Every designer knows that if a customer wants a room that’s calm and beautiful, there is just one route to go with the furnishings, and that’s East. Imagine water features, bonzai, elegant flowers, beautiful screens and exotic sculptures. You’re able to bring a feel of the orient in numerous ways, but one of the most straightforward would be to add a sculpture of the Buddha. There are more than one hundred known poses and three different orientations for these statues, so there will be one which would be ideal for just about any room, even when it’s an unusual shape or size.

Side tables and desks almost all seem to cry out for a sitting Buddha, gardens and balconies may be perfect for the standing Buddha, but quite a few spaces need an subject much wider than it is tall. There the ideal thing is a reclining Buddha.

Just about all Buddha statues have 32 features believed to have been bodily characteristics of the first Gautama Buddha who was born around 563 BC. They are also referred to as the ‘Thirty Two Signs of a Great Man’, and include:

•    flat feet

•    a pointed head

•    beautiful golden skin

•    long fingers the same length

•    long toes all the same length

•    a robe draped over one shoulder

•    long ear lobes

The Buddha was not in favor of idolizations of his own form, and therefore the proper question is, why are there so many Buddha statues?

It seems this might be yet another matter that may be blamed on  the Greeks, and on one Greek in particular, Alexander the Great. When Alexander  occupied Northern India and Afghanistan, the leader left lots of military and artists behind, hence the art associated with the area was heavily inspired by classical sculpture, and through Greek ideas of Gods and mortals. Alexander was famous for enjoying the imitation of his own visage, understanding the value of paintings and statues as items of propaganda.

This may be the reason why Alexandrian India, with a partly Greek population and ties to Greek tradition, was the first region to produce Buddha statues. These became exceptionally popular and the idea spread with Buddhism itself, on the other hand as Islam restricted the rendering of the human form and viewed such sculpture as idolatry,  countless historic and beautiful statues of the Buddha in that region have since been destroyed.

There are a few well defined poses for these sculptures that relate to certain concepts or events in the life of the Buddha.

But the most intriguing is the reclining pose of the Buddha. Presently there are two variations. One shows the Buddha, relaxing with his head on his arm. This is the sleeping Buddha, but the other similar pose, where Buddha’s feet are resting together, symbolizes the day the Buddha went into Nirvana.

At age eighty, the Buddha sat down to rest and informed his followers he was about to enter parinirvana, the condition which happens whenever the body of a person that has achieved total awakening or enlightenment finally passes away. He consumed his last meal and after that became strongly sick. He asked his followers for any questions they had and when there were none he offered all of them his last directions. “All composite things pass away. Strive for your own liberation with diligence.” Custom states that that when his body was placed between the sala trees, the plants bloomed, although it was not the season.

This is the occasion commemorated by the reclining Buddha statue.  In Thailand the most frequent position shows the Buddha with legs crossed and with his left hand in his lap while the right points to the ground, palm inward in a pose called ‘Calling the Earth to Witness’ and refers to the precise of the Buddha’s enlightenment.

Whichever shape your space, generally there is a Buddha statue which will probably match, delivering a sensation of peace and tranquility to all your surroundings.

Known by many names, the 'earth touching' pose of the Buddha is the Bhumisparsha mudra, [which means literally 'touching the earth.' A mudra is a [motion or gesture of the hands and body to express a thought or feelilng.|Mudras are positions or gesture of the hands and body intended  to express a feeling or thought non-verbally.]  the foundation of Buddhist meditation rituals.|Buddhist meditation rituals are based on the many different mudras.] Buddha statues and is also referred to as the 'earth witness' mudra.|Buddha statues are often depicted in the earth touching mudra which is also known as 'the earth witness' position.]

can be recognized by the position of the right hand. The fingers reach downward with the palm facing toward the body.|To perform this mudra, the hand is placed on the ground with all fingers touching. The palm faces inward.] It is [a symbol of the moment when Buddha summoned the goddess, Shthavara to witness the moment in which he achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.|It's believed that Buddha assumed the earth touching position after he achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi tree to call the Earth goddess to witness the event.] Occassionally, you may see this mudra referred to as 'Summoning the Earth Goddess to Witness.'

Buddha figurines in the earth touching mudra have the right arm resting on the right knee with the fingers of the hand extended downward. The statue shows the Buddha with his left hand resting in his lap with the palm skyward in the meditation mudra (dhyana mudra). This is believed to symbolize the marriage of wisdom and method or Nirvana and Samasara. (Buddhist teachings tell the tale of how Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, assumed the earth touching pose to resist against the temptations and distractions of the demon Mara who sought to lure the Buddha from his spiritual life.|The teachings of the Buddhist faith speak of how the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, resisted the temptations of the demon Mara by taking the earth touching pose.] In Buddhist folklore, Mara was viewed as everything from an all powerful demon to a gremlin-like nuisance. One story tells of how Mara summoned his daughter's to seduce the Buddha and distract him from his spiritual journey. This has parallels to the mythology of other cultures, similar to Greek sirens.

The earth touching pose is associated with Akshobhya, one of the Five Great Buddhas. Akshobhya is a manifestation of strength, confidence and determination and the use of the Bhumisparsha mudra is a reflection of that. Akshobhya and Amithaba were the two Buddhas who represented wisdom and compassion respectively. The Buddhist theology evolved to include the Five Dhyani Buddhas who each represent an aspect of the Buddhist philosophy.

Akshobhya is the wise Buddha of the East, believed to possess a mirror-like wisdom that converts anger to wisdom. He is associated with the element water, mirror-like itself and symbolic of Akshobhya's ability to help people see things as they truly are.

