Buddha Groove: Buddha Quotes | Buddha Statues Meaning | Buddhist Traditions

The Third Noble Truth

 

The First Noble Truth states that life is filled with suffering, while the Second Noble Truth identifies the causes of suffering - altogether, a gloomy outlook !

After the Buddha realized these Truths, he spent six years more contemplating the nature of suffering. His understanding of this is the Third Noble Truth. In it, the Buddha offered a message of hope - that there is an end to suffering - by eliminating hatred and ignorance from our lives.  Anyone who wishes to attain this goal may do so.

The Buddha taught that beyond suffering lies great bliss. As we take steps towards removing the causes of suffering, we experience progressive levels of happiness. The path is a long one and may extend over several lifetimes. But staying on it leads to a tremendous sense of liberation. There are other benefits from adhering to this philosophy - one can live in happiness, untroubled by any kind of negativity. At the end of this path, when desire and ignorance would have completely fallen away, one may experience the same transcendental joy that the Buddha did.

This is the second consequence of the end of suffering, which is known in Buddhism as Nirvana or Enlightenment. Nirvana cannot be precisely defined. At best, we may think of it as a state of pure freedom, a complete and permanent cessation of suffering. Nirvana is not a reward to be attained after death. As the Buddha demonstrated, it can be achieved during life.

With Enlightenment comes great wisdom and compassion. Only the Buddha is known to have achieved these qualities. Such wisdom allowed him to understand the nature of reality, while his boundless compassion touched the lives of thousands.

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What is the Pali Canon in Buddhism?

The Pali Canon refers to the collected scriptures of Theravada Buddhism (pure land Buddhism), the oldest school of Buddhism founded in India that later spread to Sri Lanka and the countries of continental Southeast Asia.

Followers of this school of Buddhism claim that most of these scriptures are the original teachings of Siddhartha/Gautama Buddha and his close disciples. Soon after the Buddha passed on, the First Council was constituted to compile and preserve his teachings for posterity through oral means. Many of the "Buddhist monks" who heard the Buddha were spiritually evolved and endowed with prodigious memories. Ananda, the Buddha’s attendant in the last quarter of his life, could recall everything he had ever heard. Thus the discourses of the Buddha were passed on through the centuries.

The Fourth Council met in 29 BCE, some four centuries after Shakyamuni Buddha's death. The art of writing had become well developed by this time; in Sri Lanka, the Council decided to commit the entire body of the Buddha’s discourses to writing. Subsequent councils met in 1871 and 1954 in Myanmar to closely examine the Canon and eliminate distortions and alterations. The Fifth Council also commissioned the inscription of the scriptures upon 729 marble panels.

The three broad categories of the Pali Canon give it the popular name of Tipitaka -– “three baskets” in Pali language:

• Vinaya Pitaka: The “basket of discipline” comprises the rules to be followed by monks and nuns of the Sangha.
• Sutta Pitaka: The “basket of threads” contains the discourses of the Buddha and his disciples.
• Abhidhamma Pitaka: The “higher dhamma” contains ethical, psychological and metaphysical aspects of teachings of the Buddha.

 

Note: The Buddha is interchangeably called Shakyamuni Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama

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Vajra Mudra – Mudra of Enlightenment

In this mudra, the extended forefinger of one hand is enclosed within the fist of the other, a Tantric gesture more common to Buddhism in Japan and Korea. One interpretation is that the erect finger represents Knowledge cloaked in the illusion of the material world. Another version has it that the index finger is man, while the five enclosing fingers of the other hand are the elements of earth, air, fire, water and ether.

 The mudra is commonly associated with the radiantly white Vairochana Buddha.

Buddha’s hands are depicted in variety of gestures. Each of these gestures is called a “mudra”. In Sanskrit, the word “mudra” (literally, “seal” or “mark of identity”) is a form of non-verbal communication that refers to symbolic gestures imbued with varied spiritual meanings.

Anjali Mudra - Mudra of Offering

Anjali Mudra is also known as Namaskara Mudra, the oldest of Indian gestures. The word “anjali” means “two handfuls”, derived from the cupping of both hands together as if holding something within.

