Message from kberg

[Anonymous]

I like to visit the Norton Simon about once each year. Last year they had a special exhibit on Tibetan Buddhism. In contrast to much of the Buddhist statuary in their permanent collection, the Tibetan art was very colorful. It was interesting to see the art side by side, Buddhism is historically a truly international religion, and this was reflected in the diversity of artistic forms. Some of the Buddhist sculpture from Afghanistan is clearly influenced by Greek aesthetic, a legacy of Alexander the Great's far reaching empire. In contrast the Tibetan art reflected a pantheon of demons, deities, a reincarnated lamas, which probably in part reflect the per-Buddhist beliefs of Tibet incorporated into the Vajrayāna Buddhism. Buddhism adapts itself to cultural syncretism.