The Noble Prince Who Founded Buddhism
Buddha Shakyamuni Under the Bodhi Tree (Main figure)
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(Top to bottom): Buddha Shakyamuni and Dorje Shugden
Deity: 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 the 112 marks of a fully enlightened Buddha according to the ancient Indian belief of a Chakravartin or Universal Monarch. Buddha Shakyamuni is normally depicted in the Bhumisparsha mudra, otherwise known as the earth touching mudra with his right hand and the other hand cradling a begging bowl.
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.
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For more interesting information:
- The Dorje Shugden category on the blog
- Must Watch: Powerful Explanations on Dharma Protectors
- Black Tara – The Wrathful Protectress
- Mahasiddha Tilopa – the Chakrasamvara Master
- Guhya Manjushri – the Secret Form of Wisdom
- Five Extraordinary Visions of Lama Tsongkhapa
- The Mahasiddha Kukkuripa and His Dog
- Lords of Purification – 35 Confessional Buddhas
- Manjushri Nagarakshasa – The Naga Deity
- Janguli – The Goddess that Protects from Snakes
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The Buddha was a philosopher, mendicant, meditator, spiritual teacher, and religious leader who lived in ancient India. He is revered as the founder of the world religion of Buddhism. Life as a prince living in the wealthy circumstances of a noble family . In his late twenties, Prince Siddhartha encountered the “four signs” during excursions from the palace. He realized that the only way out of this suffering world of samsara was through finding and following the right spiritual path. He gave up the ascetic way of life and turned to meditation, until he reached his goal of enlightenment under the Bodhi-tree in Bodhgaya. Interesting story of who the noble prince was, the major events of his life, and the incredible legacy that he left behind for the world with the creation of Buddhism.
In this beautiful thangka , depicted together with Dorje Shugden who is an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri. As a dharma protector in order to safeguard the Buddha’s teachings .