10,000 Buddhas Mural
The 10,000 Buddhas Mural is a three story tall mural of that is part of a larger art project to paint ten thousand Buddhas around the world
Artist Amanda Giacomini hopes her Buddha murals communicate that everyone has the ability to become enlightened as well as the power of community to help us along on our journey. In the fall of 2016, she arrived in DC to bring her Buddhas to Logan Circle. I was thrilled to discover that DC’s 10,000 Buddhas Mural is distinct from the artist’s other pieces due to a request from the building’s owner that the mural be more inclusive. DC’s 10,000 Buddhas Mural therefore depicts Buddhas in a variety of skin tones, and in-between each figure Giacomini painted a variety of symbols including the Jewish Star of David, the Christian cross, the Hindu Om, the Islamic star and crescent, the Native American Four Directions, as well as hearts, peace symbols, mystic spirals, and the yin and yang symbol.
While Giacomini was installing the 10,000 Buddhas Mural, three Buddhist monks held a ceremony to bless the wall “to awaken the images of the Buddha” so that everyone who sees the mural in person or through photos will be relieved of their suffering. Check out this lovely video of the ceremony.
It took me two attempts to find the 10,000 Buddhas Mural after I saw a photo of it online. After my first failed attempt, I continued to seek enlightenment, did some more sleuthing online, and when I returned to the area I was surprised to discover that I had walked right by it previously. A combination of looking in the wrong place and being distracted by a protest near the mural caused me to miss it the first time. Enlightenment, like adventure, is worth pursuing as this mural is a beautiful depiction of the diverse, inclusive, and delightful city that I love.
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Address
1450 P St NW
Metro Station
- Dupont Circle (RD)
Cost
Free
Hours
Open 24 hours but best in the daylight
Length of Adventure
10 minutes
