EMERALD BUDDHA - BANGKOK THAILAND

The Emerald Buddha is one of Thailand’s most sacred treasures. It is a highly revered statue of the Buddha, carved from a single block of Green Jade.

• Location: Enshrined in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), within the Grand Palace, Bangkok.

• Height: About 66 cm (26 inches).

• History: Believed to have been created in India around the 15th century; it later traveled through Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, and finally reached Thailand in 1778, where King Rama I installed it in Bangkok.

• Significance: Considered a palladium (protective symbol) of Thailand. Only the King of Thailand is allowed to touch it.

• Ceremony: The King changes the statue’s golden seasonal attire three times a year (summer, rainy season, winter), symbolizing prosperity and protection for the nation.

The Emerald Buddha is not just a statue but a national and spiritual symbol of Thailand’s unity, faith, and sovereignty.

TRIPITAKA KOREANA

 

The Tripitaka Koreana to the modern scholarly world, is a Korean Collection of the Buddhist Scriptures Carved onto 81,258 wooden printing blocks in the 13th century, under commission by the Goryeo dynasty of Korea (918-1392 CE), it is currently stored at Haeinsa Monastery in the Southwest of the Korean Peninsula.

The Tripitaka in Sanskrit, meaning "Three Baskets” refers to the collection of Buddhist scriptures, or Buddhist Canon, that relate to discourses with the Buddha  "Sutta-Pitaka" regulations of monastic life "Vinaya-Pitaka" and commentaries on the sutras by renowned monks and scholars "Abhidhamma-Pitaka". When Buddhism was transmitted to East Asia through China, and the Buddhist scriptures translated from various Indian and Central Asian languages to classical Chinese there were several attempts by several countries to inscribe them in wooden printing blocks for distribution. However, the Tripitaka Koreana is the only complete canon still extant on the mainland of Asia.

THE EIGHTEEN ARHATS

 

The Arhat - Lohan or Aluohan in Chinese is a transliteration from Sanskrit. The word has three denominations - The first is to kill the thief, which means to eliminate all the disturbances, The second is to be venerated - meaning gaining the veneration of other living things, and The third is not be reborn - which means achieving Nirvana and not being subject to the suffering of Samsara - The Cycle of Reincarnations.

Among the Buddhist deities, images of arhats appeared relatively late and are often depicted in sculpture and paintings. Zen Buddhism flourishing in both the Northern and Southern parts of China during the period of the Five Dynasties, advocated introspection and emphasized that the mind should focus on religious practices rather than external factors. The Arhats reflected the relevant Buddhist perspectives and therefore won the admiration of the people. Artistic images of the Arhats first appeared during the Liang Dynasty and Arhats became a dominating theme in Buddhist sculptures and paintings during the Song Dynasty which emphasized realism.

The above set of 18 stamps. The oil painting Eighteen Arhats is skillfully painted by the Macao painter Sou Farong on rice paper based on his enormous knowledge of Buddhism. The Arhats are delineated as traditional Buddhist monks, each in a different realistic posture, some posing relaxingly and others siting rigidly and solemnly. In the background of the painting are  banana trees, willows, rocks and so on, added with a Lion, a Dragon, a Tiger, a Deer and an Elephant. Each Arhat is presented in his own style in relation to what precedes and succeeds him, thus revealing the extraordinary imagination and creativity of the painter.

KUSHINAGAR INDIA

 

KUSHINAGAR

About 50 km from Gorakhpur, Buddha took his last breath at Kushinagar and attained Mahaparinirvana. The Mahaparinirvana temple houses a huge statue of the reclining Buddha, excavated in 1876. It is also known from excavations in Kushinagar that a large community of monks lived here in the 11th century.

ODILON REDON

                                                                      

ODILON REDON

In 1905 French artist Odilon Redon painted The Buddha. The image is a perfect reflection of the symbolic transition from redon earlier works which vastly included plant life with human heads to his later years, which mainly represented translucent oneness.

