The Awakened Prince of the Shakya Clan
Buddha Shakyamuni (Main figure)
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(Top to bottom): Buddha Shakyamuni and Dorje Shugden
Deity: Buddha Shakyamuni (Sanskrit)
Alternative name: Sangye Shakya Tupa (Tibetan)
Buddha Shakyamuni is the current and historical Buddha who was born a prince in the region of Lumbini (in what is now Nepal). He left the palace, became a wandering mendicant and met several teachers who taught him meditation but still he was not able to gain freedom from samsara or cyclic existence which is marked by suffering. As he persevered with his ascetic practices, he realised the ‘Middle Way’. Inspired by this, he sat under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya and eventually attained enlightenment.
The Buddha gave his first teaching at Sarnath Park on the Four Noble Truths. From then on, the Buddha continued to teach 84,000 Dharmas compassionately until his Parinirvana at age 81. Due to his great kindness in turning the Wheel of Dharma, the Buddha’s great teachings fill 108 volumes that have become the basis of the collection known as the Kangyur (or the Spoken Words of the Buddha). The Buddha had numerous disciples, of which Shariputra and Mahamaudgalyayana were his chief disciples.
It is said Shakyamuni’s teachings will pervade our world system for 5,000 years after which only signs of Dharma will be seen but actual Dharma will not be practised. Shakyamuni established the order of the monks and nuns in which pure discipline (Vinaya) can be practised with the aim of bringing beings to higher states of rebirth and ultimately enlightenment. This tradition has spread all over Asia and now the West. This order, known as the Sangha community, embodies the teachings, practice and discipline as taught by Buddha Shakyamuni.
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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