Buddha Statues & Gestures: July Exhibition at Skiptvet Library

Featuring: The Buddha Opening the Worlds (Lokavivaraṇa Miracle mudrā) — A symbol of opening the path of light to life, liberation from blindness (Avijjā/Ignorance), and the attainment of spiritual wisdom.

Following last month’s exhibition on the "cleanliness and purity" reflected in Luang Por Sothorn, Skiptvet Buddhist Monastery, in collaboration with Skiptvet Library, is delighted to take you further on this journey through the world of Buddhist art and symbolism.

For the month of July, we present "The Buddha Posture of Opening the Worlds — The Lokavivarana Miracle," a masterpiece that reflects the "brilliance of spiritual wisdom" and a state completely free from any barriers to perceiving the true nature of the world.

Revelation, Absolute Truth, and the Light of Wisdom

In this installment of the "Buddha Statues & Gestures" exhibition series, we explore a glorious moment of supreme spiritual power: "The Buddha Opening the Three Worlds." This exhibition invites everyone into a dimension of awakening, where spiritual blindness (Avijjā) is dispelled, and the universal truth of all existence is clearly revealed.

Understanding the Gesture: The Buddha Opening the Worlds

The Anatomy of lokavivaraṇa-pāṭihāriya mudrā

• The Posture: The Buddha stands elegantly upon a lotus flower, His posture upright, representing stability and readiness to bring light to all realms of existence.

• The Hands:

  • Both Hands: Pendant by His sides with palms turned outward and open to the front, symbolizing the revelation of truth, the breaking down of walls or obstacles, and the boundless bestowal of light upon the cosmos.

    
    

The Story Behind the Opening of the Worlds

This posture originates from the traditional biography of the Buddha when He descended from the Tavatimsa Heaven after spending a three-month Rains Retreat (Vassa) teaching Dhamma to His late mother. This event took place on the first day of the waning moon of the 11th lunar month (now known as "Devorohana Day" or the end of the Vassa). The sequence of events unfolds as follows:

This posture reflects three profound wonders:

• The Dissolution of Cosmic Barriers: Textual traditions state that upon descending from heaven, the Buddha utilized His spiritual power to open the three realms—the Heavenly Realm (Devaloka), the Human Realm (Manussaloka), and the Hell Realm (Yamaloka)—allowing them to see one another. This symbolizes a state where the mind is liberated from defilements and can access absolute truth without hindrance.

• The Power of the Law of Kamma: The fact that sentient beings across all three realms could witness one another that day serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of one's actions (Kamma). It teaches that all lives are interconnected through the law of cause and effect.

• Clarity and New Beginnings: This posture symbolizes "opening the way," clearing away dark obstacles within the mind. It reminds us that when we possess clear vision and Right View (Sammā-diṭṭhi), our life path and spiritual journey become smooth and illuminated.

  
  

From that miraculous event, humans witnessed the splendor of heaven, hell-beings saw the happiness of humans, and humans beheld the intense suffering of hell-beings. This brought about a deep sense of spiritual urgency (Saṁvega) and a profound realization of the Law of Kamma. It is written that all living beings who witnessed this supreme display of spiritual power that day unanimously aspired to attain Dhamma and achieve the ultimate end of all suffering.

📍 Location: Skiptvet Library, Storveien 31A, 1816 Skiptvet

📅 Date: 1 – 31 July 2026

🕒 Opening Hours*:

• Monday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm

• Tuesday: 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm

• Wednesday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

• Thursday: 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm

• Friday: Closed

• Saturday: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

• Sunday: Closed

Join us to explore the deep symbolism and peace behind these sacred gestures.

*Please visit the Skiptvet Library website for the latest updates.