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Life of the Buddha - The First Meditation
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Life of the Buddha - The First Meditation
PAKISTAN; circa 3rd century; Schist; H: 58.4 cm; Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena, California, USA
During a ploughing ceremony Prince Siddhartha sees many exposed worms being devoured by the birds and realizes the impermanence of existence. Sitting down under a rose-apple tree, he enters into a trance. The mustached prince’s eyes are slightly opened and both his hands are laid across his lap in dhyana (meditation) mudra as he sits in full lotus position. The blossoming tree forms an arc above the top of his nimbus. Other signs of his future enlightenment are the urna above the eyes and the three lines on the neck. However, since he is still a prince, he wears a crested headdress and ornate jewelry. A stole crosses one shoulder and winds about his arms and across the skirt below. |
