A
dark reddish patina covers the bronze, the Buddha sitting in the lotus position.
His right hand resembles the charity bestowing gesture though it holds the leaf
of the myrobalan, a dried astringent fruit used mainly in tanning and inks, but
also used medicinally. His robe is wonderfully rendered, ribbons of material crisscrossing
in complexly conceived contours. The bottom of the cast is sealed with a thin
piece of bronze, into which is a hand-chiseled double thunder bolt image. An unusual
piece in good condition.
A
solid bronze cast of strong presence. This traditional Tibetan Medicine Buddha
sits with his characteristic bowl of medicine nuts and myrobalan plant. He appearing
to wear the garb of a Dalai Lama or Karmapa, the eight sitting Buddhas in the
foreground of this sculpture indicate that is indeed the Medicine Buddha, also
known as Bhaisajyaguru. To meditate on this Buddha is to help overcome the sickness
of attachment, hatred and ignorance, as well as to help decrease physical illness.