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As the Buddha taught the principles of the pathway to Enlightenment—a pathway
he had trodden—to students and supporters of all types, the defining character
of his mission took shape. Since the dawning of Buddhism,
the defining characteristic of a follower of the Buddha's teachings is
that he takes refuge, or seeks shelter.
Even during the earliest times in India, when the Brahmin priests would gather for the construction of a place for
Vedic sacrifice, a suitable shelter to dwell in during the construction was
considered most important. In the early days of the Buddhist order, the monks
and nuns kept a vow to travel continually, stopping only for the three month
monsoon. During this time a shelter was essential. Henceforth, the concept of a
reliable shelter was of great import during the Buddha's lifetime, as was
determining just what was a true and genuine shelter.
So it was that the Buddha spoke of three shelters to be relied on by
his followers: (1) the Buddha, or Enlightened One, as a guide on the path to
Enlightenment; (2) the Dharma, or Teaching, as the path to Enlightenment itself;
and (3) the Sangha, or Community, as friends on the pathway to Enlightenment.
Thus to take refugee in, or seek shelter with, these three concepts characterizes one
as a Buddhist. Each of these has, in turn, representative tokens.
The Buddha, in his physical form, is remembered by the statues and paintings that depict his
person. The Dharma—the Buddha's teaching—is remembered through memorization
and recitation of his Sutras, or sermons. It is also represented by the
physical books wherein the Buddha's teachings have been recorded. The Sangha, or
community of friends, is remembered by the monks, nuns, and fellow Buddhists with which one
shares the common goal of Enlightenment.
 
As for the tradition of religious art representations of the historical Buddha, other Buddhas and Enlightened
Beings, and the followers of the Buddha, or Sangha, are often portrayed. On
many occasions a follower of the Buddha is shown holding a book, and some of the
manifestations of Buddhahood known as Would-Be-Buddhas (Bodhisattvas) , are seen holding books. It remains the case, however, that the
portrayal of the Dharma, or words of the Buddha, is found in the books
themselves, which are to be read. The artistic representations in this
collection, therefore, focus on the images of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Divine
beings, Protectors of the Teaching, Stupas symbolic of the Buddha's
Enlightenment, and followers who have achieved or who aim to achieve
Enlightenment.
Just as the Sutras instruct through reading and reciting, the
Thangkas instruct through seeing and perceiving. Many times, however, a moment
of teaching is depicted by the handing over of a book or merely holding a book
forth to indicate that it is the Dharma that is being taught.
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