The scene depicts The Buddha next to an illuminated tree, the two main subjects in the picture, and the only two objects that are well defined and in focus. the blue and golden hues of the sky, together with the green and yellow shades of the landscape, create a unique blend of color's at the horizon, resulting in a phantasmal setting. the entirety of the image is drawn vertically, from the long, upright limbs of the tree to the standing figure of the Buddha including  the tall , thin staff that he holds between his elongated fingers. Some believe that the image is that the path of oneness can be achieved by each and everyone of us, and the Redon encourages  the viewer to partake in the adventure with him. 

THE BOROBUDUR SHIP EXPEDITION

BOROBUDUR SHIP AND THE BUDDHA IMAGE OF BOROBUDUR

A Borobudur ship is the 8th century wooden double outrigger sailing vessel of maritime Southeast Asia depicted in some bas reliefs of the Borobudur Buddhist monument in Central Java , Indonesia. This has been designated as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The ships depicted on Borobudur were most likely the type of vessels used for trades and naval campaigns by the Shailendra and Srivijaya Thalassocracy empire that ruled the region around the 7th to the 13th century. The function of the outrigger was to stabilize the ship - a single or double outrigger canoe is the typical feature of the seafaring Austronesians vessels. It is considered by scholars to have been most likely type of vessel used for their voyages and exploration across Southeast Asia, Oceania and the Indian ocean

HAEINSA TEMPLE - SOUTH KOREA

HAEINSA  TEMPLE 

The Temple of Haeinsa, on Mount Kaya, is home to the Tripitaka Koreana, the most complete collection of Buddhist texts, engraved on 81,350 woodblocks between 1237 and 1248. The buildings of Janghyeong Pangeon, which date from the 15th century, were constructed to house the woodblocks, which are also revered as exceptional works of art. as the oldest depository of the Tripitaka. 

They reveal as astonishing mastery of the invention and implementation of the conservation techniques used to preserve these woodblocks. The Temple of Haeinsa and the depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks were made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.

Bulguska Temple - Seokguram Grotto

BULGUSKA TEMPLE - SEOKGURAM GROTTO

Bulguska Temple, built in the 8th century on the slope of mount Tohamasan in Kyongju, the ancient capital of the Shilla Kingdom is an outstanding example of Korean architecture, the Seokguram Grotto contains a monumental statue of the Buddha looking at the sea in the Bhumisparsha Mudra. this stone buddha was built entirely by stacking granite pieces, with the surrounding portrayals of Gods, Bodhisattvas and disciples, all realistically and delicately sculpted in high and low relief. It is considered a masterpiece of Buddhist art in the far east. The Temple of Bulguska and the Seokguram Grotto form a religious architectural complex of exceptional significance in South Korea.

BHUMISPARSHA MUDRA

Bhumisparsha Mudra

This Gesture signifies Gautama Buddha's call to the earth goddess to witness his enlightenment in Bodhgaya and his victory over temptation by Mara. In this gesture, the right elbow rests on the right thigh with fingers pointing palm downwards but usually not touching the ground. The left hand rests palm up in the Dhyana mudra position on the lap.

AVALOKITESHVARA

 

AVALOKITESHVARA BODHISATTVA 1000 ARMS

According to an old Tibetan tradition, the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara has a special relation with the people of Tibet. A Bodhisattva is a warrior or hero of enlightenment, a being who is on the path to Buddhahood. but in sense, Avalokiteshvara is even more than a Buddha. After attaining Buddhahood, he voluntarily returned to the way of a Bodhisattva in order to lead all beings to Buddhahood. Thus Avalokiteshvara is considered the manifestation of the selfless, unconditional compassion of the Buddha's.

In order to share the Buddhas teachings and relieve the suffering of followers. In many paintings and sculptures, Avalokiteshvara is shown in the typical garb of a Bodhisattva a prince like wearing robes, a crown and jewelry. Avalokiteshvara can be distinguished from other Bodhisattvas by the lotus he holds in one hand, symbolizing the potential in us all to attain enlightenment. He also typically wears a small image of Amitabha Buddha, in his crown representing his spiritual association with this particular Buddha.

