A Gorgeous Amitayus Thangka
A beautiful thangka with the Three Long Life Deities as the central image.
Click on image to enlarge. For a description of the deities, click here.
Interpretation / Description
Amitayus Buddha, White Tara and Ushnishavijaya. Collectively they are known as the Three Long Life Deities. The painting depicts at the top right and left the two 20th century teachers Pabongkha Dechen Nyingpo (1878-1941) and the 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935). The two images appear as if they were created using well known black and white photographs of the time. It is possible that the artist is Amdo Jampa Tseten (1911-202) who was encouraged by Gendun Chophel (1903-1951) to do photo realistic portraits.
At the top center is Tsongkapa with the two principal students Gyaltsab and Khedrub. To the left is the 14th Dalai Lama seated on a throne. At the far left is Maitreya in the Tushita Heaven.
At the top right is the Gelug teacher Pabongkha Dechen Nyingpo seated on a throne. At the far right is Amitabha Buddha seated in Sukhavati.
At the bottom center is Shadbhuja Mahakala with six arms. On the left side is the buffalo faced Yama Dharmaraja and Shri Devi Magzor Gyalmo riding a mule. On the right side is Vaishravana Riding a Lion and Dorje Shugden atop a blue lion.
Jeff Watt 5-2013
Source: https://www.himalayanart.org/items/30987
Details of the Thangka
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
Click on image to enlarge.
His Holiness Pabongka Rinpoche.
Click on image to enlarge.
Dorje Shugden. Click on image to enlarge.
Amitabha Buddha located
at the upper right corner.
Click on image to enlarge.
More About Amitayus
Amitayus, the Buddha of Infinite Life, is synonymous with Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light, and resides in the heavenly abode of Sukhavati, also known as the Western Pure Land. Adored throughout eastern Asia, devotees of Amitabha, Amitayus or Amida (as he is known in Japan) pray to be reborn from a lotus in his Pure Land.
Both Amitayus and Amitabha are essentially the same entity manifesting in different kayas (forms) — the former appearing as a Bodhisattva and the latter as a Buddha. The Bodhisattva Amitayus is red in colour and sits in meditative equipoise on a lotus seat. He holds a long-life vase filled with amrita — the nectar of immortality or the elixir of eternal life — and the leaves of the Ashoka tree.
As the Buddha of Infinite Life, Amitayus enjoys special popularity amongst Buddhist practitioners due to the infinite benefits that can be gained by propitiating him, the immediate result being feelings of peace and joy within us.
In the Sutras, Buddha Shakyamuni, at the request of Manjushri explained that prior to achieving Enlightenment, Amitabha or Amitayus made 12 great vows to benefit and help sentient beings. Thus Amitayus functions as the Buddha of Increase, not just for long life but also for all things beneficial to our lives.
Outwardly, his practice grants us an abundance of necessities, good health, helpful friends, good family and good living conditions. Inwardly, we attain a greater understanding of the Dharma, by practicing Morality within the Three Scopes. And Secretly, we reduce the habituations of the self cherishing, grasping mind. Thus, Amitayus helps us to dispel the darkness of Ignorance and to attain Wisdom and Compassion.
It is a very significant and auspicious practice for Dharma students to offer Amitayus to their Lamas, as a request for the Lamas to live long and to spread the doctrine of the Buddha to the world.
Long Mantra: NAMO RATNA TRA YAYA / OM NAMO BHAGAWATEY / APARIMITA AYUR JÑANA / SUPINISH CHITATAYE / JORA JAYA / TATHAGATAYA / ARHATE SAMYAKSAM BUDDHAYA / TAYATHA / OM PUNYE PUNYE / MAHA PUNYE / APARIMITA PUNYE / AYU PUNYE / MAHA PUNYE / AYUR JÑANA / SARVA RUPA SIDDHI / AYUR JÑANA / KE CHE BHRUM / OM BHRUM / AH BHRUM / SVA BHRUM / HA BHRUM / CHE BHRUM / OM SARVA SAMSKARA / PARI SHUDDHA DHARMATE / GAGANA SAMUDGATE / SVABHAVA VISHUDDHE / MAHA NAYA PARIVARA YE SOHA
Short Mantra: OM AMARANI ZEWONG DEYEE SOHA
For more interesting information:
- A Stunning Chenrezig Thangka
- Mewa 6 Birth Buddha: Namgyalma
- Transcript: Amitayus Sadhana practice
- Avalokiteshvara, Turkey Swamp, Marc & Me | 观音菩萨、火鸡沼泽公园、马克和我
- Medicine Buddha teaching at Turkey Swamp
- All About Manjushri | 关于文殊菩萨
- The Life Story of Lama Tsongkhapa in art
- TRANSCRIPT: TSONGKHAPA explained
- The Mind and Lama Tsongkhapa
- Tsongkhapa Prayers
- Lord Tsongkapa, King of the Dharma
- Benefits and Miraculous Signs of Lama Tsongkhapa’s statues
- Homage to the Supreme Mother Tara
- Suryagupta’s 21 Taras
- Spectacular White Tara…
- Heroic Red Tara (Suryagupta Lineage)
- 7 FEET-1000-armed Avalokiteshvara arrived!!
- China’s Huge Buddha Statues
- 1000-armed Kuan Yin-Foo Hai Ch’an Monastery
- Falling down’s A Good Sign
- Holy Place of Kuan Yin
- Visiting the Huge Kuan Yin in Pinang
- Deaf, Blind and Mute transforms into 1,000 arm Chenrezig
- Sacred Mountain of Manjushri
- Chenrezig Ngesung Kundrol
- The Buddhist Protectors of Chinese Zodiac
- Mantras-Holy words of Power
- My Short Bio in pictures
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Very beautiful thangka, in a time openly the Dorje Shugden and the Dalai Lama, were not at odds. It was also a time when Je Pabongka was at his prime, giving teachings and benefitting sentient beings continuously.
May the current Pabongka DorjeChang be able to manifest his buddhahood clearly to all sentient beings of our time.
Beautiful rare thangkas of Enlightened beings…….Amitayus.
Amitayus is the Buddha of Infinite Life, and he can be recognized by the vase he holds in his lap, a symbol of longevity . A very special thangkas as depicted the 14th Dalai Lama and Pabongkha Rinpoche, together with Lama Tsongkhapa ,Dorje Shugden and other deities along side in it. It indicates the Gelugpas lineage masters, where Dorje Shugden’s practice been practiced centuries ago and its not a minor practice .
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing .
All enlightened beings are worthy of homage and worship. They are the best beings to take refuge in and we should offer them our prayers as we can put our full confidence in them. Of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, I personally find that Manjushri is extremely important. This is because what keeps us in samsara (cyclic rebirth) is our total ignorance and misunderstanding of the reality of existence. What is necessary to penetrate this deep ignorance that keeps us bound in a perpetual state of reincarnation is wisdom. We need many types of wisdom which can be acquired by relying on Manjushri as our yidam (meditational deity). By focusing on his meditation, practice, mantra and path we can gain wisdom in order to have the tool to penetrate the reality of existence. Therefore, Manjushri is an extremely important Buddha for us to focus on and take refuge in.
Tsem Rinpoche
(Photograph: this is the beautiful outdoor Manjushri statue who is in a teaching pose. He is floating above a koi fish pond nestled among lush greenery in Kechara Forest Retreat, Malaysia)
每一位觉者都能成为我们朝拜、膜拜的对象。他们是我们至高、至好的皈依，我们应该向他们做祈请，并且对他们生起全然的信念。在众佛菩萨之中，我个人认为文殊菩萨极为重要。这是因为使我们身陷娑婆（轮回）的是我们自身的无明，以及对实相的曲解。智慧是一种必要，它能穿透我们深不见底的无明，那个使我们受困于无止境投生的无明。我们需要多种智慧，而依止文殊菩萨作为我们的本尊，即能使我们成就多种智慧。透过文殊菩萨的观想、修持法门、心咒及修行道路，我们能成就智慧，拥有了知实相的“器具”。故此，专注于文殊菩萨的修持法门、皈依他，对我们而言都极为重要。
詹杜固仁波切
（相片：这尊户外文殊菩萨像呈转法轮姿。他被茂密的草木环绕，安坐在马来西亚克切拉禅修林的鱼池之上。）
Medicine Buddha puja encourages healing of all levels – physical, mental and emotional healing for those in need.
