FROM OUR OWN PRIVATE COLLECTION

Amitabha was, in very ancient times and possibly in another system of worlds, a monk named Dharmakara. In some versions of the sutra, Dharmakara is described as a former king who, having come into contact with Buddhist teachings renounced his throne. He then resolved to become a buddha and to come into possession of buddha-field, a realm existing in the primordial universe outside of ordinary reality, also known the Pure Lands.

Amitabha is the Buddha of the comprehensive love. His most important enlightenment technique is the visualization of the surrounding world as a paradise. Those who sees his world as a paradise, awakens their enlightenment energy. After the Amitabha doctrine, one can come to paradise (in the Pure Land of Amitabha), if they visualize at their death Amitabha in the heaven, think his name as a mantra and leave the body as a soul through the crown chakra.

These resolutions were expressed in his forty-eight vows, which set out the conditions under which beings might be born into that world, and what kind of beings they would be when reborn there. The sutra goes on to explain that Amitabha, after accumulating great merit over countless lives, finally achieved buddhahood . Through his efforts, he created the "Pure Land" called Sukhavati. Sukhavati is situated in the uttermost west, beyond the bounds of our own world. By the power of his vows, Amitabha has made it possible for all who call upon him to be reborn into this land, there to undergo instruction by him in the dharma and ultimately become bodhisattvas and buddhas in their turn. From there, these same bodhisattvas and buddhas return to our world to help yet more people.

In the Highest Yoga Tantra class of the Tibetan Vajrayana Amitabha is considered one of the Five Dhyani Buddhas. The Tibetan Panchen Lamas are considered to be emanations of Amitabha. This beautiful Thangka is painted by a very experienced Thangka Painter who has a studio in the shadow of the great Boudha Stupa in Kathmandu. It is unframed and painted onto canvas, the painted area of the picture measures 300 mm by 400 mm and is a very detailed hand painting in the traditional thangka style. The gold on the painting is gold leaf paint and the pigments used are all natural mineral or vegetable based paints.

Our Thangkas are at least 20 years old as the Thangka Painting in the last Century was far superior to current Thangkas which are made primarily for the tourist trade.