Author: Eva Rudy Jansen
Publisher: New Age Books
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 110
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8178220555
Description
This book serves as an introduction for Western students, and provides an introduction to Buddhism itself, as well as a generous survey of the most common figures and symbols.
Modern students who are drawn to the study and practice of Buddhism are not always able to easily learn the symbolic meaning of the various types of statuary connected to the study of this philosophy.
In Buddhism, every symbol has a meaning, and this book explores the symbolism of the ritual objects that are used on statues and paintings, as well as explaining the ritual meaning of the objects associated with Buddhism.
This book serves as an introduction for Western students. It is not a comprehensive and exhausting study, but provides an introduction to Buddhism itself, as well as a generous survey of the most common figures and symbols. The author examines the Three Mysteries, Mudras, Asanas, Manushi Buddhas, Transcendental Buddhas, Adibuddha, Tara, Manjusri and Avalokitesvara. Also discussed are Yidams, Gods and Goddesses, Dakinis and Yoginis, and the Laughing Buddha.
Contents
Foreword
Introduction
PART 1
THE THREE MYSTERIES
The Three Mysteries
Mudras
Asanas
Ritual attributes and symbols
The Ashtamangalas
PART 2
THE BUDDHAS
Manushi Buddhas
Transcendental Buddhas
Adibuddha
The Buddhas of Medicine
The 35 Buddhas of Purification
PART 3
THE BODHISATTVAS
Bodhisattvas
Avalokitesvara
Manjusri
Vajrapani
Samanthabhadra
Tara
PART 4
DEITIES AND DIVINE BEINGS
Yidams
Gods and Goddesses
Dakinis and yoginis
PART 5
MISCELLANEOUS
Human beings
Hindu Gods
The Laughing Buddhas
APPENDIX
Aid to identification
Bibliography
Alphabetical index