Avatar Embodiment Art that Awakens the Soul

Avatar EmbodimentArt that Awakens the Soul

Spring 2010 CollectionVolume_4

BUDDHA

Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher in the north eastern region of theIndian subcontinent who founded Buddhism. In most Buddhist traditions, he isregarded as the Supreme Buddha (Sammāsambuddha) of our age, "Buddha"meaning "awakened one" or "the enlightened one." The time of his birth and deathare uncertain: most early 20th-century historians dated his lifetime as c. 563 BCEto 483 BCE; more recently, however, at a specialist symposium on this question,the majority of those scholars who presented definite opinions gave dates within20 years either side of 400 BCE for the Buddha's death, with others supportingearlier or later dates.

Gautama, also known as Śākyamuni or Shakyamuni ("sage of the Shakyas"), is thekey figure in Buddhism, and accounts of his life, discourses, and monastic rules arebelieved by Buddhists to have been summarized after his death and memorizedby his followers. Various collections of teachings attributed to Gautama werepassed down by oral tradition, and first committed to writing about 400 years later.Early Western scholarship tended to accept the biography of the Buddhapresented in the Buddhist scriptures as largely historical, but currently "scholars areincreasingly reluctant to make unqualified claims about the historical facts of theBuddha's life and teachings."

read morehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha


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BUDDHAS BLUE MEDITATION - VERTICAL

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BUDDHAS BEAUTY - VERTICAL

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BUDDHAS RIGHT - VERTICAL

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YELLOW GOLDEN BUDDHA - VERTICAL

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AWAKENING BUDDHA TIBETAN - SQUARE

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BUDDHA’S LIFE

The primary sources of information regarding Siddhārtha Gautama's life are theBuddhist texts. According to these, the Buddha and his monks spent four months eachyear discussing and rehearsing his teachings, and after his death his monks set aboutpreserving them. A council was held shortly after his death, and another was held acentury later. At these councils the monks attempted to establish and authenticate theextant accounts of the life and teachings of the Buddha following systematic rules. Theydivided the teachings into distinct but overlapping bodies of material, and assignedspecific monks to preserve each one. In some cases, essential aspects of teachingsattributed to the Buddha were incorporated into stories and chants in an effort topreserve them accurately.

From then on, the teachings were transmitted orally. From internal evidence it seemsclear that the oldest texts crystallized into their current form by the time of the secondcouncil or shortly after it. The scriptures were not written down until three or fourhundred years after the Buddha's death. By this point, the monks had added or alteredsome material themselves, in particular magnifying the figure of the Buddha.

The ancient Indians were generally not concerned with chronologies, being morefocused on philosophy. The Buddhist texts reflect this tendency, providing a clearerpicture of what Shakyamuni may have taught than of the dates of the events in his life.These texts contain descriptions of the culture and daily life of ancient India which canbe corroborated from the Jain scriptures, and make the Buddha's time the earliestperiod in Indian history for which significant accounts exist. According to MichaelCarrithers, and scholars such as Karen Armstrong,[8] there are good reasons to doubtthe traditional account, though, according to Carrithers, the outline of "birth, maturity,renunciation, search, awakening and liberation, teaching, death" must be true.



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GARDEN BUDDHA (1) - VERTICAL

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AWAKENING BUDDHA ORANGE - SQUARE

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BUDDHA IN THE BLOOD STREAM - VERTICAL

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BUDDHA IN THE BLOOD STREAM - CLOSE UP - SQUARE

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BUDDHA’S CONCEPTION AND BIRTH

