Buddhist art of the Himalayas

The Himalayan region encompasses Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal and Kashmir. The Gallery's collection centres upon the objects and images of Vajrayana Buddhism, the most expanded and esoteric form of Buddhist practice. Vajrayana literally means 'adamantine (or impenetrable) path', a reference to the indestructible nature of Buddhahood. Vajrayana Buddhism features a bewildering array of deities and teaches that every sentient being is potentially a Buddha but that human ignorance clouds this potential. The goal of an enlightened mind (bodhicitta) is achieved through practices which develop the ideals of wisdom (prajna) and compassion (upaya). One of the means by which to achieve this aim is through meditation. In the Tibetan tradition works of art are created as aids to ritual or meditative visualisation. A work of art is thus a means and support to an experience of Buddhahood; it is intended not simply to be 'looked at' but 'entered into'. One artform unique in this regard is the thangka or 'portable icon'. Other distinctive visual forms of the Vajrayana tradition include mandalas (literally a 'circle', or sacred diagram), iconographic sculptures and ritual objects and implements.