THE FOUR MYTHICAL ANIMALS

 

TIGER, SNOW LION, GARUDA, DRAGON

The four mythical animals represent the sacred qualities and attitudes that Bodhisattvas develop on the path to enlightenment - qualities such as awareness, vast vision, confidence, joy, humility and power.

PRAYER WHEEL

 

PRAYER WHEEL

Prayer wheels are very important objects for Buddhist practice. The inside of the prayer wheel is filled with chants printed on written paper and wrapped around a central spindle. Chants like "OM MANI PADME HUM" are also written on the outside of the wheel. Buddhists believe that, by turning the prayer wheels, their defilements of the Body, Speech and Mind, will be purified and that they will gain immeasurable merits.

Xuanzang - Chinese Buddhist Monk

JOURNEY TO THE WEST

TRANSLATION OF BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES

In the 7th century AD, the Chinese monk Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) set off an epic journey to India to study Buddhist Philosophy from the Indian masters. Travelling along the Silk Road, through the desolate wastes of the Gobi desert and the icy passes of Central Asia, braving blizzards and brigands, Xuanzang finally reached India, where his spirtual quest took him to Buddhist holy places and monasteries throughout the subcontinent.

By the time he returned to China eighteen years later, carrying with him nearly 600 scriptures which he translated from Sanskrit into Chinese, Xuanzang had covered an astonishing 10,000 miles. He also left a detailed record of his journey which remains a valuable source of historical information on the regions he travelled.

 

TASHIGOMANG

TASHIGOMANG

Tashigomang loosely translated, means "of many auspicious doors".It is a three dimensional miniaturised portable temple with many doors, some of the more intricate ones being known to have as many 108 doors. The doors are decorated with ornate carvings and behind each door is a statue of Buddha, a Buddhist master or a stupa. it is believed that viewing a Tashigomang is equivalent to visiting many temples simultaneously.

In the not so distant past, monks used to travel from village to village, carrying the Tashigomang on their backs, and exhibiting the sacred object to the people gathered to receive blessings, singing the "mani' the chant of "Chenrezing" Avalokiteshvara or the Buddha of Compassion.

BUDDHIST PRAYER FLAGS

PRAYER FLAGS

Prayer flags are flown on vertical flagpoles or strung across high mountain ridges , and near temples or houses, in the Himalayas, a region that is home to Vajrayana Buddhism. They flutter with the natural energy of the wind, carrying prayers and harmonising the environment, thereby increasing the well being and good fortune of all living beings.

HIS HOLINESS THE 14th DALAI LAMA

                                                                                         

His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama

Tenzin Gyatso was born on July 6th 1935 in Taktser , Amdo Province Tibet. Acting upon a grand vision by the Regent, a senior lama, he was picked as the successor to the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of three. Although he did not become the official 14th Dalai Lama untill 1950 at the age of 15. After the 1949 Communist revolution in China, Tibetans became fearful. In October 1950. 80,000 Chinese soldiers invaded Tibet and took over the eastern part of Tibet of the country. Negotiations with the Chinese over the next few years provided futile. In 1959 there was an unsucessful popular uprising against the Chinese. The 14th Dalai lama secretly left the Potala Palace complex Lhasa and fled to India along with thousands of his followers. He has lived there in exile ever since. As the spirtual leader of Buddhism in Tibet, he is very much  revered around the world.

His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama

MAITREYA BUDDHA

Maitreya Buddha

           According to some traditions, the period of the Buddhist Law is divided into three stages: a first period of 500 years is of the turning of the Wheel of Law, a second period of 1000 years is of its deterioration,and the third period of 3000 years is the one during which no one practices the Law. After this, Buddhism having disappeared, a new Buddha will appear who will again turn the Wheel . This future Buddha is known as Maitreya. It is believed that Gautama Buddha himself enthroned him as a successor.

