FROM THE GARDEN OF ZEN: September 2022

September 20, 2022

Kongokai Dainichi Nyorai (Mahavairocana)：Tokyo National Museum

Wood with lacquer and gold leaf

Japan, Heian period, 11-12th century

I recently visited the Tokyo National Museum to view a variety of beautiful Buddhist sculptures displayed there. I am uploading some of the photos of the Buddha images I took during this visit.

This museum generously allows the photographs of its exhibits to be posted on non-commercial personal blogs and social networking sites with the exception of the items which are prohibited to be photographed.

Further information on the uploaded images of the exhibits can be found on the website of the Tokyo National Museum (https://www.tnm.jp/?lang=en).

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Dainichi Nyorai or Dainichi Buddha (Vairocana) is the supreme Buddha in the teaching of Esoteric Buddhism (Mikkyo). Esoteric Buddhism or Tantric Buddhism of Japan is said to be a fusion of Mahayana Buddhism and Hinduism.

The name "Dainichi" means "the great central sun" located at the center of the macrocosm. As this name suggests, this Dainichi Nyorai, like the central sun, illuminates the whole universe with his brilliant light of supreme wisdom and compassion.

Esoteric Buddhism has two Mandala (the design of universe) worlds, namely, Vajradhatu (Kongokai or Diamond Realm) and Garbhadhatu (Taizokai or Womb Realm), each of which has a distinct Dainichi Nyorai of a different character.

In Esoteric Buddhism, Dainichi Nyorai is the central Buddha, who, although in the form of a Buddha, is the macrocosm itself. All living things in the universe are said to be born from this Dainichi Nyorai.

It is also believed that all Buddhas, including the Buddha Shakyamuni, are the manifestation of this Dainichi Nyorai.

Aizen-myoo (Ragaraja): Tokyo National Museum

Wood with gold and other pigments, lacquer, gold leaf, and crystal

Japan, Kamakura period, 13th century

Aizen-myoo is an avatar of Buddha and the raging god of love believed in Shingon Esoteric Buddhism. He has three eyes and six arms, wears the crown of a lion's head, is red in color with anger, and is seated in the lotus position with his legs crossed. He holds a bow and arrows in his six arms to destroy human demonic stupidity, and a Hobyo (sacred water vessel) is placed below the lotus seat to sprinkle the water of mercy.

As "Aizen(love)" suggests, he is in charge of human love and lust and has the power to transform our earthly lust and greed into pure bodhicitta (enlightened mind), symbolizing the extinction of worldly desires and the attainment of enlightenment.

Humans have many desires and greed, which have the power to drive us to endless destruction and agony, but, at the same time, they also have the power to energize our lives. Aizen-myoo's teaching is to purify such crude human desires into the sinless and pure energy that causes spiritual enlightenment.

Standing Buddha Triad: Tokyo National Museum

China

Limestone

Eastern Wei dynasty, 6th century

This stone image is comprised of Shaka-Nyorai (Sakyamuni Buddha) in the center, Monju-Bosatsu (Manjusri) on the right and Fugen-Bosatsu (Samantabhadra) on the left.

The central image of this sculpture represents the Shaka-Nyorai (Buddha as the eternal saviour) preaching to all living beings, including human beings, based on his own enlightenment, in order to save those suffering from their delusions and agonies and to save their straying minds.

In Sanskrit, the word "nyorai" means one who comes from truth. Among the various forms of the Buddha, this deity is the supreme being who has attained the ultimate state of spiritual awakening.

With the later establishment of the Mahayana Buddhism, the images of Buddha other than the Shaka-Nyorai, that is Amida-Nyorai, Yakushi-Nyorai, Dainichi-Nyorai and so on, appeared as the transformations of the Buddha.

The shapes of the left and right palms of this Shaka-Nyorai symbolizes his limitless wisdom and compassion for removing fears and pains from all living being, giving them peace of mind and answering their wishes.

The Monju-Bosatsu is the bodhisattva who imparts sacred wisdom to self-deluded beings to help them attain spiritual awakening. The Fugen-Bosatsu is the deity who appears everywhere as a "bodhisattva of action" to save all living things through his wisdom and compassion. A bosatsu (Bodhisattva) is one who has reached enlightenment but vows to save all beings before becoming Shaka-Nyorai Buddha.

The lotus-petal-shaped halo represents the luminous rays of the supreme wisdom and compassion emanating from the bodies of the Shaka-Nyorai and the Bosatsus. On the surface of this limestone halo, various lotus flowers, numerous transformations of Buddha, the Hiten (heavenly beings) who are flying and performing music around Buddha are beautifully engraved.