DailyGalaxy/Rebecca Sato 8/1/07
12th-century Buddhist Sculptures Found in Indonesian cave
A remote Indonesian cave has been found to contain previously undiscovered sculptures depicting the spiritual journey of Buddha.
The sprawling cave is a reminder of the rich Buddhist past in what is now the world's most populous Muslim nation.
The cave appears to have been a place of meditation for Buddhist monks. It was discovered more than two decades ago near Jireg village in East Java province, but had never been thoroughly explored because of its remote and difficult-to-reach location, said Dhamma Subho Mahathera of Sangha Theravada Indonesia.
"As far as I know it is the only Buddhist cave in the world for meditation of Buddhist monks," said Mahathera, who visited the site earlier this month. "There are reliefs representing four levels of meditations [phases of enlightenment], from Sotapana to Arhat."
The sculptures include depictions of an elephant, cow, monkey, and a lotus—one of Buddhism's most important symbols.
In Buddhism, the lotus represents peace and enlightenment. One interpretation for its significance is that although the lotus has its roots in mud, it blossoms into a beautiful flower. Symbolically, it represents the idea that although an individual may come from a state of impurity, there is the potential to achieve enlightenment.
Indonesia also has the Borobudur temple complex on the island of Java built more than 1,100 years ago—three centuries before the arrival of Islam—as a shrine to Buddha and a place for pilgrimages. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.
A main dome is located at the center of the top platform, and is surrounded by seventy-two Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa. It is believed the complex may represent Buddhist cosmology, as it appears to form an enormous mandala. Evidence suggests Borobudur was abandoned following the fourteenth century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese conversion to Islam. The complex was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the 1980s.
The Mahathera said Buddhist caves have also been discovered in India and Sri Lanka, but those did not have reliefs depicting the stages of Buddhist meditation.
Siddhartha Gautama was born in southwestern Nepal around 500 B.C. and later became revered as "the Buddha."
Buddhism teaches that right thinking and self-control through meditation can enable people to achieve nirvana—a divine state of peace and release from desire. Today Buddhism has about 325 million followers, mostly in Asia.
A remote Indonesian cave has been found to contain previously undiscovered sculptures depicting the spiritual journey of Buddha.
The sprawling cave is a reminder of the rich Buddhist past in what is now the world's most populous Muslim nation.
The cave appears to have been a place of meditation for Buddhist monks. It was discovered more than two decades ago near Jireg village in East Java province, but had never been thoroughly explored because of its remote and difficult-to-reach location, said Dhamma Subho Mahathera of Sangha Theravada Indonesia.
"As far as I know it is the only Buddhist cave in the world for meditation of Buddhist monks," said Mahathera, who visited the site earlier this month. "There are reliefs representing four levels of meditations [phases of enlightenment], from Sotapana to Arhat."
The sculptures include depictions of an elephant, cow, monkey, and a lotus—one of Buddhism's most important symbols.
In Buddhism, the lotus represents peace and enlightenment. One interpretation for its significance is that although the lotus has its roots in mud, it blossoms into a beautiful flower. Symbolically, it represents the idea that although an individual may come from a state of impurity, there is the potential to achieve enlightenment.
Indonesia also has the Borobudur temple complex on the island of Java built more than 1,100 years ago—three centuries before the arrival of Islam—as a shrine to Buddha and a place for pilgrimages. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.
A main dome is located at the center of the top platform, and is surrounded by seventy-two Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa. It is believed the complex may represent Buddhist cosmology, as it appears to form an enormous mandala. Evidence suggests Borobudur was abandoned following the fourteenth century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese conversion to Islam. The complex was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the 1980s.
The Mahathera said Buddhist caves have also been discovered in India and Sri Lanka, but those did not have reliefs depicting the stages of Buddhist meditation.
Siddhartha Gautama was born in southwestern Nepal around 500 B.C. and later became revered as "the Buddha."
Buddhism teaches that right thinking and self-control through meditation can enable people to achieve nirvana—a divine state of peace and release from desire. Today Buddhism has about 325 million followers, mostly in Asia.
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