Selena Belloso: Rubin Museum

Selena Belloso

Professor Trusso

HUP 105

19 April 2017

Buddhism

            In Buddhism one can come across many questions like who is Buddha and what are the concepts of this nontheistic religion? Reading further into the founder of Buddhism’s life story one can attain a lot of answers of the doctrines that are practiced in this religion like the Noble Eightfold Path, Nirvana, Dharma and much more. Like other religions there are important aspect that can be related to Buddhism and some that are different. Buddhism is also known for their major artistic sculpture that contain specific detailing on those whom have reached enlightenment. Through this journey one will acquire knowledge of the fascinating religion of Buddhism.

            Green Tara is a female Bodhisattva that represents enlightenment through her empowerments. Through the sculpture of Green Tara, you can visualize many beautiful details. There is a sway in her posture that to me represents the elegance in her along with a genuine peace that is perceived. Another visual detail in the sculpture that is attracting in Green Tara is her right leg extending that seems like she is going to stand. To me this represents the readiness and awareness that she obtains in order to deal with life as an enlightened one. The leg being extended as if she were getting ready to stand can signify an action that can be done to help comfort those whom are in reach to become enlightened. Through wisdom like Tara’s everything has a solution, as long as one acts or thinks with the right foot on the ground preventing suffering, frustrations, attachments, and desires. Finally, another detailed attribute to add to this fascinating sculpture is the choice in color of green. The green makes the connection that all actions and thoughts are revolved through the environment such as the world itself. The color is the final touch of inspiration to those whom want to achieve Nirvana. The connection mentioned is that the world itself presents many situations but through Green Tara’s wisdom one may achieve it.

            The essential artwork that is portrayed through Green Tara’s sculpture is one of most dynamics. Green Tara was made in attribution to Choying Dorje in the 17^th century. Although there is many different sculptures of Green Tara the one below was made out brass with pigments. The texture looks very smooth and precisely curved that give is a realistic-like appearance. The style of this sculpture shiny and modern. In most sculptures Green Tara is sitting upon a lotus flowers which signifies the purity and power. Further detailed that are admired is the color green which are in some places around her crown, in her earing and on the belt around her waist. According to Nitin Kumar, the left leg is folded in a position on the lotus pedestal, the two together symbolize the integration of wisdom and art. An addition interesting detail that is found in the Rubin Museum talks are that through the sculpture Tara protects people from eight types of fear which are sickness, drowning, fire, false imprisonment, bandits, wild elephants, snakes, and lions. Through these different interpretation of Green Tara’s artwork, you are able see more in depth what Green Tara represents and means.

            A doctrine that is within Buddhism that can be compared to this sculpture is the Noble Eightfold Path. The Noble Eightfold Path is the doctrine that Buddha set to help individuals to exclude themselves from suffering and be able to achieve liberation by avoiding certain actions and in return receive a happy life and favorable rebirth. In detail, this doctrine consisted of eight aspects which help lead towards liberation, impermanence and suffering of reality. These eight paths are right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right work, right effort, right meditation, and right contemplation. Furthermore, Green Tara is an empowerful representation to this doctrine that teaches one how to do things in the desirable way in order to reach liberation. The greatest comparison is her extending right leg in which represent her being ready to take action for what comes her way. She is an inspiration to many whom want to reach enlightenment because of the hope she portrays through her sculpture. The color green which is found throughout her sculpture identifies the environmental situations that are widely more than eight paths but obtain much wisdom on how to approach life in order to succeed at becoming enlightened and be at peace with ones Nirvana. The sculpture can conclude to be the representation to always standing on the “right foot” in order to act and think wisely.

            The Noble Eightfold Path are in some way similar but yet different in comparison to the Hindu doctrine, karma. In the Hinduism religion karma stands for one’s actions and the consequences gained based of those actions. These actions could represent things from physical action to things like thoughts, and desires that every individual have which lead to the experiences they will come across and how it will shape their future. Karma is alike to the Buddhism Noble Eightfold Path doctrine in terms of the overall outcome of an individual’s life. This is so due to the Eightfold Path providing you with the wisdom to know how to act, or think in order to achieve personal liberation. An individual’s actions or thoughts can alter one’s Buddhahood which means the rank of a Buddha. In addition, this can alter one’s closeness to liberation which reflects similarly with Hinduism that states one’s actions or thoughts, and desire may change your life overall in return. The different between these two doctrines is that karma does not provide you with the guidance on how to prevent an unfavorable future due to certain actions. Thus, disregard other Hinduism doctrine that do provide guidance. On the other hand, Buddhism provides you with a set of guidance that can not only give knowledge but also help with the long-term outcome of one’s life.

            The Buddhism religion is known as a Nontheistic religion which means that there is no God or God in which one prays for or to. In the text Buddhism, Chapter 4 it explains a time in the 1993 Parliament a Buddhist found it necessary to state the following, “Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was not God or a God. He was a human being who attained full Enlightenment through meditation and showed us the path of spiritual awakening and freedom. Therefore, Buddhism is not a religion of God. Buddhism is a religion of wisdom, enlightenment and compassion” (73). This clear understanding show that this religion was a different form of religions from many others, it is about oneself and how oneself interprets their life through knowledge of impermanence. Buddha was determined to find that within himself, in which he was able to achieve after six years that almost brought him death. His courage and consistency to want to achieve total liberation was the reasoning to be greatly admired and followed. In the PBS Buddha documentary, the Dalai Lama states “Everybody, every human being wants happiness and Buddha, he acts like teacher. You are your own master. Future, everything depends on your own shoulder. Buddha’s responsibility is just to show the path, that’s all”. As Buddha reached his enlightenment he was hesitant of teaching what he experienced, he preferred to keep it to himself. But his willingness to express all that he experiences in reach to his moment of enlightenment was the new path to what many in his region were in search for. This specifically didn’t make him a God or one to praise. This specifically allowed others to be aware of the path to liberation, with the help and guidance of Buddha whom was just as human as every other individual. This reflection is seen in the PBS Buddha documentary, “It is about walking a normal human life with normal human beings, doing normal human things, and this reminds you that you yourself might be a Buddha”. Buddha is not one whom is greater than any other who reaches enlightenment, he is the story and teaching of the great religion of Buddhism that is of wisdom, compassion, and enlightenment.

            Through this experience I was able to evaluate the different types of religion along with important details that I would have not been knowledgeable of. Coming from a Christian point of view, Buddhism is one that is very different especially it being Nontheistic. Although it is very different I like the Buddhism religion the most because of the doctrines that are portrayed, very well developed and have a very interesting reasonable aspect that I would consider practicing. Beginning with Siddhartha Gautama story, it was fascinating and his story allowed me to further understand the religion in general and be able to think in depth of each doctrine coming about through his experience with reaching his enlightenment. What I learn from this experience is that not all religions have the same aspect as I thought they did with few differences that others religions may not have. But Buddhism to me seems like a great form or way to live your life, because of how real it is that everything is impermanent and being able to not be attached or have desires can prevent many from sufferings and frustrations. The word Buddha mean the enlighten one, what better way to live your life in the path to be enlightened or to achieve it.