The Collection: Eight Auspicious Offerings ( 八吉祥 ) Design Concept: The diagram depicted in this artwork is the classic endless knot. Across a multitude of religions and cultures, the knot represents both eternity and the ultimate unity of everything in the universe. In the “Ashtamangala”—or the story of Gautama Buddha’s “eight offerings” on his path to enlightenment—the knot also symbolizes the mutual dependence and interconnectedness of wisdom and compassion, and of religion and secular. The ultimate teaching in this endless knot artwork—as well as the story and artifact from which it is derived—is one of unity, of interdependence, and of the wholeness of the universe. The artwork here, carved in a golden amber low-relief, illuminates this heartfelt message of understanding and dharma, capturing in it the importance of embrace and compassion for all. |
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