Buddha and the Eighteen Arhats (Deserving Ones) Central Lhasa School   The Arhats are men who have not become Buddhas but have attained a commendable level of accomplishment in rigorous mental disciplines. They are worthy of keeping company in a painting with the Buddha and here we have them presented with gem-like crispness of focus. Although none of them are depicted alike, these are not portraits. The figures still remain the crystallization of various mental essences as far as the artist was able to go. But he does so well that we are convinced of the essential differences of these men at the same time that we are sure that behind their eyes they are all alike. Beyond that lower portion of emotion and tumult, the entire painting seems to represent spheres of compact control. The painter does not lose control of the painting by putting figures off in the clouds above mountains and with more mountains above them. This is all quite natural. But whatever strengths are revealed by the tightly painted lines forming the contours of the Arhats, it is the figure of the Buddha that shows real power. Despite the thin edges and delicate delineation of that central figure, one thing piles upon another, causing sparks of energy to emanate from that calmness. The Buddha figure has a great reserve of strength in the broad shoulders and massive chest. The right arm is completely gentle with its evenness of paint, yet the dark edge of a thicker outline causes a powerful sculptural density while accentuating the glow of the entire halo.       The Arhats about him have accomplished great mental concentration and fixity on one point, but they are nothing in comparison with the rainbow body of the Buddha. He is depicted here in a variety of stages. His robes exist in very flat two dimensional design, his torso in three dimensional space as you go up the figure, and the face in a radiating multi-dimensional time and form. Next
	Table of Content | HOME