Warm Gold Balance Buddha
A gem from Bhutan, the world's happiest country.
The necklace is from Chagri Dorjeden Monastery (also known as Cheri Monastery), a sanctuary established in 1620 by Ngawang Namgyal, the founder of the Bhutanese state. The monastery is a major teaching and retreat center of the Southern Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism which is famous for its focus on the oral transmission of the Dharma.
Buddhist art is incredibly diverse but there are some core tenets when it comes to how Buddha is depicted. The positions of his hands and legs carry deep meaning so they are never random. In this pendant, Buddha is shown making the Dhyana mudra denoting deep meditation and inner peace. The balanced position of his legs reinforces this meaning. The sign on his chest is a reference to the Internal Mind of the Buddha and an auspicious symbol of good fortune and prosperity. Even though the historical Buddha is known to have shaved his hair as part of his denounciation of the world, in statues and paintings he is depicted with a bun (ushnisha) symbolising spiritual mastery.
Yellow (also saffron or gold) is one of the five key colors in Buddhism and it symbolises the element Earth, balance, harmony, inner groundedness and stability. In countries like Bhutan where the Buddhist religion is a big part of everyday life, these five colours dominate the secular environment to align it with the Ultimate Reality.
The pendant has a warm yellow-golden colour both when you look at it in daylight and even more at night near a lamp. The colour and the material amplify the warmth of Buddha's smile - the real source of this necklace's comforting power.
The size of the pendant is roughly 5.5 x 4cm. It weights approximately 75gr.
An item fashinable in all seasons, in a color easily associated with Buddhism
