The Enlightened One

A Buddha is someone who has reached a state of complete peacefulness called enlightenment. This sculpture tells the story of Siddhartha Gautama, who was to become the Buddha Shakyamuni (SHAK-ya-muni), which means "The Enlightened One, Sage of the Shakya Clan."

Siddhartha was born into a wealthy royal family in Nepal during the sixth century BC. When he was 29, he gave up his wealth and dedicated his life to achieving enlightenment. After years of study, Siddhartha sat beneath the Bodhi (wisdom) tree to meditate until he accomplished his goal. While meditating, the god of death and desire tried to distract him, but he touched the ground and asked the earth goddess to say that he could not be distracted from becoming the Buddha. This was the moment when Siddhartha achieved enlightenment and was given the title Buddha Shakyamuni. 
Take a look at the sculpture. What parts tell the Buddha's story?

The Buddha is seated in the lotus position with his legs crossed and his back straight; a perfect position for meditation. The leaves above his head represent the Bodhi tree and his hand is shown touching the earth. His earlobes are long because he wore heavy earrings and other jewelry as signs of wealth when he was young. They remind us of the life he left behind. The Buddha's great wisdom is represented by the bump on the top of his head.

You can see this sculpture when you visit the South Asian sculpture galleries on the third floor of the Ahmanson Building  at LACMA.

Search Collections Online for more images of the Buddha Shakyamuni.

Image above:
Buddha Shakyamuni, India, Bihar, Gaya District, South Asia, circa 850, chlorite schist, 31 3/4 x 18 1/4 x 9 in., M.73.4.11, from the Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Museum Associates Purchase, photo © 2006 Museum Associates / LACMA.

Text prepared by the Education Department, LACMA, for the "Kids' Reading Room" (Los Angeles Times, May 25, 2004).

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