Reading The Cosmic Buddha

According to the sacred text of the Lotus Sutra, when the historical Buddha delivered a sermon, a vision of the entire cosmos often appeared before him, which is why he was sometimes called the Cosmological Buddha.

Focusing on just the front of the Buddha, there are six scenes that run from the neck of his garment to its hem, and they represent a hierarchical map of the Buddhist universe.

At the top of the chest is the realm of divinities. Here, the Historical Buddha preaches to deities who are still subject to the suffering of worldly existence.

Directly below that is a depiction of Mount Meru, the center of the Buddhist universe. It doesn’t take the shape of a traditional mountain here. It is depicted as a pillar circled by a pair of dragons. There are giant demigods with multiple arms at the column-mountain’s base. 

Further down the figure’s form, you will notice the realms of humans, and animals...

 ...and the realm of spirits and ghosts.

And at the lowest point, at the figure’s feet, suffering is shown. Figures are prodded by buffalo-headed beasts in the realms of Hell. 

A number of figures are arranged in a scene here that illustrates the complex meaning of karma, the notion that actions in past lives determine the conditions of future rebirths. This is a key Buddhist concept. 

The scene is divided in half. The left portion shows deceased individuals explaining their lives to a judge; at the right, the judge deliberates and assigns each individual to a new life in one of the six Buddhist Realms of Existence.

Naked on its knees, a human is being forced to enter a hole and the unknown fate that lies beyond. Buddhist hells include an unimaginable series of torments, all meted out by the guardians of hell who are distinguished by their animal heads and long, pointed spears.

This guardian of hell holds a strong spear firmly in both hands. Although standing like a man, it has the fearsome head of an animal. Like the other guardians of hell, it makes captives endure unspeakable suffering; here using a spear to force two of them through holes into a frightening, invisible ordeal.

Another guardian grasps a strong spear in its hands. With the frightening head of an animal, it stands over a suffering figure. The object of this torture lays on a stone platform placed over a raging fire, surrounded by flames. He tries to rise but is held in place by the guardian's spear.

Tied to a post and literally roasting in flames, there is no escape as the guardian torments him with a spear.

This heavenly scene represents the highest of the six Buddhist Realms of Existence

Less exalted lands shown below include the world of the demigods, and the realms of the humans, animals, and wandering hungry spirits, with hell at the bottom.

All of these realms are linked to the concept of karma, the belief that actions in past lives determine the conditions of future births. Thus, the divinities shown in paradise were reborn here because they lived virtuously in previous incarnations.

Here, divine beings gather in the Buddhist paradise called Trayastrimsha Heaven. Everyone is focused on the Buddha, who sits cross-legged in an open pavilion.

Sitting cross-legged in an open pavilion is Shakyamuni, the Historical Buddha. His proper right hand is raised in a gesture that shows him preaching to the residents of this Buddhist paradise. He often visits this place because his mother, called Queen Maya or Maya-devi, was reincarnated here after her earthly death. Buddha comes to see and teach her.

Floating in the air with scarves aflutter are special divinities known as tiannu in Chinese. Literally meaning "heavenly woman," tiannu dwell here in the realm of the gods but can also visit the human world.

Unlike other divine beings shown here, a highly placed divinity sits crossed-legged, just like the Buddha, occupying an open pavilion. The huge lotus underneath allows it to hover in the air, suggesting the divinity has flown to this location to hear the Buddha speak.

The air in this heavenly paradise is beautifully scented by flowers that fill the sky. These blossoms floating midair look like those of a lotus, a favored flower in Buddhism. Lotus blossoms represent the purity of Buddhist teachings because the beautiful flowers float above the dark waters of ponds and pools.

 A large incense burner is placed on the ground directly in front of the seated Buddha. It resembles a large round jewel on an open lotus. The rising scent serves as a metaphor for the Buddha's divine words.

Two mighty dragons helps to support the heavenly realm of Trayastrimsha. Note their long sinuous necks, large heads, and bent front legs, angled to hold the weighty foundations of heaven. Their bodies rap around a representation of Mt. Meru. In China, the mythical dragon was viewed as a symbol of great strength, making it the logical choice for this strenuous task.

This textured ribbon above the dragons represents the rocky ground of heaven. The highest visible Buddhist paradise, it is still connected to the lower regions by Meru, the central peak of the universe. The rough texture of the ground plane -- distinct from the smooth surfaces around it -- provides a foundation for a wondrous landscape filled with palaces and divine beings.

This depiction is very formal and symmetrically arranged, with the primary deity shown at the center. He is surrounded by other Buddhist divinities and a group of lay believers. Given their prominence in this scene, these mortals may represent the donor who had a role in the creation of the sculpture.

Divine beings gather in the Buddhist paradise called Tushita Heaven, the home of Maitreya, the future Buddha. Maitreya sits in the middle, flanked by pairs of standing deities.

Additional divinities fill the sky...

...or sit on the ground in front of Maitreya's pavilion.

Maitreya is portrayed as a bodhisattva, a devout being who takes a vow to become a Buddha for the benefit of all sentient beings. Maitreya will become the next Buddha. He sits "European style," with his legs pendant and feet touching the ground. This is one way you can distinguish Maitreya from the Buddha Shakyamuni, who is usually shown cross-legged.

Maitreya's importance and status is indicated by his central location, size (the largest figure in this scene), by the halo behind his head, and the lotus blossom at his feet.

The air in this heavenly paradise is beautifully scented by flowers that fill the sky. These blossoms, floating midair, look like those of a lotus, a favored flower in Buddhism.

We've only scratched the surface of the stories that unfold on the surface of the Cosmic Buddha.  If you'd like to learn more, try our interactive 3D tours at https://3d.si.edu/explorer/cosmic-buddha-laser-scan.The tours illuminate both the narrative and the science behind this priceless cultural treasure.