High resolution file of this thangka is available for download for all dharma practitioners around the world and for those who just want sacred images in their environment. Enjoy, be blessed and share this with others.
Here is the link to free download of this image and many other images: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/downloads/buddha-images.html?nggpage=7
This was certainly a time, before the ban on Dorje Shugden got going. Although a painting and drawing it captures the mood of that period, such is the work of a talented artist. The practices and buddhas on this thangka are a reflection of what was important for the people during that period. Especially the lamas that are painted it seems, like water colour style was used, a very detailed and intricate thangka, a joy to look at.
??? Thank you for sharing.
This is the 1st Tangka that has 14th Dalai Lama with Pabongka Rinpoche and Dorje Shugden all in 1 .
Nice short video of a new LED signage reminding us of who we can go to for blessings in case of need: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBwrkaKUoH0
Listening to the chanting of sacred words, melodies, mantras, sutras and prayers has a very powerful healing effect on our outer and inner environments. It clears the chakras, spiritual toxins, the paths where our ‘chi’ travels within our bodies for health as well as for clearing the mind. It is soothing and relaxing but at the same time invigorates us with positive energy. The sacred sounds invite positive beings to inhabit our environment, expels negative beings and brings the sound of growth to the land, animals, water and plants. Sacred chants bless all living beings on our land as well as inanimate objects. Do download and play while in traffic to relax, when you are about to sleep, during meditation, during stress or just anytime. Great to play for animals and children. Share with friends the blessing of a full Dorje Shugden puja performed at Kechara Forest Retreat by our puja department for the benefit of others. Tsem Rinpoche
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbzgskLKxT8&t=5821s
Such a powerful assembly of Buddha deities and attained 20th Century Masters in this beautiful thangka -with Amitayus , Buddha of Infinite life , flanked by White Tara and Ushnishavijaya -all Buddhas granting longevity! There is also Tsongkhapa and his two heart sons, as well as powerful Dharma Protectors like Dorje Shugden and great Masters like Dalai Lama and Pabongka Rinpoche.
In the centre is Amitayus of Infinite Love, Wisdom and Compassion, exuding blessings of abundant wealth, good living conditions, health, bestowing attainments of great understanding of Dharma and powerful practice of Morality, as well as help in eradication of a self-grasping and self-cherishing mind.
Enlightened beings grant us compassion, wisdom, generosity, love, patience, effort, and understanding of impermanence. For those who engage in Amitayus’s practice, practitioners are especially benefited from healing, such as healing from diseases, inner fear, mental diseases and emotional scars. Practicing Amitayus can overcome our impatience and desire, thus our grasping towards things will be lessen and minimize. Amitayus is in red colour, which represents purified desire.
In this sacred thangka, the images of Buddhist deities and high lamas are representations of the enlightened mind, originated from direct visions or recorded on texts by highly attained masters. It is says that thangkas are scriptures in pictorial manner, and are complimentary to written scriptures. And often, painting lies the full instructions and path towards Enlightenment.
It is such a blessing to view this beautiful Thangka just after a group of us, 8 elder Kecharians completed our Amitayus retreat.
We felt extremely recharged after our retreat and the auspiciousness of our retreat being blessed by our Guru, H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche.
This thangka is extremely precious as it also depicts the 14th Dalai Lama and our lineage Gurus. Most of all is that there is a picture of our great protector Dorje Shugden.
