Ive seen many statues and pictures of buddha as a fat jolly man sitting down in leisure. Ive read that the reason for that is because he was a noble. That is the reason why he is always sitting in leisure and fat (because hes wealthy).
But then again i read that he should have not been fat because of material reasons.
Then again i read that he was both fat and skinny throughtout his lifetime.
Why is he fat, and sometimes skinny?
2006-10-02 06:19:04 · 10 answers · asked by brokenankles 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There are many Buddhas. A buddha is simply one who has reached enlightenment.
The fat jolly guy of whom you speak is actually the chinese god of luck and fortune -- who was once a man but reached enlightenment through the folly of his luck and fortune. Thus, he was a buddha, and enlightened.
The skinny guy is Guatama Siddhartha, who reached enlightenment meditating under the Bodhi tree, after a life of wealth and then asceticism, then realizing the truth of the middle path. Thus, he was a buddha, and enlightened.
2006-10-02 06:24:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
In much of the early artwork of Buddhism, according to Stephen Batchelor, the Buddha was not depicted at all. There would be an empty chair, and it was understood that the Buddha's role in the picture was played by the emptiness.
The Hindu tradition that gave birth to Buddhism makes use of statuary in devotions, similar to the icons of the Christian church. Buddhists simply built on this tradition. You may note that the various depictions of Jesus, Mary, and various saints through the ages are also inconsistent. In truth, the way in which any of these figures are presented in art say more about the artist and the cultural context of the times than they say about the religious figure themselves. Any religious figure that has been studied for a couple of millennia will likely have different aspects of their personhood emphasized at different times.
2006-10-02 06:32:22 · answer #2 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Once Buddha try to avoid eating unless what falls under the tree which he used to meditate. He continue to do that for months. Finally he found out ..if the body does not have enough food to run the system you and you cannot think or focus. There are some idiots who did fasting that time for religious practice. That time he was very weak and skinny.. There are some Buddha idols made to remind that period.
The Laughingbuddha is a traditional idol. Which is related to Hinayana Buddhism. Its not the actual Buddha figure. When buddisum traveld to far destinations it collect a lot of unnessorry things. which are not right.
Buddha was born wealthy but he left his kingdom. He went seeking for the ultimate truth.
give me 5.
2006-10-02 06:30:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buddha's appearance varies according to the culture that depicts him. He was thin in life. The fat Buddha is a good fortune Buddha.
2006-10-02 06:23:06 · answer #4 · answered by a_delphic_oracle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the fat jolly guy is the "next" Buddha predicted by Gautama Buddha. We call him Maitreya Buddha. he was drawn fat because of chinese beliefs that fat resembles wealthiness. according to the Buddhist literature, he hasn't reached enlightenment yet and still rising his "parami"/"paramita" (both means perfection) in Tusita/Tushita heaven. after he completes his parami and Gutama Buddha's dhamma gone, then Maitreya Buddha will come to earth to give the once forgotten dhamma back to people around the world.
the skinny guy is Siddharta Gautama that already reached enlightenment. if you ever find a statue where the Buddha is super skinny, than it was Siddharta Gautama before he reached enlightenment. he tried several ways to reach enlightenment. Gautama became really skinny by fasting (straining himself) for 6 years and after he realized that straining himself won't lead him to enlightenment, he meditate under Bodhi tree and reach enligtenment.
2016-04-29 03:31:55 · answer #5 · answered by denise 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of the various poses (mudras) have different symbolic meanings for example the Dhyanna mudra is the pose representing meditation while different hand positions may equal compassion or charity etc. The idea is to focus on the virtue embodied by the statue and through meditation try and attain greater enlightenment.
2006-10-02 06:23:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buddhists think that the Buddha came at different times. The fat Buddha is the Buddha of the future for example. The statues may also represent different times in the Buddhas life and different aspects of his message. There are also "bodhisattvas," who are not Buddha, but enlightened beings who have "stayed behind" to help people. Different countries portray him differently too. For example in Korea, the future Buddha is not fat, but very thin.
Here's an example:
http://seasiancrafts.com/spiritworld/buddha.htm#roraai
Believe the message of the Buddha, suffering is no fun, but it is Jesus that saves.
2006-10-02 06:21:57 · answer #7 · answered by Love Shepherd 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
You'll notice that it's a cultural thing, southeast asians have him one way and more continental asians have him another way. i have read that actuall the fat buddha is to symbolize the strength that is embodied in the spot below the navel
2006-10-02 06:25:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because he was a human being. He had ups and downs, just like us.
2006-10-02 06:24:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are in fact many Buddhas(thousands), not just one.
2006-10-02 06:22:00 · answer #10 · answered by Cat Commander 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