Material: bronze casting. (The bottom can hold holy objects)

Size: Height 8 cm

Description:

In Tibetan Buddhism (Tibetan Buddhism mainly includes Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, Gelug, etc.), **Shakyamuni** (Siddhārtha Gautama, often called **ཤཱཀྱ་མུ་ནི** in Tibetan) is the founder of Buddhism, revered as the master and the Buddha, and is the core figure of all Buddhist traditions. His meaning and origin have their own unique interpretation and importance in Tibetan Buddhism, and are briefly described below:

The significance of Shakyamuni in Tibetan Buddhism

1. **Root Teacher**:

- Shakyamuni is regarded as the "master", the fourth Buddha in the current kalpa (Bhadrakalpa), who taught the Dharma to guide sentient beings out of reincarnation and attain nirvana.

- In Tibetan Buddhism, he is the representative of the "Three Buddhas of the Past, Present and Future", symbolizing the source of the Dharma. Tibetan Buddhists believe that the teachings of Shakyamuni are the fundamental path to liberation, and his teachings have been fully preserved and integrated into the scriptures and practices of Tibetan Buddhism.

2. **The embodiment of compassion and wisdom**:

- Shakyamuni is seen as the perfect embodiment of compassion and wisdom. His life story (the twelve stages of enlightenment) shows the journey from an ordinary person to an enlightened being, inspiring practitioners to follow his path.

- In the Vajrayana of Tibetan Buddhism, Shakyamuni is not only a historical figure, but also regarded as an incarnation of the Dharmakaya Buddha, and is deeply related to esoteric deities such as Vairocana or Vajrasattva.

3. **The core of the teachings**:

- Tibetan Buddhism emphasizes that the teachings of Shakyamuni are divided into exoteric teachings (sutras) and esoteric teachings (tantras). Tibetan Buddhism believes that Sakyamuni taught tantric teachings (such as the Kalachakra Tantra) on different occasions, and these teachings were later introduced to Tibet by great accomplished masters (such as Guru Padmasambhava), forming the characteristics of Tibetan Buddhism.

4. **Symbols of the main deities and rituals**:

- In the rituals and practices of Tibetan Buddhism, Sakyamuni often appears as one of the main deities in thangkas, Buddha statues or objects of worship. His image is usually a golden body, sitting cross-legged, with his right hand touching the ground (the seal of subduing demons), symbolizing the subjugation of demons and enlightenment.

- Many Tibetan Buddhists take Sakyamuni as the main object of practice, especially in the practice of exoteric Buddhism, and accumulate merit by reciting the "Praise of Sakyamuni Buddha" or related scriptures.

The Origin of Sakyamuni in Tibetan Buddhism

1. **The Fusion of History and Legend**:

- Tibetan Buddhism inherited the tradition of Indian Buddhism and believed that Sakyamuni was a historical figure from the 5th to 6th century BC. He was born in Kapilavastu (now in Nepal) and was the Prince Siddhartha. He later became a monk and practiced Buddhism. He attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya.

- The classics of Tibetan Buddhism (such as the Jataka Tales) record the Bodhisattva's deeds of Sakyamuni's practice in many lifetimes, emphasizing that he accumulated merits and wisdom through three great kalpas of practice and finally became a Buddha.

2. **The Localization of Tibetan Buddhism**:

- When Buddhism was introduced to Tibet in the 7th century, Sakyamuni's image and teachings were integrated into Tibetan culture. For example, the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo was regarded as the incarnation of Avalokitesvara, and Sakyamuni's teachings were regarded as the core of Tibetan culture.

- Padmasambhava and other teachers systematized Sakyamuni's teachings and combined them with the tantric tradition, giving it a status of integration of exoteric and esoteric Buddhism in Tibetan Buddhism.

3. **The inheritance of scriptures and teachings**:

- The Tibetan Buddhist Kanjur (Buddha's Teachings) contains a large number of Sakyamuni's teachings, including the Prajnaparamita Sutra, the Lotus Sutra and other exoteric scriptures, as well as tantras such as the Hevajra Tantra.

- Tibetan Buddhism believes that Sakyamuni taught the three turnings of the Dharma wheel at different levels (the first turning of the Dharma wheel: the Four Noble Truths; the second turning of the Dharma wheel: emptiness; the third turning of the Dharma wheel: Tathagatagarbha), and these teachings were fully inherited and carried forward by Tibetan Buddhism.

Uniqueness

- **Relationship with other deities**: In Tibetan Buddhism, Sakyamuni is often listed alongside other deities (such as Medicine Buddha and Amitabha Buddha) to embody different aspects of Buddha nature. In the practice of Tibetan Buddhism, the teachings of Sakyamuni are regarded as the foundation of all deity practices.

- **Thangka and Art**: The image of Sakyamuni is very common in Tibetan Buddhist art. He is often depicted in the center of the thangka, accompanied by disciples or bodhisattvas on both sides, symbolizing the centrality of his teachings.

- **Cultural Influence**: In Tibet, statues of Sakyamuni (such as the "Jowo Buddha" in the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa) are regarded as sacred objects, attracting countless believers to worship, reflecting his supreme status in Tibetan religion and culture.

Summary

In Tibetan Buddhism, Sakyamuni is the founder and root teacher of the Dharma, representing the ultimate ideal of compassion, wisdom and liberation. His teachings cover both exoteric and esoteric Buddhism, and are integrated into Tibetan culture through scriptures, rituals and art forms, becoming the core of Tibetan Buddhist practice. Tibetan Buddhists pursue enlightenment and altruism through practicing Sakyamuni's teachings, and regard him as the supreme support to guide sentient beings out of the cycle of reincarnation.