We are blessed.
Thank you, Rinpoche.
Love this gorgeous Amitayus thangka and other thangkas on this article too. May everyone be connected and blessed with long life from Amitayus practice. Thank you very much Rinpoche and blog team for sharing this wonderful article and beautiful thangkas ????
A beautiful thangka paints a thousand words. Its has depicted that the lineage and teachings of Buddhist High Lama Tsongkhapa through surrounding symbols of H H 14th Dalai Lama seated on a throne, H H Pabongka Rinpoche, Dorje Shugden and other deities along side. The rich and complex of this beautiful paintings of thangka make it an exceptional example of Tibetan art and proven that many High lamas has been practicing Dorje Shugden many centuries ago.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing for us to have a better understandings of Amitayus and how he is related to Amitabha.
This is one stunning thangka! I ❤️old thangkas very much. According to himalayanart.org, this thangka was produced between 1900 – 1959. This was waaayy before the ban on Dorje Shugden in 1996.
Art has been had been a way to communicate beliefs and express ideas about the human experience throughout all stages of civilization and in every region of the world. As cultural documents, works of art provide important insights into past and existing cultures, helping us to understand how others have lived and what they valued.
What this art is a reflection of what the artist knew and experienced during his lifetime:-
1. He believes that Dorje Shugden is an enlightened protector as he was depicted in this thangka along with the other enlightened protectors such as Shadbhuja Mahakala with six arms, Yama Dharmaraja and Shri Devi Magzor Gyalmo.
2. The artist acknowledged that HH the 14th Dalai Lama accepted and practiced Dorje Shugden prior to 1996. Otherwise, he would not have painted them both in the same thangka.
3. All lamas such as Pabongka Rinpoche and Dalai Lama was in harmony. There was no conflict of interest when it comes to beliefs and practices.
Thank you Rinpoche for this short and concise teaching on Amitayus. Out of ignorance, I never knew Amitayus is synonymous with Amitabha.
Have always loved looking at old traditional thangkas as there is something really sacred about antique thangkas. The clear explanation of each deity in the thangka is really helpful as sometimes the deities are not really clear on the whole thangka.
This is a good one to remember:
Outwardly, his practice grants us an abundance of necessities, good health, helpful friends, good family and good living conditions. Inwardly, we attain a greater understanding of the Dharma, by practicing Morality within the Three Scopes. And Secretly, we reduce the habituations of the self cherishing, grasping mind. Thus, Amitayus helps us to dispel the darkness of Ignorance and to attain Wisdom and Compassion.
Thank you, Rinpoche and blog team for this post.
As depicted in the thangka and the explanatory text written by Jeff Watt where he mentioned that “It is possible that the artist is Amdo Jampa Tseten (1911-2002)”, indicated that Dorje Shugden was a prevalent practice during that time.
Another proof showing that Dorje Shugden was not a minor practice as claimed.
You are right, Dorje Shugden was not a minor practice within the Gelugpas in Tibet at all. It was mainstream. Many high lamas, monasteries and laity practiced Dorje Shugden. Tibetan leadership like to say it was minor to diminish the negative impact of their illegal 1996 ban against the people who practiced Dorje Shugden and still continue to. In Tibet it is growing much bigger and nothing Tibetan leadership’s regime in Dharamsala can do. Their ‘prestige’ is fading.
I see….. thanks for the info above. This misunderstanding of Dorje Shugden practice should be cleared and given the necessary recognition as it were.
Very appreciative of this sharing about Amitayus and how he is related to Amitabha. The thangka is very special as the 14th Dalai Lama and Pabongkha Rinpoche, together with Lama Tsongkhapa and his two heart sons appeared with the Three Long Life Deities, who are fanged by mostly wrathful protectors. The thangka denotes prominent Gelugpa lineage masters, which makes it an important imagery to aid our visualisation during meditation practice. How blessed for all of us to see and learn about this thangka. Thank you, Rinpoche.