You Can Ask What a Ritual Means
You do not have to choose between joining silently and rejecting an unfamiliar ceremony. There is another possibility: ask about one part.
Poster lesson 26 / 63 · Intermediate
Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
The artwork is preserved from the original collection. Read the accompanying explanation for context and distinctions between traditions.
Read the lesson
Buddhas are awakened ones; bodhisattvas cultivate the path to Buddhahood. Gotama is the historical Buddha of our era in Buddhist tradition. Maitreya, Avalokiteśvara, Mañjuśrī, Kṣitigarbha and Samantabhadra appear in different devotional and textual settings. Their roles are not interchangeable. When viewing an image, first identify its tradition and meaning rather than assuming every sacred figure is the same person.