What is the difference between buddhas and bodhisattvas

The Tang dynasty ushered in a period of growth and prosperity, during which Buddhism flourished. Buddhist beliefs, temples, and art permeated almost all levels of Tang life. Surviving Buddhist sculpture reflects the wealth of the great Buddhist monasteries. Many of these sculptures were decorated with rich, painted colors, which have faded with time. Try to imagine how these may have appeared when first made.

Below are two Tang Bodhisattvas, both from Dunhuang. One left dates to circa , the other right to circa Do you remember the Tang Buddha sculpture from Dunhuang click here to review?

Painted clay Bodhisattva from Dunhuang, ca. Can you tell which one is the Tang example? What helps you identify it? Stone relief of Bodhisattva Height: 43 cm 1 ft 5 in source. Painted clay Bodhisattva Height: cm 8 ft 5 in source. The image of Guanyin was traditionally depicted as a young Indian prince, but during the Tang the feminine characteristics of Guanyin became more prominent.

To the left and below we have four Guanyin from the Sui and Tang periods. Try and see if you can follow this transformation from the images provided.

To the left is a Sui Guanyin. Guanyin statue, ca. Every brain at birth has one of these Ghuns as its main quality giving the individual his or her dominant behavior pattern and character. At the same time the three Ghuns at a gross level mould the mind at every moment of its functioning causing the change in moods of an individual. Under normal conditions, most human brain are born with either Rajas Ghun or Tamas Ghun as their dominant characteristic giving rise to a materialistic bent of mind.

This prevents our natural and pure state or Buddhi from shining forth resulting in the individual not realizing his true identity of being only a Witness and not a doer and of his or her connections and relations with the supreme consciousness.

This disconnect prevents the individual from utilizing his full human potential and evolution to higher level in human consciousness. Dharam is meant to restore the Manas to its natural state of Sattvic Ghun where the Buddhi functions naturally.

Dharm teaches the theory and practice of restoring to his or her Manas its Sattvic Ghun so that the Buddhi is allowed to function fully and effectively. When an individual is able to control his mental activities Sattv Gunh comes to dominate the Manas, the misinterpreted view Maya of reality drops off, the Buddhi shines forth, a true perspective of reality arises and the individual sees reality as it is.

Comprehending the causal mechanism due to which sentient beings come in and go out of existence he is freed from the cycle of birth and death.

Having understood the true nature of things he is able to view and face the ups and downs of life with a calm and peaceful mind thus becoming free of the stress, torments, worries and sufferings that characterizes day to day life of an individual.

Such an individual whose mental faculties are molded by Sattv Ghun and in whom the Buddhi is functioning in its full glow is said to be a Buddh or wise one or an awakened one. Bodhisattva is composed of the words Bodhi and Sattva. Bodhi means perfect knowledge or wisdom. It is pure, universal and immediate knowledge. Sattv is a state of mind in which the mind is steady, calm and peaceful and in which mental activity, speech and actions are synchronized to maintain this state of mind.

So Bodhisattva5 is one who pursues Bodhi with Sattva. They can consist of art, sculpture and statues. Siddhartha Gautama, also called Gautama Buddha, was the historical figure who created the Dhamma and the Buddhist path. Because of his importance, Buddhists of all kinds and all around the world use images of him as an aid to meditation. For example, a Buddharupa with elongated ears represents his former life as a prince, and a Buddharupa with a bump or top-knot on its head represents wisdom and enlightenment.

He is sometimes shown reclining, which symbolises his final passing into nirvana. Hand gestures represent aspects of the Dhamma — for example, a raised palm represents fearlessness and hands in the lap represent meditation. Bodhisattvas are beings who have attained enlightenment and who aim to help others to achieve it too.