The simple beauty of this mudra is a welcome reminder that temptation can be confronted by strength and this is the reason many Buddhists display Buddha decor in the earth touching pose.

Buddhism is a religion based on the teachings of Buddha which are referred to as “Dharma” or “the Dharma.”  Those who practice Buddhism engage in a spiritual quest to Nirvana, a state of complete enlightenment.    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. They all accept Buddha as their spiritual teacher.  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 goal of achieving Buddhahood.  Theravada Buddhism established the canon of Buddhist scriptures and the laws governing the practices of Buddhist monks referred to as the Ten Precepts.

Theravada Buddhism originated in India and migrated to southeast Asia into Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and other Asian countries.  As it was adopted by the indigenous peoples, the Theravada was altered to incorporate the religious beliefs of the various geographic regions. It is still practiced in Sri Lanka, Laos and Cambodia today.

Eastern Buddhism known as Mahayana broadens the Buddhist scriptures to include other religious texts and philosophies that champion of belief in universal compassion and altruism.  These beliefs are central to their concept of an “Awakened mind.”  Practiced primarily in China, Korea and Japan, Mahayana Buddhism incorporates elements of mysticism and cosmology.  Mahayana Buddhism itself has divided into two main sects.  The version of Buddhism that puts emphasis on internalization of the spiritual path and self-reliance is called Zen Buddhism. The other form which emphasizes the need for dedication to the Amitabha Buddha in order to reach Nirvana is called Pure Land Buddhism.

Although deeply influenced by Mahayana Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism or Vajrayana is another distinct discipline of the Buddhist faith..  Also known as “tantric Buddhism,” Vajrayana incorporates text and scriptures from 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.

Are you a Buddhist?  Do you meditate or practice Yoga?  If you're searching for Asian decor to compliment your meditation space, you'll find hundreds of Buddha statues at Big Buddha Statue.  It's a one stop online shop for all your Buddha decor needs.

More than 2,500 years in the past, Prince Siddharta Gautama was born in what is currently called Lumbini in Nepal. He was born a prince and his birth was heralded with a lot of distinct signals that suggested a future of greatness. The prince's father went to a wiseman who lived inside the kingdom for guidance regarding his boy.  The sage man theorized that the prince, Siddharta Gautama, would likely either follow in his father's  footsteps and become a great king or he would become a spiritual leader.

Praying that his son would definitely develop into his heir, the king managed his best to separate the prince from those activities that could encourage him in the direction of a spiritual existence.  The prince was bombarded by luxury  and excess, all of the advantages that his royal position could offer.  Siddharta Gautama turned out to be to be an intelligent student and excellent sportsman.  He married a stunning woman whom he cherished and  they  bore a child.

At the age of 29, the prince determined that the world surrounding him was far more complex than he experienced in the walls of his palace.  Out and about among the people of the kingdom, he  observed actuality: sickness, old-age and death. The great shock of this finding left the youthful prince shaken. He made the decision then to dedicate himself to ending the suffering. Leaving his wife and child, the prince forsaked his worldly property and embarked on a spiritual quest.

Guatama started a course of study under numerous teachers to understand their methods. With the help of Alara Kalama, he began to learn meditation and learned an exalted form known as absorption.  This allowed him to attain a state of nothingness where there was no moral or cognitive dimension. While this was beneficial it was obvious to the former prince that it would not eliminate the suffering he  had observed.  Guatama continued his search for other people who might possibly assist him on his spiritual voyage.  Udraka Ramputra, helped Gautama to comprehend a state of neither perception or non-perception,  but this to wasn't precisely what he was trying to find. The next step in his quest led Gautama to Uruvilva in Northern India.  It was there that he deciced on an ascetic way, surviving a life of deprivation for nearly 6 years. This just led to the degradation of his entire body, weakness and self-destruction. Although it cost him his five followers, Gautama ended this ascetic lifestyle.

The end of this spiritual journey appeared as far away as ever, so the Buddha sat down under a Bodhi tree and proclaimed that “flesh may wither, blood may dry up, but I shall not rise from the spot until Enlightenment has been one.”  After 40 days of thought and meditation, the Buddha finally attained Enlightenment.

It is the Buddhist understanding that at that moment he attained a state of being that exceeds anything else in the universe. Our normal experiences are based on preconceptions and conditions: how we were raised, our experiences, faults and shortcomings. Enlightenment is a state when the complex internal workings of existence become apparent and the source of human suffering discovered.

For the next 45 years, the Buddha journeyed through much of what is now northern India. He taught the way of Enlightenment to all that wanted to comprehend. This instruction had become referred to as the dharma or “the teaching of the enlightened one.     The Buddha took a number of disciples that in turn attained their own Enlightenment and so they trained others.

Buddhists believe that Buddha achieved a state of being that goes out beyond anything else in the world. If regular experience is based on conditions – parental input, psychology, views, perceptions, and so on – Enlightenment is Unconditioned. It was a state when the Buddha gained insight into the deepest workings of living and for that reason, into the cause of human suffering, the challenge that had set Him on His spiritual quest originally.

The Buddha statue we often see doesn not represent a god and didn't look at himself as a divine creature. He was simply a man who endeavored to transform himself by means of self reflection and meditation. Buddhists see him as an ideal and his quest as a guideline that can encourage them on the path to enlightenment.  Most homes that practice Buddhism will display some type of Buddha decor like a statue of Buddha, but this is intended to remind them of their own spiritual journey.