What is the Buddhist statue? Is it supposed
to be a real image of the man, an inspired representation of an ideal, or an
artist’s act of religious devotion? And what is its use? Is it representational,
magical or simply decorative?
Part of the appeal of Buddhist art lies certainly in aesthetics. The tranquility
of the Buddha's image, or the mystery of his smile, holds a universal appeal.
But a deeper appreciation of Buddhist art cannot be gained without an understanding
of religious role of the image itself. It is quite different from, for instance,
the role that a representation of Christ on the Cross plays in Catholic worship.
That, after all, is just a representation; not the real thing.
But in Buddhism the image of the Buddha is regarded as indeed the real thing.
It is the living reality of the Buddha in the present moment without which it
is impossible for the devotee, however earnest his faith, to conceive of, much
less achieve, Salvation. Therefore understanding the difference between the
Buddhist image and representative art -- that is between an image of Buddha
and the living reality of the Buddhist image -- takes us to the heart of Buddhism
itself, and to the very reason that Buddhism, more than any other religion,
has itself become identified with its art.
It was not always this way. Originally, and for the first few centuries of its
existence, Buddhism was an aniconic religion, devoid of images of the Buddha,
and relying largely on symbols -- such as a pair of sandals, a parasol and a
tasseled cushion upon a plinth -- to portray in art his presence, or rather
perhaps his absence. For those who believe all art is propaganda driven by political
needs, the history of Buddhist art is a disappointment. The 3rd century B.C.
Mauriyan emperor Askoka, the first and most renown of Buddhist sovereigns, managed
to propagate Buddhism throughout South Asia without the aid of an image. Instead,
he relied on inscriptions, pillars and the construction of stupas, or funerary
mounds associated with Buddhist relic worship, to propagate the new religion.
