Ayoka Christopher's Rubin Museum Paper

Ayoka ChristopherSkinner

HUP105.1275

Prof. Trusso

04.19.2017

1. TITLE/ARTIST: STORIES OF PREVIOUS LIVES OF THE BUDDHA

DATE/ORIGIN: TIBET CA. 18TH CENTURY

RELATED DOCTRINE: NIRVANA- When Buddha achieved enlightenment and attained Nirvana, he saw all his previous lives. It was a revelation that he did in fact fulfilled his desire of finding the truth. In this piece, we see him in the center, in a meditative pose, surrounded by all his previous lives. It is a representation of a supreme state in which he is free from suffering, desire and the effects of karma. 

Nirvana: Enlightenment through Artistry

The concept of portraying historical and philosophical religious doctrines through art may be eccentric to some, however, it can be a unique approach to convey historical facts by using intricately beautiful art pieces. As you enter the Rubin Museum of Art, there is a hushed reverence as you explore each floor. Each piece tells a story about each aspect of Buddhism and delicately depicts feelings such as, veneration, peace, serenity, enlightenment, and love. One piece that captivates and evokes some of these emotions is Stories of Previous Lives of the Buddha. It reveals all the past lives of the Buddha, as he transitions through the karmic cycle known as Samsara, ultimately attaining Nirvana.

The first striking element you notice is the Buddha in the center, sitting in the vajra position, meditating. His hands and legs are clasped together and he seems to be in a state of enlightenment. From his serene facial expression, laxed body posture, and the majestic halo surrounding his head, you immediately correlate this piece to the doctrine, Nirvana. Another intriguing feature of this piece are the elements surrounding the Buddha. “Presented as small vignettes, these narrative scenes are usually arranged around a central image of the Buddha and visually separated by landscape elements.” (rubinmuseum.org). The scenes are visual symbolisms that explain the previous lives of Buddha as an animal, royalty, a merchant and a bodhisattva. The connection between the narrative scenes and Buddha is compelling to say the least. It is fascinating to find the deeper meaning of what this piece conveys. Though Buddha has achieved Nirvana and is isolated from his past desires, he is somehow still connected to his previous lives. Each scene is like a puzzle piece of who he was and describes his journey towards enlightenment.

The piece, Stories of Previous Lives of the Buddha, originated in Tibet during the eighteenth century and is one of the most renowned accounts of the life Buddha in Himalayan culture. The painting is part of a collection of narratives and originally encompassed thirty-four tales, which was then extended to one hundred and eight tales. Each tale is represented independently on external canvases, however, on this piece, we witness a collective representation of the original thirty-four narratives and the extended seventy-four narratives also known as Jatakas. “In Himalayan and Tibetan culture the Jatakas are commonly depicted in art and follow a famous Indian text called the Jatakamala narrating thirty-four morality tales often using animals as the central subject. This set of paintings depicts the original thirty-four stories along with an additional seventy-four making one hundred and eight stories in all, compiled by the third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje.” (Jeff Watt, himalayanart.org). At the top of the piece, in the center is story number twenty-eight: The Teacher of Restraint, A Tale of Patience. At the bottom-right is story number twenty-nine: A Visitor from Brahma, A Tale of Celestial Guidance. Also at the upper-right is the well-known story number three: The Elephant, A Tale of Self Sacrifice. The list goes on but the fact remains that each tale symbolically portrays not only Buddha’s previous lives but also ethical life lessons geared towards becoming a compassionate, selfless individual.

It is with these life lessons that we will achieve the ultimate goal of Nirvana. In Buddhist principles, Nirvana is the supreme state of awareness, in which one’s desires and physical attachment to the elements of the world become desolate and insignificant to the enlightenment of one’s inner most being, the soul. Once enlightened, you are released from the cycle of Samsara and transcend to the path of Nirvana. It is a feeling of true happiness, universal knowledge and endless bliss. It distinguishes worldly perception from true reality and eradicates all concept of previous illusions of what we are socialized to believe is the ‘truth’. Joseph Bobrow Roshi, a Zen and Psychoanalyst, states in an article in Psychology Today titled, “Waking Up”, “It involves awakening to what is intrinsically so, unobstructed by our dualistic and delusive thinking, in which actor, action, and the object acted upon are experienced as separate entities; where the self, eternally dissatisfied, grasps out after an ever-receding pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.” Roshi’s explains a key principle needed to become ‘awakened’. With the extinction of all our wants and needs and detachment of our carnal individuality, comes the culmination of utter blessedness.

