Fasting Buddha Shakyamuni
Fasting Buddha Shakyamuni (Main figure)
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(Top to bottom): Fasting Buddha Shakyamuni, Sujata and Dorje Shugden.
Deity: Fasting Buddha Shakyamuni (Sanskrit)
Alternative Name: Sangye Shakya Tubpa (Tibetan)
Shakyamuni is the historical Buddha who founded Buddhism in ancient India about 2,500 years ago. After an exhaustive search, he finally attained perfect and complete enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya. His teachings became the basis for the Buddhist faith, and he proclaimed that he was not the only one who achieved this state and revealed that there are other fully awakened beings that we can rely on.
All of the Buddha’s teachings are based on the Four Noble Truths, which he established in his first sermon to explain the basis of our existence. He is depicted sitting in the Vajra position with his legs in the pose of full meditation. His body is said to bear all the 112 marks of a fully enlightened Buddha according to the ancient Indian belief of a Chakravartin or Universal Monarch. Buddha Shakyamuni depicted here is emaciated and therefore, he is known as the fasting Buddha because he practised severe asceticism before becoming enlightened. He accepted an offering of milk and rice from the milkmaid Sujata after he realised the path to enlightenment should be the Middle Way, free from extremes. This momentous occasion in the life story of the Buddha is depicted here.
Deity: Dorje Shugden (Tibetan)
Alternative name: Vajra Rudra (Sanskrit)
Dorje Shugden is an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri. He took the form of a Dharma Protector in order to safeguard the Buddha’s teachings, especially the important teachings on the Middle Way View. Reminiscent of Manjushri’s form, Dorje Shugden carries a meandering sword and rides a snowlion that represents the fearlessness of a fully enlightened Buddha. Thus, he has great strength to overcome obstacles of the body, speech and mind, and create suitable conditions for our spiritual practice to flourish. Furthermore, he carries a jewel-spitting mongoose and a vajra hook to symbolise that he has the tremendous ability to bestow wealth and resources.
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Wow …beautiful art paintings of Fasting Buddha Shakyamuni, Sujata and Dorje Shugden. Well painted with contrast color in painting. Buddha Shakyamuni founded Buddhism in ancient India more than 2,500 years ago. Attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya where thousands of pilgrims will visit this Holy place year round. Here Buddha Shakyamuni is depicted with Sujata and Dorje Shugden as the fasting Buddha who had fasted for days before becoming enlightened.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.