1. Bodhisattva

The Asian wing at the Philadelphia Museum of Art contains numerous stunning examples of Buddhist iconography. I took a lot of pictures of bodhisattvas when I was there (see Bodhisattvas) - couldn't help myself. As a way of sharing some of these images, I have decided to make this Bodhisattva Week. The unidentified bodhisattva shown above is from Tang Dynasty (618-907) China; wood with traces of paint.

Everyday, the Four Bodhisattva Vows are chanted in Buddhist temples around the world:

Beings are numberless, I vow to free them.

Delusions are inexhaustible, I vow to end them.

Dharma gates are boundless, I vow to enter them.

The awakened way is unsurpassable, I vow to embody it. 

These vows are a tall order. Good thing there are so many bodhisattva guides out there to help us actualize them.