Siddhartha was born in Lumbini and raised in the small kingdom or principality ofKapilvastu, both of which are in modern day Nepal. At the time of the Buddha'sbirth, the area was at or beyond the boundary of Vedic civilization, the dominantculture of northern India at the time; it is even possible that his mother tonguewas not an Indo-Aryan language. At the time, a multitude of small city-states ex-isted in Ancient India, called Janapadas. Republics and chiefdoms with diffusedpolitical power and limited social stratification, were not uncommon amongstthem, and were referred to as gana-sanghas. The Buddha's community does notseem to have had a caste system. It was not a monarchy, and seems to have beenstructured either as an oligarchy, or as a form of republic. The more egalitariangana-sangha form of government, as a political alternative to the strongly hierar-chical kingdoms, may have influenced the development of the Shramana type Jainand Buddhist sanghas, where monarchies tended toward Vedic Brahmanism.According to the traditional biography, although not later writers such as Arm-strong, his father was King Suddhodana, the leader of Shakya clan, whose capitalwas Kapilavastu, and who were later annexed by the growing Kingdom of Kosaladuring the Buddha's lifetime; Gautama was the family name. His mother, QueenMaha Maya (Māyādevī) and Suddhodana's wife, was a Koliyan princess. On thenight Siddhartha was conceived, Queen Maya dreamt that a white elephant withsix white tusks entered her right side, and ten months later Siddhartha was born.As was the Shakya tradition, when his mother Queen Maya became pregnant, sheleft Kapilvastu for her father's kingdom to give birth. However, she gave birth onthe way, at Lumbini, in a garden beneath a sal tree.The day of the Buddha's birth is widely celebrated in Theravada countries as Vesak.Various sources hold that the Buddha's mother died at his birth, a few days orseven days later. The infant was given the name Siddhartha (Pāli: Siddhatta), mean-ing "he who achieves his aim". During the birth celebrations, the hermit seer Asitajourneyed from his mountain abode and announced that the child would eitherbecome a great king (chakravartin) or a great holy man. This occurred after Sid-dhartha placed his feet in Asita's hair and Asita examined the birthmarks. Sud-dhodana held a naming ceremony on the fifth day, and invited eight brahminscholars to read the future. All gave a dual prediction that the baby would eitherbecome a great king or a great holy man. Kaundinya (Pali: Kondanna), theyoungest, and later to be the first arahant other than the Buddha, was the onlyone who unequivocally predicted that Siddhartha would become a Buddha.[19]While later tradition and legend characterized Śuddhodana as a hereditarymonarch, the descendant of the Solar Dynasty of Ikṣvāku (Pāli: Okkāka), manyscholars believe that Śuddhodana was the elected chief of a tribal confederacy.Read morehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha


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BUDDHA VINES - SQUARE

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Gracea state of mind

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BUDDHA FIELD - HORIZONTAL

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MT KALISH AND GOLDEN BUDDHA - SQUARE

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BUDDHA

BUDDHA FACE BROWN - HORIZONTAL

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BUDDHAAWAYOFLIFE

STONE BUDDHA IN ORANGE - VERTICAL

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AWAKENING BUDDHA RED ORANGE - SQUARE

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BUDDHA HALL - HORIZONTAL

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EMERGING BUDDHA BLUE - HORIZONTAL

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BUDDHAIN VEINS

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BUDDHA IN VEINS - HORIZONTAL

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LOTUSUNFOLDING

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BUDDHA LOTUS POND - HORIZONTAL

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MTMERU AND THE BUDDHA - HORIZONTAL

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EMERGING BUDDHA YELLOW - HORIZONTAL

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NightBuddha

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NIGHT BUDDHA - HORIZONTAL

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BUDDHAMEETS MEDICINE BUDDHA - HORIZONTAL

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BUDDHAMODERN - HORIZONTAL

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BUDDHA’S EARLY LIFE AND MARRIAGE

Siddhartha, said to have been destined to a luxurious life as a prince, had threepalaces (for seasonal occupation) especially built for him. His father, KingŚuddhodana, wishing for Siddhartha to be a great king, shielded his son fromreligious teachings or knowledge of human suffering. Siddhartha was brought upby his mother's younger sister, Maha Pajapati.

