3rd Floor, Gallery 12
When you visit our Himalayan gallery, the abundant paintings and sculptures of Buddhas may look similar at first glance: beatific expressions, half-closed eyes, long earlobes. Yet the differences run deep, and they reward those who venture closer. A Billion Buddhas offers you just that opportunity.
We have selected five Tibetan
paintings from our collection to illuminate the countless roles that Buddhas
play in Himalayan religious thought and practice. You’ll meet the historical
Buddha Shakyamuni; the blue Medicine Buddha, who specializes in healing; red
Amitabha, who presides over the paradise known as the “Land of Bliss”
(Sukhavati); and stunning “meditation deities” (yidam), often depicted
as male and female deities in sexual union. According to Tibetan religious
doctrine, their symbolism is so powerful that visualizing these meditation deities
can produce enlightenment “in this very life.”
The paintings on view in A Billion Buddhas are thangka paintings, sacred pictures that can be rolled, transported and stored. Because they are fragile and fade easily, they can only be exhibited in our gallery for a limited amount of time. A few of these paintings are on display for the very first time, so don’t miss this rare chance to see them.
The paintings on view in A Billion Buddhas are thangka paintings, sacred pictures that can be rolled, transported and stored. Because they are fragile and fade easily, they can only be exhibited in our gallery for a limited amount of time. A few of these paintings are on display for the very first time, so don’t miss this rare chance to see them.
