Review: Norton Simon's 'In the Land of Snow' is an Enlightening Exhibit

LOS ANGELES TIMES
By David Pagel

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara with Eleven Heads Tibet, c. 1500 at Norton Museum

CALIFORNIA---Buddhism began in India about 2,500 years ago. By the 6th century, Vajrayana Buddhism was well established. It spread to Nepal. In the 7th century, it also moved into Tibet. By the 13th century, it was no longer a major religion in India but thrived in the mountainous north. Vajrayana Buddhism is distinguished by the belief that enlightenment can be achieved in a single lifetime, through the direction of a guru and with loads of hard work. Made up of 34 ceremonial objects of Vajrayana or Tantric Buddhism, all but two of which are drawn from the Pasadena museum's impressive holdings of Asian art, "In the Land of Snow" is both manageable and satisfying. [link]