As the boy reached the age of 16, his father arranged his marriage to Yaśodharā(Pāli: Yasodharā), a cousin of the same age. According to the traditional account, intime, she gave birth to a son, Rahula. Siddhartha spent 29 years as a Prince inKapilavastu. Although his father ensured that Siddhartha was provided witheverything he could want or need, Siddhartha felt that material wealth was notthe ultimate goal of life.



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BUDDHAS MEDITATION ON RED - VERTICAL

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BUDDHA'S MT. KALISH - SQUARE

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on

Red

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BUDDHAS MEDITATION ON RED - SQUARE

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LOTUS FLOWER

Nelumbo nucifera, known by a number of names including Indian lotus, sacredlotus, bean of India, or simply lotus, is a plant in the Nelumbonaceae family.Botanically, Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.) may also be referred to by its formernames, Nelumbium speciosum (Wild.) or Nymphaea nelumbo. This plant is anaquatic perennial. Under favorable circumstances its seeds may remain viable formany years, with the oldest recorded lotus germination being from that of seeds1300 years old recovered from a dry lakebed in northeastern China.

A common misconception is referring to the lotus as a water-lily (Nymphaea), anentirely different plant as can be seen from the centre of the flower, which clearlylacks the structure that goes on to form the distinctive circular seed pod in theNelumbo nucifera.[citation needed] It should also be noted that water-lilies comein various colors, whereas the lotus has flowers only in hues of pink, or white.

Native to Greater India[citation needed] and commonly cultivated in watergardens, the lotus is the national flower of India and Vietnam.

read morehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera


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PINK BLOSSOMING LOTUS - VERTICAL

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PINK BLOSSOMING LOTUS - VERTICAL

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LOTUS POND SHIVA - VERTICAL

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BRIGHT PINK LOTUS - SQUARE

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Violet

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Lotus

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LOTUSWITH BUD - VERTICAL

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LOTUSWATER - SQUARE

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LOTUS BOTANY

The roots of Nelumbo nucifera are planted in the soil of the pond or river bottom,while the leaves float on top of the water surface. The flowers are usually foundon thick stems rising several centimeters above the water. The plant normallygrows up to a height of about 150 cm and a horizontal spread of up to 3 meters,but some unverified reports place the height as high as over 5 meters. The leavesmay be as large as 60 cm in diameter, while the showy flowers can be up to 20 cmin diameter.

Researchers report that the lotus has the remarkable ability to regulate thetemperature of its flowers to within a narrow range just as humans and otherwarmblooded animals do Dr. Roger S. Seymour and Dr. Paul Schultze-Motel,physiologists at the University of Adelaide in Australia, found that lotus flowersblooming in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens maintained a temperature of 86 to 95degrees Fahrenheit, even when the air temperature dropped to 50 degrees. Theysuspect the flowers may be turning up the heat for the benefit of theircoldblooded insect pollinators. The study, published in the journal Nature, is thelatest discovery in the esoteric field of heat-producing plants. The very few otherspecies known so far to be able to regulate their temperature include SkunkCabbage and a Philodendron known as Elephant Ear.

The traditional Sacred Lotus is distantly related to Nymphaea caerulea, andpossesses similar chemistry. Both Nymphaea caerulea and Nelumbo nuciferacontain the alkaloids nuciferine and aporphine.



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WHITE LOTUS ON TOURQOUISEWATER - SQUARE

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Eyes

LOTUS WITH EYES - SQUARE

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Lotus Uses

The distinctive dried seed heads, which resemble the spouts of wateringcansphoto, are widely sold throughout the world for decorative purposes and fordried flower arranging.

The flowers, seeds, young leaves, and "roots" (rhizomes) are all edible. In Asia, thepetals are used sometimes for garnish, while the large leaves are used as a wrap forfood. In Korea, the leaves and petals are used as a tisane. Yeonkkotcha is madewith dried petals of white lotus and yeonipcha is made with the leaves. Therhizome is used as a vegetable in soups, deep-fried, stir-fried, and braised dishesand the roots are also used in traditional Asian herbal medicine. Petals, leaves, andrhizome can also all be eaten raw, but there is a risk of parasite transmission (e.g.,Fasciolopsis buski): it is therefore recommended that they be cooked before eat-ing.