The mudra is displayed by Boddhisattvas and lesser personages who attend upon or pay homage to the Buddha. It is a gesture of salutation, a symbol of respect and devotion to a higher being. The palms of both hands are joined together at chest level, with the right thumb placed over the left in a universal gesture of homage and prayer.

The two hands placed against each other symbolize two inseparable spheres of existence, the spiritual and material. In Buddhist tradition, they are known as Vajradhatu (diamond world) and Garbhadhatu (matrix world). The Anjali Mudra is often seen on images and statues of the many-armed Kannon in Japan.

Anjali Mudra is employed during prostrations, when the joined and cupped hands are placed against the forehead, throat and heart to indicate purity of the mind, speech and body.

Buddha’s hands are depicted in variety of gestures. Each of these gestures is called a “mudra”. In Sanskrit, the word “mudra” (literally, “seal” or “mark of identity”) is a form of non-verbal communication that refers to symbolic gestures imbued with varied spiritual meanings.

 

Pictured here: Cast Bronze Buddha Statue in Anjali Mudra from Buddha Groove 

 

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Who is Jizo in Buddhism?

Jizo is a bodhisattva in Japanese Mahayana Buddhism, originally known in Sanskrit as Ksitigarbha (‘Womb of the Earth’, ‘Earth’s Treasury’). He is worshipped primarily in East Asia. Jizo is believed to have sworn not to attain Buddhahood, choosing rather to instruct the denizens of six worlds. His decision to postpone his Buddhahood, for the time between Gautama Buddha’s death and the arrival of Maitreya Buddha, was also taken in order to empty hell of all its prisoners.

Jizo presides over a world that few like to think about. He is the protector of children, especially those who die before their parents. They include mizuko, the souls of aborted, stillborn or miscarried babies. Such children cannot cross the mythical River Sanzu en route to the spirit world because they are yet to accumulate sufficient good deeds. They are doomed to endlessly pile stones on the riverbank as penance, but Jizo protects them in his robe from demons and lets them listen to mantras.

Statues of Jizo depict him as a shaven-headed monk, holding a shakujo or jingle staff that warns insects and small creatures of his coming, so that he may not harm them unintentionally. He often has childlike features, resembling those of his protégés. Sometimes, Jizo statues are adorned with tiny bibs or toys.  He is also a protector of travelers and firefighters; hence his statues can be seen along roadsides.

 

Pictured Here: Jizo Statue from Buddha Groove Statues

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What are Longmen Caves?

The Longmen Caves are a series of grottoes filled with Buddhist sculptures, close to Luoyang city in Hénan, China. The grottoes extend for a kilometer along two limestone mountains, Xiangshan and Longmenshan, with the River Yishui flowing between them, a place of great natural beauty. The grottoes consist of a stretch of more than 2,100 caves, over 100,000 statues and innumerable pagodas. This vast collection of Chinese sculpture came into existence during the late Northern Wei and Tang dynasties (316-907). Work on the grottoes began in CE 493. 

The caves have been frequently vandalized during their long history. During the early 1900s, Western collectors made off with many artifacts. Mao’s Cultural Revolution witnessed several statues being decapitated. The Longmen Caves were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in November 2000. The panorama of sculptures in several styles, larger-than-life statues of the Buddha, various bodhisattvas and others are a testament to the Chinese stone carving skills of those times.

 

Pictured Above: Longmen Grotto Bronze Wall Hanging from Buddha Groove

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What is the Yin Yang symbol?

 

Eastern philosophy and religious thought have historically emphasized the non-duality of the universe. In Chinese metaphysics, this principle is symbolized by a circle containing within it, two conjoined, tadpole shaped sections in black and white. The black is Yin while the white is Yang. Together, they represent Tai Chi, the great energy of the universe, according to the Chinese I Ching, or Book of Change. This energy, which is in a state of constant flux, is composed of two elements that have opposing characteristics but are yet unified. Everything in the manifest universe consists of yin or yang. Some examples: male and female, stillness and movement, stone and water. One cannot exist without the other for life to sustain itself. The burning desert (yin) is as inhospitable as the freezing ice-cap (yang) – thus, extremes of either are undesirable.

