y'all when I was viewing these exquisite pieces in the British Museum, and that's when I conceived the idea of pulling them together into a thread.

The two groups were not separate exhibits, rather part of the collections in the British Museum and the Victoria & Albert, respectively. Quite honestly, I found the British Museum a frustrating place, so was rather cherry-picking what I chose to view. When I visited the V&A (some days before the British Museum), I was pretty much done in by the time I got to the Buddhist art, so can't even remember if there was way more than I photographed or not.

[questa]

A subject close to my heart and so beautifully photographed, Bixa. The trail of the "Lady Buddha" as the kids in Vietnam call her ( when conning the tourists into to entering the Marble Mountain Caves) is an interesting one.
The Buddha had 12 close friends as students and Avalokitesvara (Sanskrit for "One who hears when you cry out) had the greatest understanding. He was a man with the gift of healing and compassion As the teachings moved along the Silk Road the images show that the concept morphed into female images and she came to be much loved for her healing powers. Tibet remains the last place where the representation is male named Chenrezig.

In China she is known as Kuan-yin or Guan-yin, Vietnam is Quan-am, Japan has Kannon but I have forgotten the Korean one. She is often shown with 1000 arms in a circle behind her...so she may help many at once. Sometimes she holds a Pearl of Wisdom as above but my favourite is her holding a flask of fresh water and a spray of willow leaves and bark. This is the source of Aspirin which is still used for fever, pain and treating arthritis and reducing cardiovascular problems.

The other great Bodhisattva is Amitabha (Sanskrit) aka Amida. He attained Buddhahood but swore that he would not enter Nirvana until all beings could. This lead to the Pure Land sect where the chanting of his name promises he will meet you when you die and you will stay in a beautiful environment conducive to attaining Enlightenment.

[Deleted]

I get confused real easily by all the representations mentioned and portrayed.


Questa, I have always associated the goddess that you mention with the many extended arms as a Hindu, "Dancing Shiva".

Again, I fully acknowledge my confusion and ignorance.


(I haven't shared this thread with my husband yet, I need another cup of coffee to prepare myself for the lengthy explanation that will ensue).

[bixaorellana]

Oh Questa ~ I have long been intrigued by all the manifestations of compassion, which would include the virgin Mary as usually presented. Your succinct explanation of the history and the permutations of the concept are greatly appreciated.

I love the homely touch of Kuan-yin holding the very practical spray of willow. I just looked at my Kuan-yin statue and she is holding a lotus flower and a lotus bud, both on long stalks in one arm and the other hand holds a tiny flask upended over the open mouth of a dragon. She appears to be standing on either three dragons or one with three heads. I know next to nothing about Buddhism, so the symbology escapes me.

Your explanation of Amitabha throws a light on the expanse and complexity of Buddhism throughout the world.

Casimira, fortify yourself with that coffee, then point T. towards the keyboard. I remember his once explaining Budai/Hotei to me and how beautifully his explanation opened up the idea as a spiritual concept rather than as god-to-be-worshipped.

[Deleted]

(Not to threadjack but, it was our dearly departed friend Dusty who steered T. in that direction after T. had been working as an EMT for NOLA after only 2 years. I truly believe it saved him in so many ways over the ensuing 24 years given all he witnessed and experienced.
I know it prevented him from becoming a raging, self destructive who knows what, and, it made sense to him in all the "right" ways).

[Deleted]

Upon viewing these images with little time to really discuss in depth about, T. was blown away by the images you captured Bixa and sends his gratitude for your posting of them.

Not being one to vocally emote on the level you and I both know, he was very taken so to speak, (even used the word WOW) by the various representations and many other terms of which, some I have come to know, the mudras, etc. and the origins of many of the many manifestations. Mudras being the representations of the arms and hand positions of the Buddhist statues. We have one sandstone sculpture that sits on our breezeway. The position of one of the hands is so cool in that it is raised in a position like a STOP/HALT . It is meant to say "no fear" but, when asked by certain people who inquire we say it means "go away".) The other cool thing about it is that for some odd reason the lizards, anoles, chameleons and a new Cuban lizard I ashamedly don't know the name of, crawl all over it and pose, seating them selves on the statues head).


One of the comments that he did make was, and disconcerting as it was/is upon hearing it from him was the means in which the British acquired these pieces given their power over so much of Asia, India in particular.

Something to ponder I guess.

At least they weren't destroyed as have so many.

A whole other topic which merits some chat about.

[breeze]

Such serene and peaceful images, most of them. The calm faces are somehow soothing to me.

[questa]

It is interesting to see how so many religions have developed a 'loving mother who will help you' belief. She handles the day to day issues, while the Buddha, God etc get called upon for famine and wars.

