Tantric Buddhist Altar
Objects on loan to the Ackland Art Museum

Although Buddha is not considered a god, he is revered as a perfected being and worshiped as the personification of enlightenment. One does not reach awareness by asking for the Buddha's help, but rather assimilating the ideals of the master teacher into practice. It was the Buddha's own belief that individuals must reach understanding for themselves.

According to Vajrayana or tantric teachings, each person is a potential Buddha. Once the mind is liberated from egocentric thoughts and actions are dedicated towards helping others, the clear light that exists within shines forth as enlightenment. Art and worship combine as ritual to help achieve this state of being.

Most Buddhist homes, monasteries and temples have an altar, in some form, dedicated for worship. The altar creates a sacred space conducive to meditation and transformation. Traditionally, an altar contains reference to the Buddha's perfected speech, body and mind, symbolized by a scripture (sutra), a statue of the Buddha Sakyamuni and a stupa respectively. Works of art are considered alive with the essence of the deity. The devotee aspires to the ideals embodied in these forms in order find wisdom and help other human beings to see their inner light.

Each morning, offerings that appeal to the senses are given to the deities who reside at the altar. Flowers, butter lamps or candles, incense and a small portion of every meal are usually placed here. Traditionally, seven bowls of water are also offered, representing the seven aspects of prayer -- offering, confessing, prostrating, celebrating the positive qualities of all beings, asking the Buddhas to remain in this world, requesting their guidance for all people, and dedicating the merits obtained from the offering process. Butter lamps, providing light and symbolizing wisdom, are interspersed among the offering bowls.

The act of offering consciously focuses the mind on the Buddha's teachings. It is a means to purify thoughts and actions. During the process of offering food and water, the devotee visualizes the end of hunger and thirst. At the end of the day, the offerings are mindfully recycled.