Shakyamuni Buddha, 12 in x 12 in, acrylic on canvas, painted in the style of Tibetan Buddhist iconography. One day, while the Buddha was resting by a still pond, his image was reflected perfectly in the water.  The monks who were present, recognizing the opportunity, carefully waded into the pond and copied his image.  These drawings have served as an iconographic standard since that time and are used as support by meditators in their practice.  In this painting, the Buddha is pictured as very large, signifying the ever-present Buddha nature in the world. The features of the Buddha's face point out the path to enlightenment. For example, his meditative gaze indicates that an enlightened being directly perceives both relative and absolute reality simultaneously.  The sun and moon, or wisdom and compassion, point out the path, while the bird, carrying a flower, represents the artist making an offering to the Buddha.

Andrea Nerozzi, a faculty member at Wyoming Seminary, is a student of Andy Weber and Sergey Noskov, internationally recognized Buddhist iconographers.  She has provided illustrations for an upcoming publication, Essential Journey of Life and Death, by Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche, founders of the Padmasambhava Buddhist Centers.  The artist will be available to explain the image further to the person who purchases it.