THE GREAT REFUGE TREE OF THE GELUGPA SCHOOL

Estimated Value:

1.500 € - 2.500 €

Result:

2.331 € incl. Premium and VAT

Description:

Tibet, 19th c.
145 x 97 (193 x 119 cm)
This large-format temple painting shows the immeasurable wishing tree that has emerged from the cosmic sea. It is richly adorned with fruits, which here take the form of Buddhas and various Lamaist deities. The root lama, who is kind to all living beings, is enthroned in the crown of the tree in the form of Tsong-Khapa. In his left hand he holds an alms bowl, the right hand shows the mudra of teaching. Two lotus flowers entwine above his shoulders. From the lotus of his right shoulder rises the sword as a symbol of his wisdom, above the lotus of his left shoulder lies the so-called "incarnate book" (prajnaparamita), as a sign of his erudition. Emanating from Tsong-Khapa's heart, marked with the thirty-two signs of Buddhahood, is Buddha Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, on whose teachings the root lama instructs the disciple. On the right and left sides of the root lama are two groups of lamas, each surrounding a bodhisattva. These are the succession lines of two at first sight contradictory schools of Buddhist philosophy, i.e. two different paths to enlightenment. On the right side is the Yogacara school, which teaches that all apparently different things are permeated by the "One Void". Asanga, who received this teaching directly from the Bodhisattva Maitreya, is probably the best known representative of this school. On the left side of the root lama, there is the succession line of the Madhyamika school, i.e. the line of those who walk the "middle path" between the extremes. The most famous representative of this school of teaching is the Indian Pandita Nagarjuna, who received the transmission of this school of teaching from the Bodhisattva Manjugosha. In front of the lama is his direct lineage, i.e. the root lama of the meditator's root lama, symbolising the direct lineage of the teaching transmission as it passes directly to the meditator. On the thangka, this lineage is depicted directly in front of the feet of the lama, which the meditator has to imagine in front of the lama. Above Tsong-Khapa, the root lama, the line of the tantric initiation of consecration can be seen with Adibuddha Vajradhara at the top. These siddhas and lamas represent the lineage of secret and supreme knowledge, often transmitted only orally to the disciple. Below Tsong-Khapa, arranged in a ring, are ten classes of Buddhas and Lamaist deities, symbolising the different degrees of knowledge transmitted in Vajrayana Buddhism. One can distinguish two types of beings helpful for enlightenment in this "field of accumulation": On the top four rings appear the tantric deities, which are to be understood as a figurative representation of the knowledge taught in the tantas. On the six lower flower rings are the buddhas, bodhisattvas and protectors, who are to be seen as expressions of the wisdom given in the sutras. On the lowest ring are the Dharmapalas, who protect the teaching and serve the meditator by removing obstacles. On the ring above appear the dakas and dakinis who bestow gifts on the meditator and protect him from obstacles through their divine advice. In between appear the Eighteen
Arhats - saints who, fearing future bad rebirths, sought enlightenment for their own salvation, and attained a lower degree of enlightenment not through their own realisation but through listening. On the next highest ring are the twelve Pratyekabuddhas, who attained a lower degree of enlightenment through their own efforts, but did not preach the teaching for the benefit of all living beings. Above them then follow the "Thirty-five Purifying Buddhas". To the left and right of the treetop appear other Bodhisattvas in the guise of Tara; Sarasvati with the lute (r); the red Nadi-Dakini (l); opposite, the blue-coloured Nilambara-Vajrapani with three faces, yab-yum, and below, Pe-har on the left and Shug-dan (?) on the right. Below the treetop one sees the four Lokapalas of the four cardinal directions, as well as the "Eight Signs of Happiness". To the left and right of the tree trunk, Brahma and Shiva, the two Hindu deities, appear in a worshipful posture. Furthermore, in the lower right corner, a meditator is depicted offering a Guru Yoga sacrifice to the "Field of Accumulation". The two upper corners show the paradises of Maitreya - Tushita (l), and Buddha Amitabha - Sukhavati, which are probably to be interpreted as places of future salvation. Tempera on cotton canvas, original traditional silk brocade border, with "Bija".
Private collection, Munich, acquired in Kathmandu in 1970 by repute - Minor wear, mounting partly with minor damages due to age

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