Indian Sculpture and Painting, Illustrated by Typical Masterpieces, with an Explanation of their Motives and Ideals c9.42

c9.42

The upper panel in the next plate, XXXV., tells the story of the conversion of the Javanese to Buddhism in the beautiful legend that Buddha himself came over the sea, floating on a lotus-flower, to give his divine message to the people. Here we have no longer the man with human desires and aims, but the Buddha in the full glory of his divinity. He has passed through all the phases of this worldly life, and through all the sufferings. He is neither the royal Prince nor the ascetic wasted and worn; all his struggles and trials are finished now, through all those gates he has passed. Now he is the noble, purified Soul, in a noble body filled with heavenly bliss.