An image of serenity, Buddha blesses his followers while holding a jug filled with holy water. His image is carved from noble sono wood, its rich grain enhancing the intensity of Buddha's meditative pose. Wayan Rendah's work is admirable, for he works with devoted care to detail to make of this statuette a most vivid rendition of he who is known as the greatest teacher. The scriptures tell of a young Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) of whom it was prophesized he was set to become the greatest teacher of the world. When he became 29 years of age he left his wealthy family in pursuit of the truth and after six years he experienced the religious epiphanies that would become the basis of Buddhism: that a wholesome existence guided by proper understanding, contemplation, and concentration releases one from the painful cycle of life and death.
