"The Buddha did not initiate the creation of sacred images. Once he said to a disciple, who wanted to see him before dying: «Oh, Vakkhali, why do you want to see this body, composed of unclear substances? He who perceives Dharma, Vakkhali, perceives me. He who perceives me perceives Dharma». Thus, as far as we know, there was no worship of the Buddha’s image in the early Buddhist community after his Parinirvāṇa.