The word 'Maitreya' is derived from the Sanskrit word for friendliness. Thus this Bodhisattva is fundamentally said to embody the qualities of amiability and an attitude of well- meaning sympathy.

  

 

GURU PADMASAMBHAVA

 

GURU PADMASAMBHAVA

Guru Padmasambhava , also known as Guru Rinpoche is an important figure in Buddhism who was instrumental in establishing Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet around the 8th century CE. Guru Padmasambhava, which translates to "Lotus born" is believed to have appeared in a blooming Lotus as a eight year old in the kingdom of Oddiyan. while Gautam buddha attained enlightenment at a later stage in his life, legend has it that Padmasambhava was incarnated as Buddha "The Awakened One" and at the moment of his birth he announced that he had incarnated to complete the actions of Buddha"s past, present, and future. Gautama Buddha predicted in the Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra one day before attaining Nirvana. He informed his disciples that 12 years after his death a remarkable being with the name Padmasambhava will appear in the center of a Lotus.

EIGHT MANIFESTATIONS OF GURU PADMASAMBHAVA

1. Guru Shakya Senge "Lion of the Shakya Clan"
2. Guru Pema Gyalpo "Lotus King'
3. Guru Nyima Odzer "Rays of the Sun"
4. Guru Dorje Drolo "Vajra Comforter of Beings"
5. Guru Senge Dradog "Roaring Lion"
6. Guru Lodan Chokse " Guru Possesing Wisdom"
7. Guru Pema Jungne
8. Guru Urgyan Dorje Chang "Vajra Bearer Urgyan"

Eight Manifestations exemplify Guru"s ability to express his Wisdom and Compassion

FOUR HOLY SITES FOR BUDDHIST PILGRIMAGE

Before his Mahaparnirvana, Gautama Buddha himself had identified the following four sites most worthy of pilgrimage for his followers, observing that these would produce a feeling of spiritual urgency.

NEPAL SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE COVER DEPICTING ALL FOUR HOLY SITES OF BUDDHIST PILGRIMAGE

LUMBINI - NEPAL

BODHGAYA - INDIA

SARNATH - INDIA

KUSHINAGAR - INDIA

Lumbini the birthplace of Lord Buddha, Bodhgaya the place of Buddha enlightenment, Sarnath where Buddha delivered his first teachings and Kushinagar where Buddha achieved Mahaparinirvana are the four most important holy sites of Buddhist pilgrimage.

                Buddham Saranam Gacchami, Dhammam Saranam Gacchami, Sangham Saranam Gacchami.

THE LARGEST STAMP IN THE WORLD PEACE MANDALA MONGOLIA

 

LIFE STORY DEPICTION OF THE BUDDHA

According to Buddhists texts, about 2600 years ago Siddhartha (The Buddha ) was born as a prince of the Shakya clan in Lumbini Nepal. His story is depicted in this Mandala.

He left the palace to find salvation for all beings in the world. After various types of training including ascetic practices, Siddhartha became Shakyamuni Buddha ( Buddha of the Shakya Clan) he attained enlightenment at the age of 35 years. 

He continued to preach until the end of his life at 80 years. He entered Nirvana at Kushinagar where he became one with the universe and ever present

1. This explains life in Tushita Heaven, where the Buddha came from.
2. On the back of a holy elephant, he went into Lady Maya's right side while she was asleep.
3. The depiction of the Buddhas birth from Lady Maya"s right armpit.
4. Life as the Prince of the Shakya Clan.
5. The Prince left the palace and renounced all worldly ways, and shaved off his hair to begin the monk life.
6. This explains how the Buddha beat the devil (Prince of Darkness) and reached spiritual awakening.
7. This is when Shakyamuni Buddha preached for the first time at Sarnath.
8. This is the moment of the Buddhas transition when the great Nirvana Sutra, the last teaching of the Buddhas was taught in a state of supreme enlightenment. his followers were there as well as various other beings in a state of deep grief.