The Tibetan Buddhist tradition honors the figure of Guru Padmasambhava, known as Guru Rinpoche, as the greatest teacher that brought the teaching of Vajrayana Buddhism to the Tibetans. The representation reminds not only of the greatest knowledge but also of the greatest care for the practitioners that led countless adepts through the path of cognition and awareness. The figure reminds us about the possibilities of awakening through cognition and meditation.
The Guru Padmasambhava statue may show the teacher in ornately meaningful dress: his robes mean the richness of his doctrine, his hat the mastery of the Buddhist heaven of the gods, and his hands clutching the vajra, the staff, the skillful means of enlightenment. The lotus on which the Guru may be seated resonates with the concepts of purity and the development of heightened awareness in the face of the world.
The statues that have been discovered in this collection are representative of the Himalayan and Nepalese tradition, where there have been adequate skills for centuries to carry out the delicate process of hand carving and metal casting. These objects have been molded with patience, respect, and devotion, infused with the warmth of human touch. In contrast to Mass-produced objects, these hand-crafted statues exude life, infused with the skill and intention of the artisan, providing a connection to the centuries-old practice of Tibetan Buddhism.
The traditional function of a statue of Guru Padmasambhava is being a focus for meditation or study, or a reminder for personal reflection that can help bring about compassion and the development of wisdom in a quiet, gentle way. The mere placement of the statue can itself be a practice - of mindfulness and of being rid of harshness.
Having the statue of the Guru Padmasambhava goes beyond being an ornament; it symbolizes a constant companion for reflecting and being mindful. It may act as the stimulus for the practice of compassion in daily tasks, for the moments of meditation, and for relating the cycles of life to the Himalayan School of Buddhism.