The key to existence therefore, is balanced energy, with neither yin nor yang dominating. The diagram exemplifies this with a dot of the opposite color in each half. Thus, when yin reaches its fullest capacity, the seed of yang within it begins to grow, and vice versa. Everything in nature is based upon this principle. Take the rhythm of the seasons. Summer (yin) peaks, followed by cooler autumn, which is the beginning of yang. Post the chill of winter (yang), spring asserts itself, the start of warm, yin weather.

The Ying-Yang concept helps us contemplate the nature of life in a different way, moving from rigid and ultimately, self-defeating notions of good vs. evil, man vs. woman, victory vs. defeat.

Yin-Yang finds expression in several aspects of Chinese culture. In Feng -shui, for instance, places near factories, busy roads and cemeteries are said to be saturated with  excessive yin or yang energy and do not make for ideal residential localities. Tai Chi martial art, now a hugely popular form of exercise worldwide, incorporates deep, flowing movements that emphasize balance and strengthening core muscles.

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What are "Eyes of Buddha”?

Visitors to Buddhist stupas in Nepal cannot help but notice the huge pair of eyes painted around the main towers. These are the “Eyes of the Buddha” that stare out in all four directions, a dramatic symbol of the Buddha’s all knowing, all seeing gaze.

Between the Wisdom Eyes, as they are also known, is a curving symbol that resembles a question mark. This is Nepali for the number 1. It symbolizes the oneness of the created universe and denotes the one path towards enlightenment – the teachings of the Buddha. The mark is also the Buddha’s ‘third eye’, a symbol of his wisdom and infinite perception.

Buddha Eyes are a common sight all over Nepal, so much so that they have come to symbolize the country itself.

 

Pictured Above: Buddha Eyes Enamel Pendant from Buddha Jewelry Collection

 

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Kalachakra

Kalachakra, varyingly known as Wheel of Time or Circle of Time is both a Buddhist Tantric doctrine and its emblem. Each of Sakyamuni’s doctrines is termed a “Turning of the Wheel”; the Kalachakra doctrine was the fourth such exposition. The Buddha taught this Tantra upon the request of Chandrabhada, ruler of Shambhala, who travelled to India especially for this purpose. In essence, Kalachakra is a sacred exposition of the relationship between Kala or Time and cycles (chakra) of existence. According to this doctrine, Man, the microcosm is inseparable from the Universe or macrocosm. The Kalachakra also teaches students of Tantra how to use subtle energies in the human body as a means to overcome suffering and achieve spiritual happiness. Only fragments of the original Kalachakra doctrine still exist; what has survived are abridged versions, with variations.

The Kalachakra philosophy is often depicted as a seven syllabic monogram in the stylized Sanskrit Lantsa script that was typically used for writing or engraving mantras. Above the syllables are a crescent moon, a sphere and a curved shape, making ten elements in all – this “seed syllable” (in Tibetan, “mam bcu dbang Idan”) is also known as the Tenfold Powerful One. The symbol is encircled by a ring of fire. To its left and right are two characters, E and VAM, standing respectively for nothingness and bliss.

The seed syllable is studied at three levels – the Outer Kalachakra represents the universe as manifested in the ten planets and elements, the Inner Kalachakra refers to channels and centers of subtle energies within us. Finally, the Alternative Kalachakra consists of initiations and the practices leading to enlightenment.

 

Pictured Above: Intricate Design Kalchakra Pendant from Buddha Groove

 

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Double Vajra

The double vajra or vajra cross has its origins in Buddhist myth:

In the emptiness of space, a mild wind began blowing. Over time, it filled the great Void, growing in power over eons until it coalesced into the vajra cross. This weighty, immutable object is said to be the foundation of the universe or visvavajra (in Sanskrit, visva = universe). Depicted as an X or in vertical form (like a plus sign), it is also a symbol of protection.

The visvavajra is typically used as a seal or stamp. It is often inscribed or embedded at the base of Buddhist statues that represent protectiveness or are used to store prayers and relics within them.

The double vajra is commonly associated with the green Buddha known as Amogasiddhi (Enduring Accomplishment). His left hand lies in his lap; his right hand, palm facing outward before his chest, gestures in abhaya mudra, the sign of protection. Amogasiddhi’s consort is the Green Tara.

 

Pictured Above: Sterling Silver Vajra Pendant from Buddha Groove Jewelry Collection

 

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