RE Visit Activities
Imagine that you are going on a Buddhist pilgrimage in
Asia. The map below shows a map of Asia with all the
countries with a strong Buddhist presence marked on it.
Map of Asia (a larger map is available at the end of this document)
We have provided a trail to help you find objects from some of the places
associated with the Life of the Buddha. You need to find the object and then
read the information and questions about it. Record your journey and
observations in; your notebook and mark on your map where the object that
you are looking at comes from.
1. Seated Buddha or Buddha Sakyamuni
Tibet
Room 47A
Seated Buddha or Buddha Sakyamuni, 18th century. Museum no. IM.2271920
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Find this sculpture. What are your first impressions of it now that you
are seeing the original?
Look at the size of the sculpture. Do you think it was made for a temple
or for someone's home? Explain your answer.
Look closely at the Buddha. You should be able to find the Buddhist
symbol for the Wheel of Life on the sculpture. Make a drawing of this.
Can you find any other important symbols on this sculpture that tell you
about the life of the Buddha? Look in your sketchbook for the notes
that you made at school about lakshanas(symbols), asanas (poses),
mudras (hand gestures). Make a sketch of one or two of these.
2. The Warriors of Mara
Room 47A Case 1
The Warriors of Mara, late 15th century. Museum no. IS.2-1966
Make your way to see an object from Myanamar and find a glazed tile
showing The Warriors of Mara. This was part of the decoration of a temple
built by a King to honour the life of the Buddha. The entire building was
decorated in similar tiles.
Most Buddhist images are beautiful to remind followers of how attractive
enlightenment is but the Warriors of Mara are a reminder of how difficult it is
to reach enlightenment. Buddhists believe that Mara (sometimes called the
Buddhist devil) sent millions of his evil warriors to try to prevent the Buddha
from achieving enlightenment. They tried to distract him from his meditation
by attacking him from all sides with their weapons and with blood-curdling
screams. However, the Buddha's meditation was so powerful that they had no
effect.
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Look closely at this sculpture. Can you work out what material it has
been made from?
What can you see that tells you they are warriors?
What colour are the warriors? What effect does this have on you?
3. Railing Pillar
Room 47B
Railing pillar, 1st century. Museum no. IS.1065-1883
This pillar was once part of the railing around the site of the Bodhi Tree or
'Tree of Wisdom' under which the Buddha meditated until he achieved
enlightenment. The original tree is no longer alive but it is believed that the
Bodhi Tree that stands today next to the temple in eastern India is a
descendant of the original. This is one of the most important pilgrimage sites
in the Buddhist world.
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Can you find an elephant on the pillar? An elephant represents
strength. Why do you think that it is an important symbol in Buddhism?
Choose one of the statements below:
Buddhists are keen weightlifters
The path to enlightenment is difficult
The path to enlightenment is easy
Buddhists have very physical jobs
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Can you identify any of the other symbols on the pillar?
Look carefully. Can you find some people worshipping the Bodhi
Tree?
4. Preaching Buddha
Room 47A Case 15
Preaching Buddha, 10th/11th century. Museum no. IS.37-1988
Now make your way to Nepal. This small sculpture of the Buddha is nearly
1000 years old. The Buddha holds his hands in a rather complicated position.
This hand gesture (mudra) is known as Dharmachakra. It reminds buddhists
of the Buddha's first sermon at Sarnath where he first talked about the Wheel
of Law and of the Noble Eightfold Path. Sarnath is one of the major Buddhist
pilgrimage sites because the Buddha preached his first sermon there.
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Look closely at the sculpture. Can you put your hands in the same
position?
5. Standing Buddha
Room 47A Case 14
Standing Buddha, 5th-6th century. Museum no. IS.12-1948
This sculpture was found in what is now Pakistan. Like the Preaching Buddha,
it is small, which shows that it was likely to have been used in the home rather
than in a temple.
Can you see that this Buddha has a halo around its body? The name for this
body halo is a 'mandorla'. Some other Buddhas have head halos called a
nimbus. Buddhism was the first of the main religions to use mandorlas and
nimbi.
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Can you think of any other religion that uses these symbols?
Which of the features on this sculpture help you to identify it as a
Buddha?
6. Scene of the Death of the Buddha
Room 47A North Wall
Scene of the Death of the Buddha, 2nd-3rd century. Museum no. IM.247-1927
The Buddha died at the age of 80. He was in a lot of pain but he managed to
stay calm and continued to think of others. He said that anyone who was
upset had not listened to his teachings. Buddhists believe that the Buddha
attained complete enlightenment known as Parinirvana. This is the ultimate
goal of all Buddhists. A popular destination for pilgrims is the Stupa at
Kushinagara in northern India where the Buddha died. This stone carving
which shows reactions to his death and is at least 1700 years old.
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Look at the image of the five people in the scene? Can you tell how
they felt about the death of the Buddha?
Which of them had understood the teachings of the Buddha? How do
you know?
7. Bodhisattva Guanyin
Room 44 Case 60
Bodhisattva Guanyin, 1115-1234. Museum no. A.7-1935
Now make your way to China. Buddhism arrived in China in the 1st century
CE (AD). Sacred Indian texts were translated into Chinese. This is a sculpture
of a Bodhisattva. These are people who have achieved enlightenment who
decide not to enter immediately into Nirvana. Instead they choose to dedicate
their lives to helping others achieve enlightenment. Bodhisattvas make a
commitment to help others develop six perfections or virtues in themselves.
These are:
1. Generosity
2. Morality
3. Energy/Courage
4. Patience
5. Meditation
6. Wisdom
This is a sculpture of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of compassion. His name
means 'the one who always hears sounds' and it is believed that he listens to
every prayer for help. Many Buddhists pray to Bodhisattvas for help in
reaching enlightenment as well as for help in everyday life.
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Compare this Bodhisattva to images of the Buddha that you have
already seen. What is different about him? How can you tell the
difference between a Buddha and a Bodhisattva?
How can you tell that Guanyin is ready to go and help people?
8. Standing Tara
Room 47A Case 13
Standing Tara, 14th century. Museum
no. IM.239-1927
Padmapani, the Lotus Bearer
Room 47A Case 12
Padmapani, the Lotus Bearer, 14th
century. Museum no. IM.239-1922
Find these two sculptures. Which country are you in now?
Look at the Standing Tara to start with. This sculpture was made in Nepal in
the 14th century. Tara is the feminine form of the Bodhisattva of Compassion.
According to legend, she was once an ordinary person. She was born as a
princess and was kind and compassionate. Tara lived such a good life that
the monks told her that they would pray for her to be reborn as a man
because they believed only men could become enlightened. However, Tara
believed that anyone could achieve enlightenment and she was the first
woman to reach enlightenment. She is an important reminder to Buddhists
that anyone can achieve enlightenment.
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In your sketchbooks, note down some of the features on this sculpture
that you have seen before and see if you can work out what some of
these might mean.
The Tara is wearing something that reminds us that she was a
princess, can you see what it is? What else do you think it might
symbolise?
Look at the sculpture of the Lotus Bearer opposite. This is the male
form of the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Note down some similarities.
Are there any major differences?
You have now completed the trail. See if you can find any other sculptures
that are either Buddhas or related to Buddhism.
Map of Asia: