Shakyamuni, "Shakyathouppa" Wisdom of Shakya
Yellow: self renunciation, richness of enlightened qualities, pride turning into wisdom..
Buddha… and Buddhas. Shakyamuni, Historical Buddha.
Buddha, only one name covering several realities.. As often seen by western people, only one "Buddha" exists, "The" Buddha, known as having lived during the sixth century before The Christ Jesus, delivering teachings; sometimes known by His name, Sidharta Gautama, or Shakyamuni, physical person defined in the space and time. However, Mahayana tibetan teachings, known as "Vajrayana" or "Path of the Diamond" state about "buddhas" or even "the condition of being a buddha" which is a larger sanskrit reference meaning « Enlightened ». Tibetan people themselves address the term "buddha" by « sang-gyé », what can be translated "purified and fulfilled (or complete, as a flower having bloomed)" Purified from ignorance, having eliminated the shadows darkening men's mind, having let limitless qualities such as love and compassion bloom.
According to different traditions, six, twenty four, or three Buddhas would have preceeded Sidharta Gautama, who is essentially considered as the fourth Historical Buddha. Nevertheless, such term « historical » does not fit well for the three first Ones with our usual, terrestrial time and space referentials..... Each of them having lived one thousand years or more, and very long periods having separated their respective existences. This since beginningless time, innumerable universes appeared and vanished…, escaping to any attempt being attached to the history as it is usually described.
The clothes of Shakyamuni, patchwork of different pieces, and the begging bowl express His willngness of monastic poverty.
His posture, with crossed legs, is called Asana of the Diamond.
His left hand proceeds with the sacred gesture called Mudra of the Meditation, while the right one calls the Earth in to witness. Recalling an episode of His life, just before reaching Enlightenment in Bodhgaya, below the Bodhi Tree.
