Buddhism's Icons

In buddhism gods are not supreme beings, they are subordinate to the buddha, some may call them the derivates or family of "the original Buddha Gautama". Nevertheless these deities are called Bodhisattva and are there to protect the Dhama wich is the way of enlightenement that a person must go through before discovering the truth. The most important Bodhisattvas are:

- Shakyamuni: The historic Bodhisattva, it has the earth touching pose
- 1000 armed Chenresig: The compassion Bodhisattva
- 4 armed Chenresig: The emanation Bodhisattva
- Green Tara: mother of all Bodhisattva, the great liberator and healer
- Medicine Buddha: Of healing
- Maitreya: Future Bodhisattva
- Manjushri: Represents the wisdom of the years and patience
- Vajrasattva: The Bodhisattva of purification

The purpose of these Bodhisattva is to protect the Dhamma, but the Dhamma itself has two asigned protectors wich are:

- Stupa of enlightenment: wich represents the state of enlightenment that is obteinable by all human being by the method of meditation.
- Amitabha Buddha: Who embodies the enlightened speech of all Buddhas, the abbility to pass their findings on in the form of teachings.



By: Maria Jose Lopez
Co-edited by: Santiago Gil