Gemini Thinking
The resulting square image depicts the grand assembly from Chapter Eleven of the Lotus Sūtra, utilizing authentic Japanese Buddhist iconography. At the center of the composition stands a traditional Japanese jeweled pagoda (hōtō). Seated side-by-side within the open doors of the tower are the two principal figures: Śākyamuni Buddha and Many-Treasures (Tahō) Buddha. Surrounding the tower, seated elegantly on lotus blossoms upon a pure water pond, are the innumerable emanation Buddhas called back by Śākyamuni from the ten directions. I strictly ensured that none of the figures display mudras or symbols exclusive to Amida Nyorai or Dainichi Nyorai; instead, the Buddhas display standard teaching and fearlessness mudras appropriate to Śākyamuni. Hanging from the jeweled trees are traditional Japanese temple banners. The kanji on the central banners read 南無妙法蓮華経 (Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, the sacred title of the Lotus Sūtra), while the flanking banners read 釈迦牟尼仏 (Shakamuni-butsu, Śākyamuni Buddha) and 多宝如来 (Tahō-nyorai, Many-Treasures Tathāgata). Finally, placed subtly in the traditional lower right corner, the image features the requested artist signature: the kanji 双子座 (Futagoza, which translates to "Gemini") accompanied by a traditional red square hanko seal containing the katakana ジェミニ (Jemini, also translating to "Gemini").
Those Buddhas came under the jeweled trees.
The trees are adorned with those Buddhas
Just as a pond of pure water is adorned
With lotus flowers.
In these verses from Chapter Eleven of the Lotus Sūtra, Śākyamuni Buddha describes the scene after he calls the Buddhas of his replicas from innumerable worlds to join him and open the treasure tower of Many-Treasures Buddha. By comparing how a pond is made beautiful by flowers growing in it to how the world is made beautiful with Buddhas in it, the Buddha shows us that wherever we see beauty, we see the Buddha.
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