About the multiple arms...They are of Hindu origin and represent the various powers and specialties that the deity has. The pic of Aizen above is a good example...red colouring indicates Energy and passion and the implements are martial. In his hands near his lap he holds 3 Vajra or Thunderbolt items which represent super wisdom and also mighty power. I think he also has in his upper right hand the triple bladed knife which pins the evil down and slays it.
[In Kathmandu I helped old man set up his souvenir shop at the Great Stupa. He gave me a 2cm copper vajra and a ritual knife and said to put it on a cord and wear it hidden which I did. A year or so later I was being hassled by a group of middle aged blokes in Bali. They came into my empty cafe and my staff took off out the back door.."He's very bad man" One man asked for money "so bad things won't happen here". Another said that leader very good with Black Magic. I said I have stronger magic, that my magic was special 'Shakti' (women's power) I took off the cord and showed them my little items muttering what I hoped sounded like magic and making strange gestures over the two tiny objects. One man reached out to take them but Black Magic man pulled his arm away and said something in Balinese. Wide-eyed and clearly scared they backed away and ran off. I got A+ for over-acting.]

Casi...you are correct when you say Indian Hindu. The Statue that is reproduced as Lord of the Dance features Shiva taking on the form of Nataraj. He is standing on his bent right leg, his left is raised as if kicking. His 2 arms are held out sideways and extra bronze supports the arms. Surrounding the figure is a circle of fire and he has a headdress of flame.He is dancing on the back of an evil dwarf called Bali whom he just defeated

I'm happy to tell the stories of these things, if you want.

[bixaorellana]

Oh, that is interesting about Dusty, Casimira -- never knew that!

Thanks for telling me about T's response, which you know means a great deal to me. I love that the jewel-like lizards choose to adorn your statue. I wish I could have included more hands, but the pictures that survived culling were the ones that were okay despite the lighting, glass reflection, etc.

And yes, that is a point of discussion -- the ravaging of temples to acquire artifacts from another culture. I suppose, thinking of what has happened to religious objects in China and Tibet and the horror being wreaked in Syria, it is some consolation that these pieces are safe in a museum. But yeah -- how did some of them get there?

How lovely, Breeze ~ thank you so much.

[bixaorellana]

Sorry, questa -- I was writing my response above & had to go check on something on the stove. Thus, I didn't realize that you had posted. Just wonderful, illuminating input ~ thank you! I'm sure we'd have all loved to see you hexing & foxing the bad men.

[Deleted]

I always feel a bit ambivalent when I see these lovely items in Europe, because I have seen so many headless statues in Asia. There is a museum in Paris devoted entirely to Asian art (Guimet), much of which was shameless pillaged in the 19th century.

Nevertheless, it must be admitted that huge amounts of art were lying around abandoned in the jungle, so if we can still see them today it is thanks to people who did recognise how extraordinary these things are and "saved" them.

I'm glad you got to see a lot of them, Bixa, and that you showed them to us.

[bixaorellana]

Thank you, Kerouac. It was a pleasure being able to share them here.

And questa, I don't think my very brief response to you above adequately expressed how much I (& I'm sure others) would like to hear any background you'd like to fill in for us.

[questa]

This is for breeze. After looking at Buddhas from every at one time Buddhist country this is my absolute favourite. It is in Sri Lanka at a place called Polonnaru (?spelling)There are several statues all carved in a single piece of granite with the stones stripes adding to the effect. There is a standing Buddha and a lying--down one but the 14 metre sitting one does something to your mind when seen. Let us hope my photos work.




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[mossie]

That brickwork is something else! Whatever do they eat drink or inhale to get that effect.

[questa]

I will post more when I can

[breeze]

questa, thanks for your additions to this absorbing thread. I can imagine that coming upon a 42-metre high statue would be quite an experience.

[questa]

Mossie, according to the information at the site, the statues are all carved out of a granite outcrop where they stand. The granite is mainly a mix of tannish red/yellow with the grey to black striations running through it. As you can see the head and face have not been finished...still emerging from the rock

I have other photos taken from this area. Buddha in standing meditation and another lying down. However this poor Buddha has become a bit lost, he got mixed up with the others in Britain at the museums for British Buddhas.

It has been suggested that I start a thread for images of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Hindu deities from many sources that weave together from The Indian epics Mahabharata and Ramayana . I learned a lot about these living in Hindu Bali for years where Buddhism links in with Hinduism and I was welcome to take part in the Temple ceremonies.

[questa]

Correction.
In reply # 9
I mixed up two of the names and attributes.

Avalokitesvara (Sanskrit for "One who hears when you cry out and comes to help) was not a disciple but the embodiment of the Buddha's compassion for the World. This is why the images of him/her change according to the culture as Buddhism spread into other countries.

The other person was Ananda. He was a young relative of Buddha's who went with Buddha everywhere as his carer and odd job man. Ananda had the gift of great memory and as he heard Buddha's teachings at every park and village stop, he knew them well. He recorded all the teachings, prefacing them with the words "Thus I have heard".

Sorry for the mistake, but it was w-a-ay past my bedtime and I was going on memory.

[bixaorellana]

From yesterday's Guardian ~

Amaravati Buddhist art to finally be seen in full glory at British Museum
After a two-year declutter and revamp, the Sir Joseph Hotung gallery will allow visitors to view Asian antiquities up close <-- click