When Buddha achieved enlightenment, and attained Nirvana, he saw all his previous lives. It was a revelation that he did in fact fulfilled his desire of finding the truth. In this piece, we see him in the center, in a meditative pose, frozen in a moment of tranquility, surrounded by all his previous lives. It is a representation of a supreme state in which he is free from suffering, desire and the effects of karma. Roshi describes duality between two worlds or two perceptions, which can be applicable to the elements in this piece of art. We see a division of some sort, a representation of both the central and universal phenomena. The piece undoubtedly illustrates both the state of existence and non-existence, through the interaction between the narrative scenes and the enlightened Buddha.  Each tale, gives the viewer insight into the past of Buddha, before he achieved Nirvana. They also represent a cosmic life lessons, geared towards shedding the figurative shackles of existence, in hopes of finding freedom from the cycle of Samsara.

Release from the cycle of Samsara is an ideal shared by both Buddhism and Hinduism religions. While the term Nirvana defines the achievement of enlightenment, Hinduism refers to this revelation as Moksha. Both terms encompass the concept of liberation from reincarnation and the continuous cycle of Samsara. They also both acknowledge the notion of human suffering as dissatisfaction or carnal desire and believe that by acquiring Nirvana or Moksha, the illusion of ‘suffering’ will desist. Both religions are based on the premise that the journey of attaining liberation are acquired through devoted meditation and good karmic deeds. In the cycle of Samsara, both religions believe that our actions determine our path towards liberation and achieving the ultimate goal of enlightenment.

Where they differ is on the concept of self or consciousness. Nirvana is the recognition that there is no sense of self, only emptiness, whereas Moksha, is realization of self; the understanding of liberation, through discovering you are existence (Brahman), and existence is you, a oneness. Another aspect that highlights the difference between both terms is in how they are attained. In Buddhism, Nirvana requires your devotion to seeking wisdom, through awakening, regardless of karmic deeds, however, in Hinduism, there is a Caste system, where your karmic deeds determine what or who you are rebirthed as and determines your starting point towards your journey of enlightenment. One other key element that distinguishes these terms is the belief in eternity. Once Nirvana is attained, Buddhist relinquish any life in another realm, whereas, the concept of Moksha extends beyond enlightenment and Hindus believe that there is an eternal and infinite realm that our souls return to. 

With these highlighted differences, one can speculate if Buddhism can be regarded as a religion. If there is no belief in an infinite being or an acknowledgement of an eternal realm beyond death, then how can it be a religion? One can argue that it is in fact a philosophical concept. Both is a fair generalization but they are also debatable. To arrive at a definitive conclusion, we can define both terms and then attach the appropriate description. According to dictionary.com, religion is “a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.” The words that stand out in this definition are “creation” and “superhuman”. These phrases are not a part of the principles of Buddhism. In the PBS documentary, The Buddha, there is scene in which a Brahmin approaches Buddha, while he’s under a tree meditating, to question his teachings. The Brahmin states, “The cosmos is eternal,’ ‘The cosmos is not eternal,’ ‘The cosmos is finite,’ ‘The cosmos is infinite,’ ‘The soul and the body are the same,’ ‘The soul is one thing and the body another...”  The Buddha responds to his bewilderment by stating that his questions are not significant and that asking these things is like being shot by a poison arrow, and going on to then ask illogical questions, such as, “what is the name of the man who wounded me?” All the while, the poisonous arrow is slowly killing you. His intent was to reveal that this obsession of infinite beings and whether there is a superior eternal being, adds no value to life now in this moment. It is a lesson that is not only logical but essential in achieving Nirvana. His earnest desire was to find the truth, which lead him to discover that believing in an omniscient being added nothing to his life. In fact, in the documentary, Buddha is quoted as stating, “he has encountered various spiritual beings, making claims of being all powerful, and all knowing, however he discredits there claims and found no significance in their way of life.”

