Ancient Buddhist Artworks Teach Us Not to Fear the Future

The Second Buddha taught his disciples that the future is one with the past and present.

Scenes from the Life of Padmasambhava. Bhutan or Tibet; ca. 18th century. Pigments on cloth. | Courtesy of the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich

When time is linear, we learn to fear the consequences of each decision we make. Despite our best efforts to secure imminent wellbeing, the principles of linear time obliterate the possibility of a fate other than what we inevitably have in store.

But what if we could re-learn to perceive time not as fixed, but as fluid? The Second Buddha: Master of Time delves into the ancient legends of Padmasambhava, credited with bringing Buddhism to Tibet, through nearly 900 years of art celebrating his teachings. Presented by the Rubin Museum in New York City, The Second Buddha imparts an optimistic wisdom that encourages a different, perhaps more forgiving perspective of time.

Padmasambhava and His Eight Manifestations. Tibet; 16th century. | Copper alloy. Courtesy of the Rubin Museum of Art

Amid a low-lit exhibition space showcasing more than 40 treasures from 13th- through 20th-century Tibet and Bhutan, a relatable narrative sounds out from a nook. Inside, a video installation lays bare the traditional Western perspective of linear time, rife with the fear and anxiety of a fixed future outside of human…