Among the founders of the world’s major religions, the Buddha was the only teacher who did not claim to be other than an ordinary human being.
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Pensive bodhisattvas
When you see a pensive bodhisattva sculpture, you may wonder: what is he thinking? And why is he smiling?
How to recognize the Buddha
Who was the Buddha and how have artists depicted him as a visually recognizable figure in sculpture?
Mudras in Buddhist art
Mudras are a set of hand gestures and finger positions that serve as symbols in Buddhist art.
Bodh Gaya: The Site of the Buddha’s Enlightenment
Bodh Gaya is the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment—over millennia it has been reconstructed and reimagined.
Buddhist meditation and chant
There are many kinds of Buddhist meditations; here Dr Sarah Shaw describes the ‘middle way’ of the Buddha and explores key aspects of Buddhist meditation and chant, such as the use of Buddha-images and visualization.
Introduction to Buddhism
The religion that originated in India took on so many different forms that it is often difficult to see how the various sects of Buddhism are related.
The Buddha and Buddhist sacred texts
A Buddha is seen as one who becomes awakened to the true nature of reality.
The stupa
A mound of dirt or the body of the Buddha? These sacred sites give practitioners insight into the Four Noble Truths.
The historical Buddha
Despite a princely upbringing, Siddhartha insisted he was just a man—albeit one who attained perfection.
Buddhist Monasteries
From simple assembly halls to expansive rock caves, buildings for Buddhist monks grew in complexity over time.
