"Bhagavan Lord of Limitless Life and Primordial Wisdom with a body red in colour, one face, two hands and with two long eyes glancing with compassion on beings, gazing on the entirety of migrators; and a smiling face, wearing the complete sambhogakaya vestments. Above the two hands held in meditation is a long-life vase filled with the nectar of immortality; with the hair in tufts, adorned with silks and jewels, seated in vajra posture, the body blazing with the shining light of the [32] marks and [80] examples." (Sakya Trizin Kunga Tashi, 1656-1711).

Youthful and serene, Amitayus, well adorned with a crown and various ornaments of gold and jewels, has long black hair bound in a top-knot with some loose, tied with ribbons, falling over the shoulders. Draped in a long green scarf and attired in various silks he sits atop a moon disc and multi-coloured lotus seat surrounded by a pale yellow nimbus of emanated light and a dark green areola. A cluster of wishing jewels and elephant tusks blaze with light as an offering presented in front. On a dark green background and surrounding the central figure are fifty identical forms of the Buddha of Long-life, Amitayus, arranged in linear geometric rows.

Common to all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism Amitayus primarily belongs to the three lower Tantra classifications. Popular in the Nyingma tradition, he has both Kama (Oral) and Terma (Treasure) lineages of practice.

Jeff Watt 9-98