Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/07/21

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Subject: [Leica] IMG: Thangka Tuesday - Arhats Dharmata and Pantaka
From: john.nebel at csdco.com (John Nebel)
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:43:45 -0600
References: <4C467939.4060703@csdco.com> <AANLkTimVS5RmI3fuMBQIMTCtEl6PpvpSIrwwKzrENx5x@mail.gmail.com>

Pasvorn,

Thanks for looking!  Earlier you asked about symbolism and I'd been meaning 
to 
answer.

For example, on Dharmata http://thangkas.csd.net/dharmata.html

"Dharmatala has great wisdom, spiritual powers, and skills.  Greatly 
learned, he 
carries the sacred scriptures on his back.  As traditionally depicted, he 
holds 
an open parasol indicating respect for the sacred texts.  He carries a 
flywisk 
symbolizing his services to the Arhats, and a vase with which he offers 
water to 
the Arhats as part of ritual observances.  All the attributes manifest the 
great 
compassion of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, which soothes the misery of 
human 
beings and purifies them of qualities that obstruct spiritual growth.

In the fullest representations, a tiger appears to his right, commemorating 
a 
traditional account in which he creates a tiger from his right knee to 
protect 
the Arhats against dangerous animals on their visit to China."

1971. Crystal Mirror Volume VI. Annual of Tibetan Buddhism. Journal of the 
Tibetan Nyingma Meditation Center. Berkeley: Dharma Publishing.

A book with great photos and explanatory material:

Rhie, Marylin M. and Robert A. F. Thurman. 1991. Wisdom and Compassion. The 
Sacred Art of Tibet. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc.

Best,

John

Pasvorn Boonmark wrote:
> John,
> 
> Thank you very much for sharing.
> 
> I enjoy them very much.
> 
> -Pasvorn
> 
> On Tue, Jul 20, 2010 at 9:36 PM, John Nebel <john.nebel at csdco.com> 
> wrote:
>> ?
>>
>> http://thangkas.csd.net/pantaka.html
>>
>> all 18 arhats: http://thangkas.csd.net/index.html
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> John
>>
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In reply to: Message from john.nebel at csdco.com (John Nebel) ([Leica] IMG: Thangka Tuesday - Arhats Dharmata and Pantaka)
Message from pasvorn at boonmark.net (Pasvorn Boonmark) ([Leica] IMG: Thangka Tuesday - Arhats Dharmata and Pantaka)