soapstone,Birma , 12th century,Size: 8 cmBuddha is sitting in meditative posture in the center on a double lotus, supported by naga snakes, his right hand in bhumispharsa mudra. He is flanked by two Bodhisattvas. The carving shows seven scenes from his life, beginning with his birth on the bottom left. The other scenes include his first sermon in Sarnath, the taming of the rampaging elephant, his death and reaching Nirvana, the twin miracle, the descending from Tavatimsa and the monkey's gift of honey. The gate which frames the central Buddha is partly broken.