Image:Buddha with Angulimala.jpg

The painting depicts the first meeting Buddha had with Angulimala, a highway killer who murdered 999 people for the purpose of making an offering of 1000 human fingers to his teacher. Angulimala first intended to make his mother his 1000th victim, but then he saw a monk (the Buddha) coming, and he changed his mind. However, although Angulimala was running as fast as he could, he couldn't catch up with the Buddha who was walking calmly, but who also was using his psychic powers to stay ahead of Angulimala. This bewildered Angulimala so much that he stopped in his tracks, and told the Buddha to stop. The Buddha said that he himself already stopped, and that Angulimala should stop also. Angulimala asked for further explanation, after which the Buddha said that the he stopped harming living beings a long time ago, and that Angulimala is still harming and hurting living beings. After hearing this, Angulimala changed his ways, became a monk and attained enlightenment not long afterwards. The painting depicts Angulimala being unable to keep up with the Buddha, with his mother in the background.

Picture of a painting in a Laotian Temple

may 2006

myself

public