I have a question about the statues that depict Buddha. Some seem to be what I would call the sleeping or meditating Buddha. He is in the lotus position or sitting and has his eyes closed I believe and is thin. He seems to be wearing some sort of headdress. Then there is the Statute of the fat laughing buddha, generally showing him smiling os laughing with a bald head sometimes with raised arms and some sort of backpack. What is the symbolic difference or meaning of the two depictions of Buddah? Thank You for an informed answer.
2007-03-14 05:03:06 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Generally in the Theravadan tradition, the Lord Buddha is depicted without head dress or adornment as he is considered a mortal man, any head covering would indicate his normal hair.
In the Mahayana tradition he is depicted with a head dress or crown as he is considered a God or God like.
The depiction of the fat laughing Buddha is Chinese in origin and his depiction has many Chinese attributes from Taoist influence. This Buddha image is not considered as a true Buddha by the Theravadan or Mahayana traditions. The mainly Taoist Chinese include this image as one of prosperity and good luck, neither of which has any bearing on the Lord Buddha's Dharma or teaching.
In the Theravada tradition, the Lord Buddha has His eyes nearly closed as He is often depicted meditating and it is this message to us that meditation is so important which is so prevalent in the Dharma.
Peace from a Buddhist of the Theravada tradition...
2007-03-14 06:10:50 · answer #1 · answered by Gaz 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I am not a Buddhist, but I know a lot about it.
There are 28 'types' of Buddha
1 Tá¹á¹£á¹aá¹kara
2 Medhaá¹kara
3 Åaraá¹aá¹kara
4 DÄ«paá¹kara
5 Kauá¹á¸inya
6 Maá¹gala
7 Sumanas
8 Raivata
9 Åobhita
10 AnavamadarÅin
11 Padma
12 NÄrada
13 Padmottara
14 Sumedha
15 SujÄta
16 PriyadarÅin
17 ArthadarÅin
18 DharmadarÅin
19 SiddhÄrtha
20 Tiá¹£ya
21 Puá¹£ya
22 VipaÅyin
23 Åikhin
24 ViÅvabhÅ«
25 Krakucchanda
26 Kanakamuni
27 KÄÅyapa
28 Gautama
The 'sleeping Buddha is probably the Buddha experiencing Nirvana, and the other one is probably just a Buddha.
Keep asking questions and you'll get your answers!
Good luck!
2007-03-14 12:14:41 · answer #2 · answered by kella223 1 · 3⤊ 2⤋
The thinner version is generally of the actual man Siddhartha Gautama, the most notable Buddha. The other is more of a general Buddha. The depiction of the Buddha also depends on the nation or culture it comes from, meaning India, Thailand, US Buddhas may be different. The time in which the Buddha figure was created (like with any art) also affects the depiction.
2007-03-14 12:14:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Eyes closed, he's meditating. Thin - he was in real life, doesn't hurt to try to be logical... it shows his middle-way balance in not eating too much and becoming obese and not skin and bones from denying things totally. The fat, laughing Buddha is a cultural depiction of the Buddha allegedly to come... "Buddha" is a title, not a name, and means "Awakened One", so anybody with the right training can be a "Buddha". The "headdress" is his hair which is symbolic of his attainments.
Hope this helps.
Edit/addition: ARGHA.... forgot to mention, please pardon my omission... much more can be learned about Buddhist art from many books on the subject found at larger bookstores or Buddhist ones, like snowlionpub.com, wisdompubs.org and many other wonderful ones. There's even a cartoon book based on his life I hear... NOW I think I'm done rambling.
_()_
2007-03-14 12:09:49 · answer #4 · answered by vinslave 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I suppose you are referening to buddha (siddhartha) and laughing buddha. Actually laughing buddha (that fat person who is said to bring good luck) is nothing to do with Buddha. Laughing buddha originated in Chinese mythology and it represents abundance. He is said to bring abundance and luck in life. So people rub the stomach of laughing buddha for good luck or they simply keep them in houses for luck. There are not just one but several different kinds of laughing buddhas. Usually we see the one where the man has his two hands above the head laughing. The other ones are a man with gold in one hand, sleeping laughing buddha and so forth. All these characters represent different entities in abundance and luck.
Coming to buddha(siddhartha). Some times we might look at Bhodhivastva and think that its buddha. There is a way you can tell the difference. If you see the head gear or crown, he is not buddha but bhodisatva. Bhodisatva represents a person who is in meditation wanting to become self-realized but not totally self-realized(buddha) yet.
I hope i have answered your question.
2007-03-14 17:15:00 · answer #5 · answered by The Man With Superior Knowledge 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
~~~leets ,,,, A buddha with "headdress" or "cornrows" is the same symbolism as The Halo in the christian motif. It indicates an Enlightenend Being.
2007-03-14 15:33:34 · answer #6 · answered by Sensei TeAloha 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Usually I answer a question before reading the other answers, but this time I did just the reverse.
I am a Student of Buddhism.
After reading the other answers, before mine, I realized that I could not provide you with a better answer than the one GAZ
gave you.
**Gaz, in my opinion, has provided you with a Most excellent answer ! **
And I have also, as you have, learned a lot from all the answers. They were all good, just preferred the answer from GAZ the most.
With Metta {loving-kindness and friendship).
2007-03-14 13:54:08 · answer #7 · answered by Thomas 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Buddhism came from the Middle East, where he was depicted as thin. When the religion spread to the Asian world, his image was changed.
2007-03-14 12:37:37 · answer #8 · answered by seattlefan74 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