Dictionary.com defines philosophy as “the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline.” Philosophy explore, questions, analyzes and summarizes concepts based on logic and critical thinking. It is a Greek word, ‘philo’ meaning love and ‘sophos’ meaning wisdom. Your experience of philosophy should include seeking the truth behind how and why things occur, in other words, rationalizing the true meaning of life. Based on this definition, it seems fitting to categorize Buddhism as a philosophical concept. The Buddha’s teachings are also known as the Dharma, which translates to the truth, inspires his followers to question his teachings on their own volition. In the course doctrines, Indian Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction, the Buddha states, that “one should not believe in a concept because they were told, or because it comes from their priests or religious leaders; but should explore for themselves and question and find the truth.” (Sue Hamilton).  He suggests that if “... these things are good; these things are not blamable; these things are praised by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to benefit and happiness, enter on and abide in them.” (Hamilton). These quotes clearly depict philosophical principles. The Buddha and his teachings are clearly taking a logical approach to understanding spirituality and the true meaning of our existence.

There is also speculation that Buddha may have been a god or have divine power. Today, some worship and pray to him, seeking favor and blessings. However, during his life on earth, Buddha never claimed to be a god. He continuously referred to himself as the “awakened one”, and spread his wisdom to others so that they too can become enlightened. He lived his life humbly, as a human, and focused on being compassionate, sharing his wisdom and achieving Nirvana. Whether he had divine powers cannot be stated with utmost certainty. The recollection of his life was written four hundred years after his death, and can be said to be misrepresented and or exaggerated. Without the acknowledgement of a supreme infinite being, systematic rituals, belief in the eternal realm, a philosophical approach seems to be a plausible argument. However, there is a shared belief of in the pursuit of truth, with hopes of achieving spiritual fulfillment. Based on this information, we can conclude that Buddhism is a philosophical concept with presence of religious aspects.

The Rubin Museum of Art is an intriguing venue. As a child, I was socialized to believe in superior beings, that has always existed and oversees the entire universe. There is an unmentioned hierarchy that requires a covenant and devotion to worship, and performance of rituals in exchange for mercy and eternal salvation. It sounds a bit demeaning and even scary but by visiting the museum, my perception has changed. This experience has taught me to be open to other ideals and principles of spirituality. It has also increased my confidence to question and explore the ideals of my religion. Buddha and his teachings seem applicable to a modern day idyllic of spirituality. The world is always changing, and maintaining an internal spiritual balance during these changes can be challenging. These principles can be influential and achieving peace in an otherwise chaotic world. As you explore through the floors, the reverence is present and immediately lends a path to the feeling of tranquility. The prominence on living in the moment is the most distinguishing attribute of Buddhism. It focuses on understanding, without persuasion, that our sole purpose is to get to the moon. Instead, it redirects you to focus on the journey, enjoying each moment this life offers. Our existence is in the present, not in the realm beyond our grasp. By focusing on infinite beings, or eternal salvation, we miss out on the true purpose of our existence. I have found value in Buddhist philosophy and plan to introduce some of these concepts in my daily life, in hopes of achieving a life of equilibrium.

Works Cited

Hamilton, Sue. Indian Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2001.

The Buddha: http://www.pbs.org/thebuddha/ The Buddha. Directed by David Grubin,

    narrated by Richard Gere, PBS, 2010.

Roshi, Joseph Bobrow. "Waking Up." N.p., 29 Apr. 2010. Web. 15 Apr. 2017.

"The World's Favorite Online Dictionary!" Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web

      15 Apr. 2017.

"Stories of the Lives of Buddha." The Rubin Museum of Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr.

       2017.

Watt, Jeff. "Shakyamuni Buddha (Life Story)." Himalayan Art Resources. N.p., n.d.

        Web. 15 Apr. 2017.