Hatto (Lecture Hall): Fasting Buddha Statue
This stone sculpture depicts the Buddha while fasting. The details of the emaciated figure show the trials of fasting and the determination of the monks who undertake it.
It is a replica of a sculpture in Pakistan that is designated a National Treasure. The original is considered a priceless example of Gandhara art, a fusion of Ancient Greek and Indian Buddhist art that flourished on the Indian subcontinent between 180 BCE and 10 BCE.
This statue is the only official replica of the original and was a gift from the Pakistani government. It is a rare and precious piece of art, showing the influence of realistic Ancient Greek sculpture on early depictions of the Buddha.