Walking into the Hall of the Buddhas, there was a sense of peace and guidance lingering inside me. The seated Bodhisattva, of the Northern Wei dynasty (386-534), CA.480, from the Yungang, Cave xv, Shani Province, made of sandstone, guarded the entrance. At first, I thought it was a time to be disciplined, but the transcending smile from the statue was a delicate fixed gesture that offered a feeling of welcome. It was not a place to confess your wrongdoings; neither was it a place for me to say, “Buddha I have sinned.” It was a room to purify the mind, the mind that we take for granted without giving it harmony. There was a large mural decorating the main wall ca

The South and Southeast Asian collections are traces of Hindu and Buddhist culture. The migration of Buddhism in Pakistan in the first, second, third, and fourth century showed that the Kushan culture worshipped a more European image of Buddha and Bodhisattvas (Metropolitan Museum wall plaque), while Indonesia, Cambodia, and Thailand had images relatively very similar to India’s. The stylistic characters of images of Buddhism throughout different cultures are changed into the features of the people in that culture. A Thai Buddha resembles more the features of the Thai people, and a Pakistan Buddha exhibits resemble more European features with round big eyes and curly hair. If one could only perceive what Buddha really looked like! Perhaps, the saying, “Where could one find Buddha? Was answered, “Buddha is within thy self,”(Buddhist movie, 1997 UEE.) is because of these feature changes.

As I left, I felt a sense of piety, a piety that I must visit again and again. The Hall of Buddhas gave me a sense of peace: a thought of quietness to gather myself, a peace that I have long forgotten or not shared.

The Metropolitan Museum visit was an experience that gave me a better understanding on Asian world cultures. What interested me the most was the “Hall of Buddhas.” In this room I found myself trying to connect to peace and the welcome that was past due in my life. Shutting my eyes gave me a sense of being safe in a sanctuary with the guardians: Buddhas, Quan Yin, and seated Bodhisattvas statues being so near. From the Sui dynasty (581-618), the “Quan Yin” statue reminded me of the readings in class about Red Azalea. I have always thought that this was a female saint; however, after seeing and observing it, maybe I’m wrong. Another place in the museum that evoked my feelings was the Japanese collection. The Japanese Buddhas were mentally more lifelike, because of the details of the color in the eyes. One could mistake some of them for demons and evil beings. However, they are all doers of good for mankind. The Japanese exhibit felt like a place of court where people came in to be cleansed, forgiven and punished after their evil deeds. Overall, my learning experience has taken me to a higher level

Some topics in this essay:
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