Lotus rootlets are often pickled with rice vinegar, sugar, chili and/or garlic. It has acrunchy texture with sweet-tangy flavours. In Asian cuisine, it is popular with salad,prawns, seasame oil and/or coriander leaves. Lotus roots have been found to berich in dietary fiber, vitamin C, potassium, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6,phosphorus, copper, and manganese, while very low in saturated fat.

The stamens can be dried and made into a fragrant herbal tea called liánhuā chain Chinese, or (particularly in Vietnam)[citation needed] used to impart a scent totea leaves. The lotus seeds or nuts are quite versatile, and can be eaten raw or driedand popped like popcorn, phool makhana. They can also be boiled until soft andmade into a paste, or boiled with dried longans and rock sugar to make a tong sui(sweet soup). Combined with sugar, lotus seed paste becomes one of the mostcommon ingredients used in pastries such as mooncakes, daifuku, and rice flourpudding.



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ORANGE LOTUS - SQUARE

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TRIPLE LOTUS - HORIZONTAL

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THE LOTUS CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

From ancient times the lotus has been a divine symbol in Asian traditionsrepresenting sexual purity, a virtue.

Hindus revere it with the divinities Vishnu and Lakshmi often portrayed on a pinklotus in iconography. In the representation of Vishnu as Padmanabha (Lotus navel),a lotus issues from his navel with Brahma on it. Goddess Sarasvati is portrayed ona white-colored lotus.

Often used as an example of divine beauty, Vishnu is often described as the 'Lotus-Eyed One'. Its unfolding petals suggest the expansion of the soul. The growth of itspure beauty from the mud of its origin holds a benign spiritual promise. In Hinduiconography, other deities, like Ganga and Ganesha are often depicted with lotusflowers as their seats.

The lotus plant is cited extensively within Puranic and Vedic literature, for example:

One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results untothe Supreme Lord, is unaffected by sinful action, as the lotus is untouched by water.

—Bhagavad Gita 5.10:

This has also taken root in Chinese cultures with a famous statement made by theConfucian scholar Zhou Dunyi:

I love the lotus because while growing from mud, it is unstained.



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VIOLET LOTUS - VERTICAL

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GANESHA ON LOTUS - VERTICAL

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PEACH LOTUS - VERTICAL

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IndexTable

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Avatar EmbodimentArt that Awakens the Soul


Avatar Embodiment Index Table

BuddhatItem Number Description Orientation Page800619-3040-GW Golden Face Buddha_up close Vertical 3

800622-3648-GS Golden Face Buddhat_up close Vertical 3

800613-2436-GW Buddha hiBiScuS_close up 1 Vertical 4

800616-2436-GW BuddhaS Blue Meditation Vertical 5

800618-2436-GW BuddhaS Beauty Vertical 6

800614-2448-GW BuddhaS RiGht Vertical 7

800620-2436-GW yelloW Golden Buddha Vertical 8

800623-1212-GW aWakeninG Buddha tiBetan Square 9





800627-4040-GS aWakeninG Buddha tiBetan Square 9

BuddhaItem Number Description Orientation Page800753-3040-GW Buddha VineS -_up close Vertical 11

800754-3648-GS Buddha VineS -_up close Vertical 11

800602-2436-GW GaRden Buddha (1) Vertical 12

800604-1212-GW aWakeninG Buddha oRanGe Square 13





800608-4040-GS aWakeninG Buddha oRanGe Square 13

800601-2436-GW Buddha in the Blood StReaM Vertical 14

800609-1212-GW Buddha in the Blood StReaM_close up Square 15





800752-4040-GS Buddha in the Blood StReaM_close up Square 15

BuddhaItem Number Description Orientation Page800757-3040-GW BuddhaS dooR Vertical 17

