Photographer’s Note
Buddha is a title used in Buddhism for anyone who has discovered their enlightenment (bodhi), although it is commonly used to refer to Siddhartha Gautama, the historical founder of Buddhism.
Generally, Buddhists do not consider Siddhartha Gautama—who lived from about 623 BC to 543 BC, and attained bodhi around 588 BC—to have been the first or the last Buddha.
From the standpoint of classical Buddhist doctrine, a Buddha is anyone who rediscovers the Dharma and achieves enlightenment, having amassed sufficient positive karma to do so.
There have existed many such beings in the course of cosmic time. Hence, Gautama Buddha is one member of a spiritual lineage of Supreme Buddhas going back to the dim past and forward into the distant future.
His immediate predecessor was Dipankara Buddha, and his successor will be named Maitreya.
Buddhism recognises three types of Buddha, of which the simple term Buddha is normally reserved for the first type, that of Samyaksam-buddha (Pali: Samma-Sambuddha).
The attainment of Nirvana is exactly the same, but a Samyaksam-buddha expresses more qualities and capacities than the other two.
The historical Buddha seems to have presented himself not as a god or savior, but as a teacher capable of guiding sentient beings out of samsara.
Nevertheless, many forms of Buddhism do recognize savior-type figures. The technical differences between Buddhas, bodhisattvas, dharmapalas (protector deities), yidams ("tutelery deities"), and "gods" (Sanskrit deva, Tibetan lha) often blur in practical devotion.
Nonetheless, all are seen within the mainstream Buddhist context as being empty of inherent existence, a quality no theistic religion would ascribe to its "god".
Certain teachings of the Buddha in a number of Mahayana sutras, however, vigorously oppose the idea that even the Buddha (in his ultimate Dharmakaya mode) is not truly and eternally Real (see "Eternal Buddha" section below): according to this less widespread doctrine, only the realm of samsara has no enduring essence, whereas to assert the same of the Buddha is to commit a grave offence and to stray dangerously from the path of authentic Dharma (see Nirvana Sutra).
The awakened bliss of Nirvana, according to Buddhism, is available to all beings—although orthodoxy holds that one must first be born as a human being. Emphasizing this universal availability, Buddhism refers to many Buddhas and also to many bodhisattvas - beings committed to Enlightenment, who vow to:
(from the Nikaya view) postpone their own Nirvana in order to assist others on the path, or
(from the Mahayana view) secure Awakening/Nirvana for themselves first and thereafter continue to liberate all other beings from suffering for all time.
From Wikipedia
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Image took inside one of the thousands temple of Bagan.
*Scanned image*
fabio_ts, ChrisJ, feather, jrj, everlasting, partha, thaprem, alejandroguzman has marked this note useful
Critiques | Translate
fabio_ts
(13674) 2005-12-22 3:49
Complimenti Paolo, un'ottima foto.. mi piace un pò tutto quì.. dal POV alle luci, dall'atmosfera al taglio.. proprio un bel lavoro, BRAVO!!
buona giornata,
Fabio.
ChrisJ
(70443) 2005-12-22 4:03
Bonjourno Paolo
Wonderful color, lighting, & sharpness. I like the diminishing linear perspective, & vanishing point. The golden Buddha is a superb addition. Bellisimo!
MiguelP
(14338) 2005-12-22 4:03
I remember this place. I went there few years ago, and your photo has made me to remember the place. I love how you´ve handle the light and the perspective of the gates, bringing us the essence of Bagan, one of the most beautiful places I´ve visited in the world. Thanks Paolo.
jinju
(14265) 2005-12-22 5:06
Hi Paolo,
interesting POV from the side, it utilizes the geometry of the lines of this corridor. The colors here are very nice and it looks like the scan went much better this time.
Regarding Buddha, have you read the cae of the boy in Tibet who has been meditating for months now without moving? Day and nioght, no food. He has even been bitte by snakes twice while meditating, another similarity to Buddha.
feather
(50460) 2005-12-22 5:07
I like the POV here looking down the corridor through the successive archways. I like the glow you have captured on the Buddha.
Kath
sergecross
(3438) 2005-12-22 9:18
Paolo, great scene and the place calmed gave to the picture a very worked mystic. I like the theme selected and also the meaning was good.
Merry Chritmas!
Sergio
everlasting
(10942) 2005-12-22 9:31
The soft colours are splendid, Paolo. The re-occuring arches give a lovely depth. And would it also work if you had cropped it a little on the left hand side?
Graal
(59046) 2005-12-22 12:48
Hi Paolo,
interesting place, good composition of corridor with Buddha monument. I like it. Good job.
Rgs, Aleksander
xavshot
(63299) 2005-12-22 14:51
Bravo Paolo
j'aime ce cadrage et cette répétition dans les formes
Superbe cadrage
très belle lumière
Xavier
arindam_thokder
(3946) 2005-12-22 15:33
Hello Paolo,
Excellent POV, the play of shadow and light is great, I only miss human element in this picture, but liked this a lot.
Arindam
Cricri
(44048) 2005-12-22 15:37
Bonsoir Paolo,
Bon POV, jolie texture et couleurs de ses mur,
Belle compo. avec cette statue couleur or de Bouddha.
Amitiés
cricri
gaby
(19793) 2005-12-22 16:57
Paolo bonsoir - une photo à la fois très douce et très forte avec cet or qui remplit le milieu - vraiment très joli -
Joyeux Noël et bonne et heureuse année pour toi et toute ta famille.
Merci
Amicalement
Gaby
devimeuxbe
(56524) 2005-12-22 18:21
Hi Paolo
nice athmosphere in your picture. The light is well captured and the composition is excellent
Well done
Bertrand
PixelTerror
(87137) 2005-12-23 3:34
Ciao Paolo,
I like Budha, nice inside view leading to his golden representation, the exposure was fine to preserve details, actually we can see this looks more like a cave than a temple. The walls seem to have been polished strongly, did you neat image strongly here ?
Buona Giornata e Buon Natale,
Jean-Yves
jrj
(34779) 2005-12-23 6:22
Good work from this special place p. Creative compo displaying the buddha figure in this original way. Good work!
thaprem
(2498) 2005-12-27 5:12
The usual Paolo tones with touchingg colours...
But this one seesm to go deeper....
The way I see it, it looks like depicting the underlying concept of Meditation, to reach the enlightenment with slow & multiple Crossings of your inner layers of mind...
Well done...
Cheers,
Prem.
bazal
(7898) 2006-01-10 4:04
Hi Paolo.
I like this shot for its perspective and its nice composition with beautiful successive arches. The light is soft and the colors are natural. All in this picture is quietness. Thanks for sharing !
alejandroguzman
(4672) 2006-01-16 17:18
Hi Paolo
Great composition. As also the perspective.
Very well done
hugs
Alejandro
Mistral
(13846) 2006-01-28 7:56
Ciao Paolo,
bella la tua composizione ed esposizione all'interno del tempio di Ananda! E' una photo di atmosfera ben resa dalla tua immagine! Sarai in mezzo alla neve, ora! Buon weekend anche a te.
Luca
smash2707
(2516) 2006-02-11 9:16
Great point of view and beautiful colors. I love teh repetition of teh archs. Regards, Yvonne
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Paolo Motta (Paolo)
(40755) - Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 1999-08-00
- Categories: Architecture
- Camera: Nikon N80
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Date Submitted: 2005-12-22 3:43








