Buddhas come in many varieties and forms, and the uninitiated can be easily confused. Many westerners believe that the Budha is a jolly, fat man, but this a misconception created by the popularity of the Chinese “laughing Buddha.” He is not the historical buddha, but a chinese monk from the 10th century.
A Buddha statue can be used as both a decorative accent and an aid in meditation. They symbolizie Buddhism's founder,Siddhartha Gautama who taught us that by eliminating all desires from our lives we are able to reach Nirvana. When the state of Nirvana is achieved all suffering ends. When one has achieved Nirvana the cycle of rebirth and death ends. The key to achieving a state of Nirvana is mental discipline and the ability to comprehend and follow the eightfold path.
Buddha statues come in a variety of poses and styles from the elegant style of the Buddha statues from Nepal and Tibet to the jolly happy Buddha. Earth touching, meditation, dispelling fear, 'turning the Wheel of Dharma' are just a few of the popular Buddha statue positions. Quite frequently the Buddha is perched atop a lotus flower to represent the divine birth and purity. One Buddhist quote suggests
In the Lotus Buddha statue the hand positions or mudra place the fingers of the righ hand atop of those of the left. While the hands rested gently in the lap, the legs are folded in a crossed position. The left foot should be placed on the right with the ball and heel foot facing up and the right foot is placed on the left leg in the the same position. This position is commonly used for meditation and relaxation and is known the lotus position.
It's quite common to the see a Buddha statue sitting atop a lotus flower in the meditation pose. Do you have a Buddha statue in your home? Examine the hands and posture of the Buddha. If the hands are folded in the lap and the feet are crossed with the balls of the feet pointed toward the sky, this is the lotus pose.
Buddhism is a religion based on the teachings of Buddha which are referred to as “Dharma” or “the Dharma.” Buddhist believe they are on a spiritual quest to attain a state of complete enlightenment known as Nirvana. Like all religions, Buddhism has evolved over time, fractured and adapted as it spread through Asia and eventually the globe. There are three main sects of Buddhism today along with several lesser-known denominations of the religion.
These different Buddhist religions are all united under some core Buddhist principles. In each, the Buddha is considered the spiritual leader. The Four Noble Truths are core to their philosophies and teachings. Those who practice Buddhism follow the principles of the Eightfold Path and believe that Buddhahood is the highest possible state that one could achieve.
The Theravada or “doctrine of the Elders” was established around 300 BC.. Based on the teachings of Buddha, it encouraged the sangha (followers) to teach the mind to eliminate suffering through the use of meditation with the ultimate goal of reaching Nirvana. Theravada Buddhism gave life to the Tripitaka, the Pali canon of Buddhist teachings and the laws governing the practices of Buddhist monks referred to as the Ten Precepts.
This discipline of Buddhism began in India and moved through southeast Asia into Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam and other Asian countries. As this form of Buddhism was embraced by the indigenous people, the Theravada was altered to incorporate the religious beliefs of the various regions. this form of Buddhism is still popular in Laos, Sri Lanka and Cambodia today.
Mahayana, or Eastern Buddhism, expands the Pali Canon and includes other religious philosophies and texts that encourage altruism and the need to live a life of universal compassion. This is central to their belief in an “Awakened mind.” Mahayana Buddhism is most popular in Korea, Japan and China. It incorporates elements of cosmology and mysticism. This form of Buddhism has divided into two main sects. Zen Buddhism, which focuses more on internalization of the spiritual path and self-reliance and Pure Land Buddhism which teaches that dedication to the Amitabha Buddha is required to reach Nirvana.
Although deeply influenced by Mahayana Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism or Vajrayana is another distinct discipline of the Buddhist faith.. Also known as “tantric Buddhism,” Vajrayana melds the scriptures and text of both Mahayana and Theraveda Buddhism along with Buddhist Tantras. A major difference of Vajrayana Buddhism is that it teaches that Buddhahood can be achieved in a single life time without need for reincarnation.
The method in which one achieves enlightenment is the most significant difference between the various types of Buddhism. each value meditation and spiritual journey guided by the eightfold Path and the four Noble truths, but the attainment of Buddhahood differs in each version of the Buddhist faith.
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