800758-3648-GS BuddhaS dooR Vertical 17

800646-2436-GW Buddha oF deVine PaSSion Vertical 18

800649-1212-GW Buddha VineS Square 19





800654-4040-GS Buddha VineS Square 19

800641-2448-GW Buddha Field horizontal 20, 21

800655-1212-GW Mt kaliSh and Golden Buddha Square 22





800660-4040-GS Mt kaliSh and Golden Buddha Square 22

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BuddhaItem Number Description Orientation Page800633-2436-GW Buddha Face BRoWn horizontal 24,25

800642-2436-GW Stone Buddha in oRanGe Vertical 26

800751-1212-GW aWakeninG Buddha Red oRanGe Square 27





800756-4040-GS aWakeninG Buddha Red oRanGe Square 27

800638-2436-GW Buddha hall horizontal 28

800645-2436-GW eMeRGinG Buddha Blue horizontal 29

800640-2448-GW Buddha in VeinS horizontal 30, 31

800634-3040-GW Buddha lotuS Pond horizontal 32, 33

800631-2436-GW Mt MeRu and the Buddha horizontal 34

800636-3040-GW eMeRGinG Buddha yelloW horizontal 35

800639-2448-GW niGht Buddha horizontal 36, 37

800635-3636-GW Buddha MeetS Medicine Buddha horizontal 38

800637-2448-GW Buddha ModeRn horizontal 39

BuddhaItem Number Description Orientation Page800671-3040-GW Buddha Wild Vertical 41

800672-3648-GS Buddha Wild Vertical 41

800673-2436-GW BuddhaS Meditation on Red Vertical 42

800674-1212-GW Buddha'S Mt. kaliSh Square 43





800679-4040-GS Buddha'S Mt. kaliSh Square 43

800791-1212-GW BuddhaS Meditation on Red Square 45





800796-4040-GS BuddhaS Meditation on Red Square 45

LotusItem Number Description Orientation Page800681-3040-GW White lotuS up close Vertical 47

800682-3648-GS White lotuS up close Vertical 47

800683-2448-GW Pink BloSSoMinG lotuS Vertical 48

800684-2436-GW Pink BloSSoMinG lotuS Vertical 49

800685-2436-GW lotuS Pond ShiVa Vertical 50

800686-1212-GW BRiGht Pink lotuS Square 51





800691-4040-GS BRiGht Pink lotuS Square 51

800692-2448-GW White and Violet lotuS on WateR Vertical 53

800693-2436-GW lotuS With Bud Vertical 54

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LotusItem Number Description Orientation Page800694-1212-GW lotuS WateR Square 55

800695-1414-GW lotuS WateR Square 55




800699-4040-GS lotuS WateR Square 55

LotusItem Number Description Orientation Page800663-3040-GW MaRoon lotuS up close Vertical 57

800664-3648-GS MaRoon lotuS up close Vertical 57

800661-2436-GW Golden lotuS Vertical 58

800665-1212-GW White lotuS on touRqouiSe WateR Square 59





800670-4040-GS White lotuS on touRqouiSe WateR Square 59

800720-1212-GW lotuS With eyeS Square 61





800725-4040-GS lotuS With eyeS Square 61

LotusItem Number Description Orientation Page800703-1212-GW oRanGe lotuS Square 63

800704-1414-GW oRanGe lotuS Square 63




800708-4040-GS oRanGe lotuS Square 63

800701-2436-GW Violet aBStRact lotuS horizontal 64,65

800702-2448-GW tRiPle lotuS horizontal 66, 67

LotusItem Number Description Orientation Page800712-2436-GW Violet lotuS Vertical 69

800711-2436-GW GaneSha on lotuS Vertical 70

80071-2436-GW Peach lotuS Vertical 71

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